Warning: Deviating from following instructions may not work or even cause more problems if not followed properly!
Nevertheless, the following methods work for me perfectly when dealing with a Windows 2000 PC with an EPSON Stylus COLOR 300 printer.
As a result, it is my great beleive that these procedures will also work for other people with similar problems!
If so, Good Luck. If not, please, don't blame me but EPSON who should've provided proper drivers for their printer. Alternatively, you can ignore my instructions altogether and try your own or other solution(s).
Please, carefully, follow these easy tutorials and stick to them as per step throughout.
Option 1 - Using a Generic Driver contained within Windows.
Turn your PC on and make sure it's running normally. If necessary, uninstall your current driver for EPSON Stylus COLOR 300 and then restart PC. After reboot, close any running or open applications that might restart or shutdown your computer while trying to install the printer.
Now, go to Start --> Settings --> Printers and then double click on Add Printer to launch the Add Printer Wizard.
When the Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard window appears, choose Next.
Then, on the Local or a Network Printer window, select Local printer if you're using a local or a home printer that's directly connected to your PC. You can also tick the box Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer. Click Next and follow on screen instructions.
From manufacturer/make list, choose EPSON followed by Stylus Color ESC/P2 from list of models. (Yes, you've guessed it! Stylus Color ESC/P2 is the 'generic' driver for Stylus COLOR 300 printer.)
Continue to follow wizard instructions to complete installtion.
Finally, when asked to print out a Test Page select Yes to check if driver installation worked.
If successful, a "Windows 2000 Printer Test Page" with Windows logo/Windows 2000 and driver details should be printed.
Option 2 - Using a Window NT4.0 Driver downloaded from the Internet etc.
i) Search and download a compatible driver, eg epson965eu.exe, from the Internet. If you can't find such a file or similar from anywhere, then let me know so that I'll try to send you one by e-mail.
ii) Extract or unzip file onto a folder on your PC. In particular, you should see two folders; DISK 1 and DISK 2 (each with other files in it eg WINNT40 ... README.txt etc).
Now, to install EPSON Stylus COLOR 300 inkjet printer for Windows 2000, follow the following instructions:
1) Navigate to the folder where the Windows 2000 driver folders/files were saved.
2) Double click on DISK 1 folder --> double click on the SETUP.EXE (337KB Application 21/04/1998 04:55) installation file. Next, click OK to proceed with installation of printer model/driver version shown.
3) When you receive the EPSON Printer Utility Setup message of Please insert disk labeled "Stylus COLOR 300 PRINTER Driver/Utility SetupDisk#2 for Windows NT 4.0" or containing E_CUUE33.dll, Browse... to X:\...DISK 2\WINNT40\E_CUUE33.dll then click OK where X is your HD drive letter and DISK 2 is the driver destination as in step ii) above.
If PC crashes or restarts, then let Windows restart PC and detect the printer.
Next, select your printer make/manufacturer as EPSON then choose Have a Disk... then navigate to X:\...DISK 1. where X is your HD drive letter and DISK 1 is the driver destination folder as in step ii) above.
When Part 1 of installation completes (~50%), you will be asked to specify file E_CUUE33.dll or similar as in step 3) above.
Then, follow the New Hardware Found wizard and select to install a Printer.
Now, Browse... to X:\...DISK2\WINNT40. Next, select OK when E_CUUE33.dll file is found.
Finally, Finish installation and close any windows.
If, however, PC did not crash after step 3), in black text/before red text, then continue installing printer by following wizard/on-screen instructions.
Lastly, test printer by printing a test page. Then customise printer settings etc to suit your specif needs.
Please, feel free to print out above troubleshooting guide for a quick reference so that you can easiliy follow it at your own pace.
I hope above troubleshooting procedures help someone struggling to install an EPSON Stylus COLOR 300 on Windows 2000.
Any problems, comments or feedback with above tutorial? Please, send me an e-mail.