Am on a desperate hunt for a way out of this labryinth: Relative with expert abilities rebuilt an old CPU which contained an older wireless D-Link card. After he installed his copy of XP Pro, the unit would not network. He said that the networking card needed to be updated and changed it out to a new one. The installation of the driver would not work. Can't remember what the error msg. was. . .something maybe about a missing file. He left and said he'd be back the next day. That was a month ago. So now I'm trying to get this mess cleaned up, and today it seems like my only option is to remove the hard drive, destroy it, and put in a new one along with a fresh, out of the box purchased copy of Windows. But trying hard to avoid that expense. ("Expert relative" took his copy of WinXP Pro with him.)


The basic problem is that the OS is installed and opens up fine - no error msgs. BUT, it won't take the software for the new network card, thus I can't get online or network with the other computers here. So in essence, it's pretty useless.

Here's what I've tried:
1) Using my copy of Windows XP Home, (From one of our other computers),to get to the recovery area to reformat. When I use the Run command for setup, the msg is: "D:\setup.exe is not a valid win32 application". Have also tried to boot from CD but get the error msg.: "Cannot boot from CD. Code: 5". What might this mean?

2) Uninstalled the new network card drivers and the actual physical hardware. Attempt to reinstall the driver was unsuccessful.

3) Tried to uninstall windows via the add/remove tool, but windows xp does not appear on the list, so. . .

4) Searched online for "uninstall windows xp" and found a page which described the "manual" uninstall of the OS by booting in safe mode and using the command prompt. Another msg. saying something about missing registry information.

I've seen some things on various sites/forums regarding registry fixing, but of course, I can't get online because the driver for the new card won't install due to "registry issues". Would it be appropriate or even possible to download a registry repair program and burn to a cd from another computer, then somehow use it on this problem computer?

Basically, unless I can get this installation of WinXP repaired, I don't know what else to do except throw out this hd and start with a new one and a new fresh WinXP disk.

I am an experienced user but absolutely NOT a technogeek. I can probably do a great deal of damage in my relentless need to fix this mess, but would love to save the time and aggravation by having the help of true experts. Any ideas would be so welcome. . .and if I've left out any pertinent info, pls. ask whatever questions to help you all help me find a way out of this mess! Many thanks in advance!

Let me welcome you to the board.

About the only thing that I can tell you about your problem is that using XP Home to repair XP Pro will not work. Even though they are XP, they are different versions. Other than that, I am sorry to say that some one with more experience than I have will need to take a look.

howdy baylakates and welcome to PC Help Forum,


It is possible that you have a BIOS problem, or there could be a partition problem on your HD. I would make sure the BIOS is at tle latest release level, and then boot with DOS and do a FDISK /MBR

For a floppy boot install this should help, note XP needs 6 floppy disks to boot in this way.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

But most likely this is a BIOS problem

Aslo may want to do a LLF on the HD, Warning this will erase everything on the HD

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

Thanks for the welcome, kind words, and offers to help!

Ok, asa_sniper, you're just a tad bit over my head. . .If it is a bios problem, will using the 6 floppy boot disks correct that problem? And if so, will it result in a clean, useable operating system?

OR - Is a bios problem something that needs to be repaired by some other means before using the boot disks?

Also, what is an LLF? I got the link to the dban nuke and boot site. . .looks like a recovery program? Appreciate your feedback.

Im sorry baylakates for not minding my manners lol.

When I say LLF I mean low level format, which takes the hard drive and writes 0's to all sectoors of it making it like it just came fom the company.

As for BIOS,, you can open your case inside you will see a little round silver battery. Take that out for a minute and put it back in..This is called resetting your CMOS

As for the floppies yes it will totally format your HD and give you a usable OS.

As for the DBAN site you would download an ISO image of darins nuke disk and burn it to a cd and have it completly destroy all dta on your HD.

Thank you for your patient and thorough response to my ingorance! It's late, now, but I'll be trying your suggestions tomorrow, I hope, and I'll let you know how it goes. You're awsome.

Thanks baylakates thats what were here for ANd we all started out not knowing a dang thing lol. You will learn it get easier and easier