Hi, my computer was going slow and i decided to reinstall windows xp on to my computer. As its a dell pc, i wasnt given a windows xp setup disk, i found out that its saved in the c:\i386 or something, i run a file called winnt32 and it started the installation process. It asked me for the product serial code, and i entered it, just to let you know it is a authentic XP setup. It started to install, All went good untill it couldnt find a certain file, i click on retry but no luck, so i clicked on skip, this happend 2/3 times. The installation completed. Now when i turn on the computer, on the desktop, there is just the recycling bin. I then went to system hardware to check if all my devices reinstalled themselves, all but, 802.11 n Wlan, ethernet controller, multimedia audio controller, pci modem, video controller. I installed my wireless internet software on to the computer, and plugged in the wireless adapter when instructed, there is no wireless activity whatsoever, Also there is system restore in the start menu, i tried to run it manually but it just wouldnt run. please can you help get my pc back working properly

The hardware that did not install is normally due to specific driver files that were stored on a seperate CD for installation. Go to Dell >support >driver/downloads and under your model of computer and your operating sytem there should be a page with all the drivers that are needed to start up your hardware. Download them and install them one at a time and you should get every thing back to normal. http://support.dell.com/support/dow... Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

thanks for the prompt reply, i was meant to say there is no option 4 a system restore, is there any programs i could download and put on a disk to see wat the hardware is? many thanks

my pc didnt come with an xp install disk!

It would have originally come with a CD with the OS on - even the operating manual HERE mentions it and also gives full instructions on 'should you need to reinstall..' "I've always been mad, I know I've been mad, like the most of us..."

http://support.gateway.com/s/SOFTWA... Grrrr "...pentathol makes you sing like a canary" ... got brain freeze

I have a Dell XPS400 with O/S WinXP MCE 2005 and when I wanted to re-install O/S I was told that all Dell PC's come with a hidden partition that you can use to reset the computer to the factory default setup . This makes the PC the way it was the day you recieved it from the factory . In my case I could not get the partition to restore my PC becasue of a forgotten administrator password ! However when I purchased the PC new from Dell they sent me all the needed CD's to reinstall the O/S a OEM version of Windows XP MCE 2005 and a Drivers and Utilities CD ,plus all of the software that came with my PC ! Norton Anti-Virus ,Roxio CD Creator Plus ,Encrata ,and several disk for the Microsoft Office Suite ! If you did not recieve these CD's go to the Dell web site and request them ! Good Luck ,Nick