BleepingComputer.com: Laptop

I am in big trouble on this one.I did something real stupid.My mother-in-law gave my wife her old Gateway laptop.I decided to reinstall XP.When I booted from CD it said XP version is newer than the operating disk.So idiot me uninstalled a service pack from the computer because I thought that would do it.It is after all 5years old.Guess what?Won't boot normally,last known config or in safe mode.The only thing I get is safe mode with command prompt.Unfortunaetly I don't know what the hell to do with that.I tried to put the operating disk in the CD drive but don't know what to do.Can I get the drive to work from the prompt so I can reinstall or am I screwed.One other thing,it won't boot from CD either.I hope someone can help because if I don't fix this my sex life is over for good.Thanx,Tony.

<<When I booted from CD...>>

What CD would that be? Provided by Gateway? Provided by Microsoft?

What model Gateway system?

Do you have the Gateway XP license info...to complete the attempted install of XP?

Louis

The disk says Gateway operating system and the model is Gateway DS Solo1450 LS.I also have the receipt with all the info and the license info,Tony.

Gateway Reference #1, Repair Install

Gateway Reference #2, Clean Install

Louis

Thank-you for the reply,will give it a try.One thing though,when I try to do anything an error message comes up that says
Normaliz.dll is missing.

<<...when I try to do anything...>>

Exactly...what is "anything"?

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrorm...ssing-error.htm

I don't understand how a Windows system file...is pertinent if you are trying to do a clean install.

Sooo...tell us exactly what you are trying to do...when this error occurs...and post the exact error message.

Louis

When I turn on the computer it goes through the motions and after the welcome screen comes up so does ther error message.
Goes like this-on top of the error window it says Explorer.EXE-Unable to locate component.Below that is the error message which says- This application has failed to start because Normaliz.dll was not found.Re-installing the application may fix this problem.
When I close that window there is just a blue screen.I can only bring up the task manager which allows me to restart or shutdown.
I can't boot into safe mode screen just remains black.I can boot in safe mode with command prompt but don't know what to do there.When I put in the operating system disk and reboot the puter starts with the welcome screen again.I did get into the BIOS and it's set to first boot from cd-rom so I don't know what to do now,Tony.

OK, let's try...boot into safe mode with command prompt.

Type chkdsk /r (exactly as written, space between k and /) and hit Enter.

A system repair process should begin and run.

This appears to be a problem related to IE 7 beta editions...not sure what you did, but you probably should not have done it.

Info purposes only: http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1503492

What I personally would try...is downloading IE 8 and installing same (if possible).

While you are in safe mode...see if you can access Windows Update.

Louis

Thanx Louis,will give it a try and you are right about one thing,shouldn't have done it,Tony.

Thanx again for all your help Louis.Did the chkdsk and went fine.IE8 is the browser anyway.I guess I shouldn't have uninstalled the service pack.Unfortunaetly I will have to pay for my stupidity.Without explorer.exe I can't seem to do anything,Tony.

The answers to these situations varies...see http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp...73b11f867dbecea.

It's not Explorer.exe that's missing...the error message indicates that explorer.exe cannot find the named file...in your case, normaliz.dll.

You need a Microsoft XP CD (with SP3 included)...to attempt a repair install (IMO) or try one of the procedures listed at the Google link.

Worth a look, http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=800348

Louis