[SlapnutSkits]

Right, so I decided to format my hard drive and reinstall Windows XP.

Installation finishes, I turn my laptop on to find that the laptop is no longer Wireless compatible (even my wireless dongle wont install), and my USB keyboard won't install (keeps telling me to insert the Windows XP disk, but this doesn't do anything).

If I insert the Windows XP disk I get the option of upgrading Windows. It asks me for the serial number, but oh no...the serial number is invalid.

I'm completely at a loss. I have a laptop plugged into a router in order to get internet connection, with no keyboard to use (I spilled milk on the laptop keyboard some time ago), and an invalid serial number (which has been used successfully in the past).

What the hell do I do?

Help would be greatly appreciated,
Cheers.

[SlapnutSkits]

UPDATE: Keyboard has started working, but still no luck with the wireless or serial number issues.

I pressed FN + F2 and found that "Netgear DG834GT Router" has appeared in My Network Places, but when I double click on it, it asks me for a username and password.

[link590o]

try reinstalling the wireless drivers. you should have a resource disc that allows you to install various hardware drivers. check for the wireless driver, reinstall it, and check to see if it's working. and probably the reason you're getting the INVALID SERIAL NUMBER is because you already activated your copy of windows, and using it anywhere else will be considered piracy. i dunno. that's my guess.

but yeah..drivers. try it.

[SlapnutSkits]

Cant seem to find any wireless drivers on the Windows XP disk. As far as I know I dont have any other sort of disk.

[samjohnson]

What is the make of your laptop. You will need to go to the manufactures website to get the drivers. As for the invalid CD key, sounds like you didn't use the one that was for the laptop. Could be wrong but if you used one that is on a computer already than it won't work.

[SlapnutSkits]

I just downloaded the drivers from the Packard Bell website but I had an error message:

"This program requires Windows NT version 5.01.2600 or later"

I'm using my cousin's XP disk, and I'm starting to think it's a dodgy copy. There are no audio drivers since I reinstalled XP, and when I tried running the drivers downloaded from the Packard Bell website I had the same error message as above. I've also noticed that the scroll bar is moving really slowly on Internet Explorer and Firefox.

[link590o]

the only real suggestion i, or anyone else can give you at this point is buy a new XP disc. which is really, well and truly, biting the bullet. because now that Vista is out, and microshi7 wants people to buy that instead, the price of XP is now exorbitant. last i checked, it was EASILY 200 dollars.

best case scenario is you try reformatting and run the setup for XP again with the disc you have and it clears up some of the mistakes that occurred. either that or you try Vista. if it were me, i would be beyond the point of caring what OS it was as long as it got my computer working.

i'm just honestly not sure where else to go from here. you can't reinstall the drivers necessary for wireless, and your XP copy is acting up. what else IS there to do really?

taking all of what has been said into consideration, your thread title is slightly less than adequate. in fact it puts things rather delicately.

i really feel sorry for you mate. this is such a crappy situation to be in.

[samjohnson]

As for the error message, it looks like you didn't select to download the drivers for XP. You have to make sure that you are downloading the drivers for the OS you have. As for why your computer is acting up I am with link, try and reinstall and see if it fixes it. if not then just get a another copy. I wouldn't go for the retail version, you can get the OEM version for $90.

[SlapnutSkits]

Cheers for the help. I think I'm just gonna splash out and buy a new laptop. I have plenty of other minor issues that it would probably be best.

Cheers.