What to do?

[Bob]

I posted this in alt.windows-xp last week, but had no response. Original
problem was add-remove program would not work, but then found out other
things were messed up. Googling didn't help much, so decided to post here in
hopes of some help.

Trying to reinstall my printer with installation cd i get this message:
This application or dll c:windows\system32\dll is not a valid windows image.
Check this against your installation disk.
Not only this but system restore does not work, tried to reinstall xp with
cd, can get past product id, then won't do anything. ( This is purchased
copy of xp home) All this plus the add-remove programs still won't work.
Just for the heck of it, I downloaded the driver for printer from HP
website, but it gives the same message as above. Figure my registry is
screwed up, but don't know what to do. Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Kent_Diego]

I posted this in alt.windows-xp last week, but had no response. Original
problem was add-remove program would not work, but then found out other
things were messed up. Googling didn't help much, so decided to post here
in hopes of some help.

Trying to reinstall my printer with installation cd i get this message:
This application or dll c:windows\system32\dll is not a valid windows
image.
Check this against your installation disk.
Not only this but system restore does not work, tried to reinstall xp with
cd, can get past product id, then won't do anything. ( This is purchased
copy of xp home) All this plus the add-remove programs still won't work.
Just for the heck of it, I downloaded the driver for printer from HP
website, but it gives the same message as above. Figure my registry is
screwed up, but don't know what to do. Any suggestions appreciated

Read this:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
A Repair Install (the second R) has always worked for me. Did you boot from
the Windows XP CD? If this is not working and the work arounds in above link
do not help please write back. After performing a Repair Install you will
need to run Windows Update several times to get SP2 and all updates.

 

[Rod Speed]

I posted this in alt.windows-xp last week, but had no response.
Original problem was add-remove program would not work, but then found out other things
were messed up. Googling didn't help much, so decided to post here in hopes of some
help.

Trying to reinstall my printer with installation cd i get this message: This application
or dll c:windows\system32\dll is not a valid windows image. Check this against your
installation disk.

Not only this but system restore does not work, tried to reinstall xp with cd, can get
past product id, then won't do anything.

That makes it look like its developed a serious hardware problem
if by reinstall you mean a clean reinstall on a formatted partition.

( This is purchased copy of xp home) All this plus the add-remove programs still won't
work. Just for the heck of it, I downloaded the driver for printer from HP website, but
it gives the same message as above.
Figure my registry is screwed up,

That wont prevent a clean install, with the partition formatted.

but don't know what to do. Any suggestions appreciated

If you didnt format the partition before the reinstall, try that now.

 

[Bob]

I can boot with xp cd but do not have an option for "R", unless I'm missing
something. Trying to fix or repair without doing format and reinstall. As i
said restore won't work, most programs working with no problem, just
add-remove and can't install printer. Plus still gettting this message on
some things----.This application or dll c:windows\system32\dll is not a
valid windows

 

[Rod Speed]

I can boot with xp cd but do not have an option for "R", unless I'm missing something.

Yes you are. You operate as if you are doing a
new install, tell it to install it where it already is, dont
format that partition, and THEN the install will say its
discovered the original install and offer to repair that.

Often called a repair install.

Trying to fix or repair without doing format and reinstall.

Thats what that is doing, no format.