winxp pro cant boot to desktop in safe mode

[galerie]

hello. I can't boot normally in winxp pro or in safe mode. It comes up to the desktop screen but nothing else. no icons or taskbar. I can't right click to see if active desktop is on or not. The weird thing is that i get a messsage saying new hardware found VIA Bus Master Drivers, insert cd to install new hardware. I put in the cd, it doesn't find it, i downloaded newer drivers off the net, still doesn't find it. Does anyone know what the problem would be. I really don't want to do a reinstall of the OS. I ran stinger to see if I had any viruses and did run spybot, I can do a few things through task manger but typing file new and then running.

[Ferrit]

What's the hardware in it?
You said you downloaded drivers for it.
How did you use them? Off a floppy? Were they unzipped or what.
You might remove all non essential hardware like modems nics and sound and try a boot that way

[natcom]

try a repaire install of windows xp

[galerie]

I can't find my winxp cd. can it be repaired without it?

[Ferrit]

I would rather doubt it.
I could be wrong though never tried it
Time to start hunting

[tommo666]

You could try, to get a desktop:

right click on task bar(if there) select 'task manager, if not ctrl-alt-delete and select task manager, then file, new task. And type in explorer. This may get you to a desktop where you might be able to get to device manager etc..

[geoscomp]

Windows should have native drivers for the via chipset..next time the new hardware wizard comes up..just tell windows to search automatically and don't put in a cd

[galerie]

thanks guys, I tried to let windows search for it, and it can't find the drives.... I guess i will need to look hard this weekend for the CD.