Â
When I tried to start up my Dell laptop, I am receiving an error message caused by installation of the new hardware/software. When troubleshooting windows in Safe mode, it keeps saying that the System32DRIVERSisapnp.sys is corrupted/ missing. Also, I do not have the installation CD to try reinstalling Windows. How can I resolve the issue? Please help.Â
The problem appears because the Isapnp.sys file on your machine is corrupted or damaged or is either not existing in your System32DRIVERS path. To fix this, you need to run the Recovery Console in the Windows XP installation disk to replace the missing file. Just simply do the following:
1. Run the Windows XP disk and then press R at the Welcome screen. If you will be asked with the Administrator password, type it and press enter.
2. Go to the C:Windows Prompt and type: ren c:windowssystem32driversisapnp.sys isapnp.old and then press enter. (C: is where your Windows is installed)
3. And then type the following and press enter: expand cd-romdrive:i386isapnp.sy_ c:windowssystem32driversisapnp.sys. Change the value of cd-romdrive to the drive letter of your CD ROM.
4. Type exit when the file is already extracted and enter to close the Recovery Console.
5. Restart your computer.
If you do not have the Windows disk, you can ask a friend who already have it and then copy it on a CD or DVD. Or you can also create a bootable USB drive with Windows XP in it. For instructions on how to create a bootable disk, you may refer to the link below:
How to create a bootable USB disk?
Or you can also run the following command on the Command Prompt. Just click Start and then Run. Type CMD and press Enter. Type SFC /SCANNOW to repair Windows System Files and replace those that are missing.
