struggling with missing dlls, don't have original windows xp disc

ARGH.

I'm frustrated. So-called missing dll's are making progress impossible. In fact they are not actually missing but are actually there right where the installer suggests looking: c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386

The diagnostic workflow suggested by microsoft here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894351

it does not work - "Method 2" is the approach I'm supposed to be folowing but not having a windows disc, I'm flat out of luck - they do not provide even the slightest clue as to how to deal with my situation. What's my situation? I have an Acer laptop, and I'm sure it's not that unique to have a machine that comes pre=installed with Windows and no discs - only proprietary recovery discs to return a machine to its factory defaults, something I am disinclined to pursue. So essentially if you can either provide me with a solution to my missing dll's OR tell me how a repackaged windows machine gets around having windows discs to follow the repair steps...then you're my magic friend.

 

What are you actually doing when you get the "missing dll" message - installing something?

 

yes, attempting to install visual studio

 

there is a problem with IIS having been deactivated at one point. going into add/remove and checking it doesnt work. is there another way to get it going?

 

What is your Windows version?

When you get that "missing dll" error during the installation, doesn't the installer prompt you to supply a location for the dll (e.g. c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386)?

Regarding IIS - can you go to Add/Remove Programs, then do a repair?

 

windows xp sp3.

yes, sending the dialog ( i should say that it already knows where to look...i can se the file it wants) to the file does not work.

this is triggered by checking the box ON in the add/remove windows components. Currently I am downloading sp3 and trying a fix I found that may (or may not) have worked - extracting its contents and using them in place of the cd being asked for...