Windows can't detect HDD because driver cache\i386 files are missing. PLZ HELP

The gigabyte disc had drivers and I slipstreamed all the 32bit drivers into a disc (which I also slipstreamed driverpacks onto). So I ended up with an xp disc with a whole lot of drivers, but guess what? It didn't work. So I'm throwing in the towel; time to get a new hard drive and salvage whatever I can from the old one. Thanks for all your help though, I really appreciate that you took the time to help somebody who's halfway across the world.

 

I am sorry that we could not repair your system.

You have learned quite a bit at least

 

Good news, I repaired my pc and you would never believe how easy it was.

 

please, tell how you did this for the benefit of someone else who may have your issue.

glad you got it working.

 

Turns out that the boot.ini file got deleted. Found the boot.ini.backup file in a folder called pss (it's in the windows folder). I copied it and renamed it to boot.ini and Bob's your uncle. You may wonder how I accessed the HDD. Easy; I connected another hard drive (with windows on it) and booted from it. After that I just navigated to the "damaged" hard drive and did the boot.ini thing. I can't believe how easy this was and hopefully anyone else with this problem will be helped.

 

Great!, also this is what fixboot and fixmbr would have done were you able to use the recovery console, or boot to hirens.

 

To all in this thread:

HOW TO DOWNLOAD SP3 FOR XP
http://www.computing.net/howtos/sho...ervice-pack-3-sp3-after-april-8-2014/916.html

sp3 is no longer carried at the microsoft download center