Reload XP over itself on an OEM machine

So I have an HP Pavilion zt1135 notebook pc running Windows XP with Service Pack 1. I bought a Brother MFC-5100c scanner/printer/fax/copier and the Brother installation is throwing me an error messxage "cannot install this hardware - device not found in the INF file ". Brother says I need to reload windows over itself, that I should be able to without losing my installed progms and user files, but that I need a Windows XP disc to it. The computer came preloaded with XP and included rescue discs only. The rescue discs reformat the hard drive - no options.
Any suggestions?
-Joe

 

The error simply means that the inf file doesn't reference what Windows thinks the hardware is. I would contact Brother, see if there's an updated driver for the printer, for the OS you're using.
This is NOT a case of having to reload the OS, stupid HP ****.

 

Go to this page on Brother's site to get the drivers for XP.

Or....look at the install CD you're using and make sure it has XP drivers on it. Some hardware is now shipping with 2 CDS...one for 95/95/ME and the other for 2000/XP.