Linux ISO discs and Uninstalled Windows Drive

Hello,

I have an Acer Aspire Desktop PC whose single Hiatachi 160GB hard drive (Registry?) is corrupted that I cannot connect to the intemet with, period! In addition, I have the current version of Wipe Drive 5.0, which both erases the hard drive completely clean to DOD or similar commercial standards and then verifies that ALL sectors are clean.

Well, I went ahead and did a clean install of Windows XP Pro sp2 with a borrowed CD disc for a Dell machine. It went well EXCEPT for one major problem/headache. When I go into Device Manager and look at the four or five controller devices under "Other Devices," all of the devices under the heading I just gave have the yellow question mark! Just those five. So, I am stuck and don't know what to do. Booting Linux from or as a "live CD" doesn't work, really, because I still have the drivers that need to be updated and installed on my hard drive running under Windows.

My last gasp was to try to download an ISO image of a CD/DVD freeware Linux program, burn the ISO copy to a DVD + ROM and then burn the updated drivers or whatever is needed on to the hard drive. Not even sure if this is right or how to know which ISO file to choose if downloaded software has more than one ISO files among all the dozens of others I don't even know what they are.

Can somebody PLEASE help me? Am I on the right track, even? I learn best if somebody breaks down a task -especially one I consider complex or difficult - into small, understandable "chunks." Oh, and by the way, yes I have RTFM and FAQ/Troubleshooting pages until my eyes cross. All I do in wind up even more confused. Is there no way to re-establish my internet connection through my installed copy of Windows XP or not? My ISP doesn't have any idea what's wrong or what to do. Just great. Hope there is some help our there and will greatly appreciate any I can get.

Barn48