hal.dll

[Guest Benny]

Hi my Windows Xp Media center, cant get into Windows because of an error

saying "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or

corrupt.

Windows root\system32\hal.dll.

Please re-install a copy of the above file." and I have looked all over the

internet and it all says to use Windows Xp CD, which I don't have! and I have

bought my Windows Xp Media center PC in 2005 without a CD.

 

Please, please help me!!!

My computer has very important files and I don't know what to do!

Thank you.

[Guest Malke]

Re: hal.dll

 

Benny wrote:

> Hi my Windows Xp Media center, cant get into Windows because of an error

> saying "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or

> corrupt.

> Windows root\system32\hal.dll.

> Please re-install a copy of the above file." and I have looked all over

> the internet and it all says to use Windows Xp CD, which I don't have! and

> I have bought my Windows Xp Media center PC in 2005 without a CD.

>

> Please, please help me!!!

> My computer has very important files and I don't know what to do!

> Thank you.

 

I'm afraid you will need a real Windows Media Center install disk. I'll give

you the fix, but you can't do this without an install disk. Because it

would be unlikely for an end user to have an MCE install disk, you might

try substituting an XP Pro disk instead. You really only need to be able to

get to the Recovery Console. Perhaps a friend has an XP disk you can

borrow. Otherwise you'll need to take the machine to a local computer

professional which, I'm afraid, will not be free. I don't suggest using a

BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place.

 

Sidenote: when this is all over, create and institute a backup strategy.

Your last comment indicates to me that you haven't been backing up your

data and that's just asking for Tears Before Bedtime.

 

*****

WINDOWS COULD NOT FIND START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR

CORRUPT

WINDOWS ROOT>\SYSTEM32\hal.dll

 

That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file

that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is

looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the first

one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot the XP CD

and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any

password requested is blank, and TAB over.

 

Use

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

DEL C:\boot.ini

to delete the bad one

BootCfg /Rebuild

 

to search for Windows installations and make a new one.

*****

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Benny]

Re: hal.dll

 

 

 

"Malke" wrote:

> Benny wrote:

>

> > Hi my Windows Xp Media center, cant get into Windows because of an error

> > saying "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or

> > corrupt.

> > Windows root\system32\hal.dll.

> > Please re-install a copy of the above file." and I have looked all over

> > the internet and it all says to use Windows Xp CD, which I don't have! and

> > I have bought my Windows Xp Media center PC in 2005 without a CD.

> >

> > Please, please help me!!!

> > My computer has very important files and I don't know what to do!

> > Thank you.

>

> I'm afraid you will need a real Windows Media Center install disk. I'll give

> you the fix, but you can't do this without an install disk. Because it

> would be unlikely for an end user to have an MCE install disk, you might

> try substituting an XP Pro disk instead. You really only need to be able to

> get to the Recovery Console. Perhaps a friend has an XP disk you can

> borrow. Otherwise you'll need to take the machine to a local computer

> professional which, I'm afraid, will not be free. I don't suggest using a

> BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place.

>

> Sidenote: when this is all over, create and institute a backup strategy.

> Your last comment indicates to me that you haven't been backing up your

> data and that's just asking for Tears Before Bedtime.

>

> *****

> WINDOWS COULD NOT FIND START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR

> CORRUPT

> WINDOWS ROOT>\SYSTEM32\hal.dll

>

> That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file

> that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is

> looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the first

> one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot the XP CD

> and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any

> password requested is blank, and TAB over.

>

> Use

> Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

> DEL C:\boot.ini

> to delete the bad one

> BootCfg /Rebuild

>

> to search for Windows installations and make a new one.

> *****

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>

 

Okay i went into the XP Pro CD and I did evrything like you said but this part

> Use

> Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

> DEL C:\boot.ini

> to delete the bad one

> BootCfg /Rebuild

didnt work...

 

typed in

attrib -h -r -s c:\boot.ini

then it says

"The system cannot find the file or directory specified."

then i tried

del c:\boot.ini

and it says

An error occurred during directory enumeration.

then i tried

bootcfg /rebuild

and it says

Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

Please wait, since this may take a while....

Error: Failed to succesfully scan disks for Windows installations.

This error may be coused by a corrupt file system, which whould

prevent Bootcfg from succesfully scanning. Use chkdsk to ditect any errors.

[Guest Malke]

Re: hal.dll

 

Benny wrote:

> Okay i went into the XP Pro CD and I did evrything like you said but this

> part

>> Use

>> Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

>> DEL C:\boot.ini

>> to delete the bad one

>> BootCfg /Rebuild

> didnt work...

>

> typed in

> attrib -h -r -s c:\boot.ini

> then it says

> "The system cannot find the file or directory specified."

> then i tried

> del c:\boot.ini

> and it says

> An error occurred during directory enumeration.

> then i tried

> bootcfg /rebuild

> and it says

> Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

> Please wait, since this may take a while....

> Error: Failed to succesfully scan disks for Windows installations.

> This error may be coused by a corrupt file system, which whould

> prevent Bootcfg from succesfully scanning. Use chkdsk to ditect any

> errors.

 

Perhaps you should do what is suggested then and try a Chkdsk. Maybe your

hard drive is dying. There's just no way for me to know without being able

to see the machine.

 

How to use Chkdsk - http://tinyurl.com/2obcd

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Benny]

Re: hal.dll

 

 

 

"Malke" wrote:

> Benny wrote:

>

> > Okay i went into the XP Pro CD and I did evrything like you said but this

> > part

> >> Use

> >> Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

> >> DEL C:\boot.ini

> >> to delete the bad one

> >> BootCfg /Rebuild

> > didnt work...

> >

> > typed in

> > attrib -h -r -s c:\boot.ini

> > then it says

> > "The system cannot find the file or directory specified."

> > then i tried

> > del c:\boot.ini

> > and it says

> > An error occurred during directory enumeration.

> > then i tried

> > bootcfg /rebuild

> > and it says

> > Scanning all disks for Windows installations.

> > Please wait, since this may take a while....

> > Error: Failed to succesfully scan disks for Windows installations.

> > This error may be coused by a corrupt file system, which whould

> > prevent Bootcfg from succesfully scanning. Use chkdsk to ditect any

> > errors.

>

> Perhaps you should do what is suggested then and try a Chkdsk. Maybe your

> hard drive is dying. There's just no way for me to know without being able

> to see the machine.

>

> How to use Chkdsk - http://tinyurl.com/2obcd

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>

 

I have tried chkdsk many times...

Is there a way I can copy some of my files over to a CD or something?

[Guest Malke]

Re: hal.dll

 

Benny wrote:

> I have tried chkdsk many times...

> Is there a way I can copy some of my files over to a CD or something?

 

Assuming that the hard drive is physically sound, here are some general data

retrieval suggestions:

 

1. Pull the drive and slave it in a computer running a working install of

XP/Vista. Depending on the target drive's characteristics, you may need a

drive adapter; i.e., laptop-to-IDE or a SATA controller card, etc. A

usb/firewire external drive enclosure works very well, too. Use the working

Windows Explorer to copy the data to the rescue system's hard drive and

then burn the data to cd or dvd.

 

2. Often XP/Vista will not boot with a slaved drive that has a damaged file

system. In that case, boot the target computer with either a Bart's PE or a

Linux live cd such as Knoppix and retrieve the data that way. Here is

general information on using Knoppix for this:

 

You will need a computer with two cd drives, one of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR

a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to hold your data OR an external

usb/firewire hard drive formatted FAT32 (not NTFS)*. To get Knoppix, you

need a computer with a fast Internet connection and third-party burning

software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your bootable cd. Then boot

with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you are using the

usb thumb drive or the external hard drive, right-click on its icon (on the

Desktop) to get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read Only".

Then click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action in the

window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open instead of

the traditional MS Windows' double-click. If you want to burn CD/DVDs, use

the K3b program.

 

*My understanding is that you can now write to an NTFS partition from Linux.

If you wish to do this, Google for instructions.

 

http://www.knoppix.net

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Benny]

Re: hal.dll

 

 

 

"Malke" wrote:

> Benny wrote:

>

> > I have tried chkdsk many times...

> > Is there a way I can copy some of my files over to a CD or something?

>

> Assuming that the hard drive is physically sound, here are some general data

> retrieval suggestions:

>

> 1. Pull the drive and slave it in a computer running a working install of

> XP/Vista. Depending on the target drive's characteristics, you may need a

> drive adapter; i.e., laptop-to-IDE or a SATA controller card, etc. A

> usb/firewire external drive enclosure works very well, too. Use the working

> Windows Explorer to copy the data to the rescue system's hard drive and

> then burn the data to cd or dvd.

>

> 2. Often XP/Vista will not boot with a slaved drive that has a damaged file

> system. In that case, boot the target computer with either a Bart's PE or a

> Linux live cd such as Knoppix and retrieve the data that way. Here is

> general information on using Knoppix for this:

>

> You will need a computer with two cd drives, one of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR

> a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to hold your data OR an external

> usb/firewire hard drive formatted FAT32 (not NTFS)*. To get Knoppix, you

> need a computer with a fast Internet connection and third-party burning

> software. Download the Knoppix .iso and create your bootable cd. Then boot

> with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you are using the

> usb thumb drive or the external hard drive, right-click on its icon (on the

> Desktop) to get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read Only".

> Then click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action in the

> window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open instead of

> the traditional MS Windows' double-click. If you want to burn CD/DVDs, use

> the K3b program.

>

> *My understanding is that you can now write to an NTFS partition from Linux.

> If you wish to do this, Google for instructions.

>

> http://www.knoppix.net

> http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>

 

 

Hi Malke

I think I have tried many things already but I have one more idea...

Would it help if I get a Recovery CD from some where, and do a recovery?

I also have a Windows Vista Home Premium Laptop and there is this Recovery

Manager program... Can I make a Recovery CD for Windows XP exactly?

And if not where could I get one or download one for free?

[Guest Malke]

Re: hal.dll

 

Benny wrote:

 

Hi Malke

> I think I have tried many things already but I have one more idea...

> Would it help if I get a Recovery CD from some where, and do a recovery?

> I also have a Windows Vista Home Premium Laptop and there is this Recovery

> Manager program... Can I make a Recovery CD for Windows XP exactly?

> And if not where could I get one or download one for free?

 

I can't possibly answer that question accurately. I already told you how to

get an XP install CD - which is where you will find the Recovery Console,

not in some separate "Recovery CD" - borrow one from a friend that matches

your version or take the machine to a shop.

 

I'm sorry but I really don't have anything further to add to this thread.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Benny]

Re: hal.dll

 

 

 

"Malke" wrote:

> Benny wrote:

>

> Hi Malke

> > I think I have tried many things already but I have one more idea...

> > Would it help if I get a Recovery CD from some where, and do a recovery?

> > I also have a Windows Vista Home Premium Laptop and there is this Recovery

> > Manager program... Can I make a Recovery CD for Windows XP exactly?

> > And if not where could I get one or download one for free?

>

> I can't possibly answer that question accurately. I already told you how to

> get an XP install CD - which is where you will find the Recovery Console,

> not in some separate "Recovery CD" - borrow one from a friend that matches

> your version or take the machine to a shop.

>

> I'm sorry but I really don't have anything further to add to this thread.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>

 

Okay Thank you vey much!