Missing or corrupt Windows root\system32\hal.dll

[gizmo87]

Hello i'm in serious need of help :)

 

I have a Packard Bell PC running xp, on startup i get this error message Windows root\system32\hal.dll please replace (or something smiliar)

 

I can't boot in safe mode, when i went into bios the computer is seeing the HDD but i just wont start up at all and i've tried every suggestion i've found on forums, even down to silly things like checking cables and removing and replacing RAM:-s

I have no recovery disk and i'm not too bothered about losing the data, there's nothing on there that i desperately dont want to lose.

 

I have heard that i can connect the HDD as a slave to my other PC with a working version of xp and replace the corrupt files that way?????

 

I have no idea how to do it and wondered if someone can talk me through it, if it is at all possible?

 

Thanks :-D

[Jelly Bean]

I have not heard of connecting to another PC to repair the files maybe someone else knows how.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

 

Have you tried rebooting the computer and booting into recovery console?

 

Thats if it has the hidden recovery console installed.

 

This is press F11 key on startup.

Packard Bell Recovery Management opens.

Click Restore system from factory default.

Caution: Continuing the process will erase all files on your hard drive.

Click Next to continue. Your hard drive's original, factory-loaded contents are recovered. This process will take several minutes

[gizmo87]

No i haven't tried that, i'll give it a go now and get back to you, thankyou :) *fingers crossed*

[Jelly Bean]

Fingers crossed for you babe.

[gizmo87]

Just tried it, i've got a blue screen saying "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer"

 

IT's telling me to check for viruses and make sure the hard drive is properly configured.. But obviously i cant check for viruses if i cant get on to the computer lol

[Jelly Bean]

Here is what to try:

 

Restart the computer and on the screen it will say "? press to enter setup" ? could be F1,F2,Del or another key,press the key it tells you to.Once in BIOS/Setup it will tell you what key to load default settings.

 

If you are unsure of the BIOS,power off the computer and remove from power outlet.Remove BIOS battery for 2 mins replace reboot.

 

Restart the computer and repeatedly tap F8 and choose last known good config,if that dont work restart the computer and repeatedly tap F8 and choose safe mode with networking.Does that work.

 

Is the hard drive even reconised on startup screen or in BIOS?

[gizmo87]

Yep, tired that, it's now going on to a black screen, white writing saying

 

Searching for boot record from IDE-0.. not found

Searching for boot record from cdrom.. not found

searching for boot record from BBS-0.. ok

 

Searching for boot record from SCSI.. not found

[Jelly Bean]

Are you sure you connected everything back up inside correctly?

 

What was your choice to get the items saying not forund?

 

Is your hard drive and CD/DVD rom drives connected to diffrent IDE cables and in the correct ports?

 

You may have a dead hard drive.

[gizmo87]

Yeah, i've checked all that :-/

 

I think i'll just admit defeat on this one and just grab a new hard drive lol

 

I appreciate all your help though :-D Thanks so much :)

[Jelly Bean]

You can purchase a recovery disk from Packard Bell.

 

If you have another computer with the exact same operating system you can make recovery disks using that one and possibly use them on the problem machine.

 

Would you like to try that?

 

Even if you buy a new hard drive you still need install disks.

[Jeanstephen26598]

"The following file is missing or corrupt Windows\System32\Hal.dll"

 

This error message may arise if the System32 hal.dll file is missing or corrupt in your system. You need to boot your computer by your operating system(eg. Windows XP) CD. After that start the Recovery Console. Then use the Bootcfg.exe tool to rebuild the Boot.ini file.

 

If you are getting problem doing that, then follow the tutorial Fix error the following file is missing or corrupt System32 Hal.dll

 

 

Good Luck

Edited December 16, 2010 by Jeanstephen26598

[KenB]

Hi,

 

As J-B has suggested - your hard drive may well have died - or the section that contains the Boot.ini is corrupt. There could be numerous reasons for this. HAL.dll refers to the Hardware Abstraction Layer . This allows Windows to communicate with the system hardware.

 

The "repair" involves using an XP installation CD. If you can borrow one ( it would need to be the same version of XP ) you could use this.

 

If you connected the drive as a slave on another system ( relatively easy to do ) you could check the drive to see if it was a hardware problem. I would suggest that this was the way to go - at least you would know if you needed to buy a new hard drive or not and you may even be able to get at your files to recover them ......even though you say they are not needed :)

[Synapse]

Just wanted to add another way to work with KenB's suggestion.........

 

You can get away with the boot.ini repair using a Recovery Console CD for XP - its around this forum somewhere, here's another link.

 

Boot to Recovery Console w/o XP CD - PC Pitstop Forums

 

Write the ISO, boot into the recovery console and follow these instructions

 

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer