[marliz]

I am using windows XP on my work computer. (It's not internet connected) and can't boot into windows. The message comes up indicating I need to replace <windows root>\system32\hal.dll

I have my operating system disk but don't know how to use it to replace the file. Repair brings me to the prompt, and I can access my installation disk, but haven't a clue how to find the corrupt file to replace it.

Another option is to run windows install, which would be a last resort since it would wipe my system drive clean.

Should I search for hall.dll online (using my older computer) and put it on a floppy, then copy it into my root directory? Can anyone give me some advice?

Thank you so much for suggestions!
Peggy

[muckshifter]

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1155/

[Stevecook]

Found this on the web

For the Hal.dll file missing problem do this:
1.Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2.At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3.Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
4.Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
5.Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
6.Type exit and take out the CD ROM

The problem is the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive is misconfigured.

[Dezran]

Originally Posted by Stevecook

Found this on the web

For the Hal.dll file missing problem do this:
1.Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2.At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3.Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
4.Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
5.Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
6.Type exit and take out the CD ROM

The problem is the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive is misconfigured.

I encountered this problem yesterday and followed these instructions precisely as they are found almost verbatim on several forums and websites. They did not work in my circumstance. I also tried replacing the hal.dll with (what should be) a good copy, this did not work either. Ultimately after several hours of trying various other options, I was forced to do a Windows Repair to fix the issue as muckshifter suggested in his post.

Now on to the odd part. My roommate called not long ago to tell me that her PC kicked out this same error this morning... Are there any viruses/trojans going around right now that might be affecting this file? I've been doing a little searching, but haven't turned up anything yet except this fix, which hasn't worked for me. I just find it extremely odd that my PC has been running without issue for only about 6 months and the other PC on the network has been running for well over a year without issue, and suddenly they both develop the same problem within the span of 2 days.

Thanks.

[muckshifter]

Nope! no 'viruses' going around ... it is more common than you have seen.

Short for hardware abstraction layer, programming in an operating system that functions as an interface between a system’s hardware and software, providing a consistent hardware platform on which to run applications. When a HAL is employed, applications do not access hardware directly but access the abstract layer provided by the HAL. Like APIs, HALs allow applications to be device-independent because they abstract information from such systems as caches, I/O buses and interrupts and use this data to give the software a way to interact with the specific requirements of the hardware on which it is running.

... it goes wrong.

[Dezran]

Cool, thanks for the quick answer.

I just found it a little odd and thought it wouldn't hurt to pose the question.

[DeclanByrne]

Anyone any idea what you do if you do not have a Windows XPCD, only an eMachines recovery disk?

Declan

[muckshifter]

Originally Posted by DeclanByrne

Anyone any idea what you do if you do not have a Windows XPCD, only an eMachines recovery disk?

Declan

If you can 'borrow' the right XP CD off a friend and use your code on your sticker then the only other course is a re-install.

Sorry.

[Proof]

I got a big problem I don't even know what happened. I was using my computer and it was working perfectly fine. Next day I start it up again and the only thing I keep getting is

< windows root > / system 32 /hal. dll.

I've tried to boot from my windows xp cd and I just keep getting the same message. I've changed the boot priority so it can boot from the cd first and the same message pops up

If anyone can help me let me know

[Dejablue]

Just last night this terror happened to me. A virus was eating up my computer so I decided to do a System Restore. But the process froze so I rebooted and tried again. It Froze. So I rebooted a third time and the System Restore wouldn't even START because of error messages stating that some files could not be opened and copied.

I tried Safe Mode. That didn't work. I'm not sure of what else to do outside of using the Windows XP install CD. But my problem is that I don't HAVE the install CD. My computer was given to me by my aunt. But she did not give me the disk and I doubt she has it anymore. So my computer is destroyed (I can only get online at school now), and I have no CD to fix it. So I'm desperate, how can I get my hands on a Windows XP installation CD?? I'm willing to buy it because of course I have no other options right now.

And just this morning I turned my computer on at a whim and recieved the \system32\hal.dll. message.