Computer will not start due to missing or corrupt Windows root sys

[Guest]

My Windows XP Home will not start due to missing or corrupt flie: <Windows
root>\ system 32\ hal.dll (error message)

I need to reinstall a copy of the above file according to the error message

The System32 folder and its subfolders contain the core operating system
files for Windows XP

What should I do to correct this problem?
I cannot find my Windows XP Setup from the operating system CD.

Bob

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My Windows XP Home will not start due to missing or corrupt flie: <Windows
root>\ system 32\ hal.dll (error message)

I need to reinstall a copy of the above file according to the error
message

The System32 folder and its subfolders contain the core operating system
files for Windows XP

What should I do to correct this problem?
I cannot find my Windows XP Setup from the operating system CD.

Bob

this can be due to a damaged boot.ini file. Fortunately, this is a text
file and you can use any XP boot CD to get to the Recovery Console and edit
the boot.ini, or any Linux boot CD, or you can remove the drive, attach it
to another XP system, and edit it there.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm

You can also rebuild the boot.ini from the recovery console, with the
bootcfg /rebuild command.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000648.htm

If the boot.ini doesn't appear corrupted, search for hal.dll. If it truly
is gone, you're probably going to need to get another copy of your XP CD and
rerun Setup. Apparently there's a business, http://www.restoredisks.com,
which can supply many OEM restore disks. Prices seem reasonable.

Googling the actual error message you see will get you much more
information.

HTH
-pk