HAL.DLL

[Que Dang]

Then one day it happen... (even with all XP Pro up-to-
date patches and antivirus installed)
Monday night, laptop works fine... Boot up on Tuesday
morning, I received the following error message:
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.

Followed instructions from MSKB=330184; 291980 and 307654.

(#1) C:\>bootcfg /list
There are currently no boot entries available to display
(#2) C:\>bootcfg /rebuild
Scanning all disks for Windows installations.
Please wait... since this may take a while...
Error: Failed to successfully scan disks for windows
installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt file
system, which could prevent Bootcfg from successfully
scanning. Use CHKDSK to detect any disk errors.

(#3) C:\>chkdsk c: /p /r
CHKDSK is checking the volume ...
CHKDSK is performing additional checking or recovery ...

Comment: It took all day to do this, since I have a 60Gb

HD<
Volume is OK but can't recover

Then I tried (hoping to be able to boot up)
(#4) C:\>fixboot
The file system on the startup partition is unknown.
FIXBOOT is attempting to detect the file system type.
The bootsector is corrupt.
FIXBOOT is checking the filesystem type...
The partition is using the NTFS file system.
FIXBOOT is writing a new boot sector.
The new bootsector was successfully written.

(#5) As I used the upper arrow key to go through the key
stoke history (same as DOSKEY), I had a BLUE SCREEN w/
the following errors:

caused by the following file: SPCMDCON.SYS
PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

Tech. Info.:
STOP: 0X00000050 (0XF737825C, 0X00000000, 0XF73441B8,
0X00000000)
SPCMDCON.SYS - Address F73441B8 base at F7342000
Datestamp 3b7d8507

(#6) I have tried to lookup MSKB=817197 for help, but its
error did not match w/ mine as showed on (#5)

(#7) I redo the whole process once more; but when I tried
the BOOTCFG /rebuild again, it displayed the same message
as step# 2 (going circle).

The ironic thing about this was that I just finished
consolidate all my backup from CD-RW to my hard drive
then delete all files from my CD-RW; thinking that I'll
do a fresh backup again to my CD-RW tomorrow and now I
could not boot up.

I'm hoping for some advices on any utilities on how to
recover my data, before I have to re-install XP. Any
help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Que

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Please try a repair install as follows:
.. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.



Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.



Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.



Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.



The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

 

[Que Dang]

Thanks Micheal for your help, but it DID NOT solve the
problem.

As I stated in my original message that I followed the
instructions from MSKB=330184; 291980 and 307654.

After letting Windows Setup loaded, then press R to run
the repair installation, Windows Setup saw my C:>\
drive's partition as [Unknown] and the only options
available were either Delete or Install over that unknown
partition. There was no option for 'Repair'.

Therefore, I had to activate the 'Recovery Console' at
command prompt, so far no luck. I was hoping for anyone
in this newsgroups, would point out any other ways to
tackle this problem; worst case scenario - please show me
any utilities out there, would help me to salvage my data.

Again, thank you Micheal for your help.

Sincerely,
Que

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

If you can't do a repair install and you can't get into the recovery
console, that's really bad news if you don't have a backup because it would
appear your only other choice would be to format and start over.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

Thanks Micheal for your help, but it DID NOT solve the
problem.

As I stated in my original message that I followed the
instructions from MSKB=330184; 291980 and 307654.

After letting Windows Setup loaded, then press R to run
the repair installation, Windows Setup saw my C:>\
drive's partition as [Unknown] and the only options
available were either Delete or Install over that unknown
partition. There was no option for 'Repair'.

Therefore, I had to activate the 'Recovery Console' at
command prompt, so far no luck. I was hoping for anyone
in this newsgroups, would point out any other ways to
tackle this problem; worst case scenario - please show me
any utilities out there, would help me to salvage my data.

Again, thank you Micheal for your help.

Sincerely,
Que

-----Original Message-----

...Eventually, you >will come to a screen with the
option to (1) setup >Windows or (2) Repair Windows
Installation using the Recovery console. Setup will then
search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding
your version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your
current installation or install fresh. Press R, that
will run a repair installation. From there on, follow
the screens.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/