Recover XP

[alexus56]

I have a system that lost the hal.dll Apparently the user could not enter
recovery console or did not know how, Instead they created another copy of
xp. I now have a windows folder and a windows.2 folder. I have a suspicion
there was another attempt to install as there is no windows.1 folder.
Anyways, all the information in the windows folder is what I need or, to
restore this windows folder as the os.
Would it be possible to change the boot.ini from windows.2 back to windows
and be able to boot to this folder. It really would save me a lot of time
having to wipe the drive and install everything again as the information is
still there.

 

[Rich Barry]

Did the user leave you with two versions of WinXP and you get a menu to
select one or the other? Or did the user install another version of XP and
that's the only one it boots to?

 

[Andrew E.]

Microsoft has a repair method for hal.dll,to view it,follow this link:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

 

[Andrew E.]

Also,once the xp OS is back with the .dll file,boot pc to xp cd,recovery
console,select 1 For C:,press enter for password,type: DiskPart In DiskPart,
locate the 2nd xp installation,delete the partition,create one on the empty
space if desired,press ESC key to exit,type: EXIT to terminate
recovery,format
the new partition in diskmgmt.msc in XP.

 

[alexus56]

The second installation is the only one it boots to although like I said, no
telling what user did before it got to me. Just going by what they said they
did.