Computer won't boot up - missing file.

[Guest]

I get an error message that says "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."

I've tried to run the XP set up again, but can't get by this error message.

I would rather not lose all of my data, so I am looking for any ideas to
repair the problem without losing all of my data.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

I get an error message that says "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."

I've tried to run the XP set up again, but can't get by this error
message.

I would rather not lose all of my data, so I am looking for any ideas
to repair the problem without losing all of my data.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Information from the late MVP Alex Nichol:

WINDOWS COULD NOT FIND START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR
CORRUPT
WINDOWS ROOT>\SYSTEM32\hal.dll

That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.

Use
Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
to delete the bad one
BootCfg /Rebuild

to search for Windows installations and make a new one.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke, thanks for the response. At the C: prompt, I entered:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

but got a message that said "Paramaters is not vaid."

I also tried to enter:

DEL C:\boot.ini

but received another error message that said: "An error occurred during
directory enumeration."

Any other ideas?

Thanks much.

 

[Malke]

Malke, thanks for the response. At the C: prompt, I entered:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

but got a message that said "Paramaters is not vaid."

I also tried to enter:

DEL C:\boot.ini

but received another error message that said: "An error occurred
during directory enumeration."

Make sure you are entering the attrib command correctly. I see that
there is a typo that I picked up from copying Alex's instructions where
I've got "boot,ini" instead of "boot.ini". You've typed it correctly
above, but make sure you did it right at the commandline with the
attrib command. Perhaps you are also putting spaces between the
commandline switches?

Should be:
attrib -h-r-s c:\boot.ini [enter]

Here's a website with attrib commands spelled out:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/attrib.mspx

Incorrectly entering the attrib command would cause the second error,
too.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke, I entered the attrib line as specified without the spaces, and
received another error message:

"The File cannot be opened."

Any more ideas???

I assume if I re-install Windows XP, I will lose all of my data - correct?

Thanks.

Malke, thanks for the response. At the C: prompt, I entered:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

but got a message that said "Paramaters is not vaid."

I also tried to enter:

DEL C:\boot.ini

but received another error message that said: "An error occurred
during directory enumeration."

Make sure you are entering the attrib command correctly. I see that
there is a typo that I picked up from copying Alex's instructions where
I've got "boot,ini" instead of "boot.ini". You've typed it correctly
above, but make sure you did it right at the commandline with the
attrib command. Perhaps you are also putting spaces between the
commandline switches?

Should be:
attrib -h-r-s c:\boot.ini [enter]

Here's a website with attrib commands spelled out:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/attrib.mspx

Incorrectly entering the attrib command would cause the second error,
too.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

 

[Guest]

I have exactly the same problem and followed Malke's advice.
The problem is that after running bootcfg /rebuild, it only finds one
installation of windows which is on thew E: drive, but this is my DVD drive.
Is this right or should I expect to see an installation on C: drive at this
point.

I have previously used my PC with no problems, this problem came out of the
blue, could the recent windows updates haev caused this problem?

Many thanks
Mick

 

[Talahasee]

x-no-archive: yes

Malke, I entered the attrib line as specified without the spaces, and
received another error message:

"The File cannot be opened."

Any more ideas???

I assume if I re-install Windows XP, I will lose all of my data - correct?

No.

There is an option of re-installing Windows to "fix" whatever problems
your copy may have WITHOUT reformatting.

Not promising you it'll "do the job", but it's the first step.

And if you have access to a local computer store, you might want to
dash over, get a 2nd hard drive that will hold your data and os, and a
jumper that attaches to your hard drive (IDE to usb), and connects it
to an available usb port.

When you have installed a new/ temporary hard drive, you can then
upload your data from your hard drive via the ide to usb cable.

reverse the two hard drives, and you're back where you started in a
few hours.

T

Thanks.

Malke, thanks for the response. At the C: prompt, I entered:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

but got a message that said "Paramaters is not vaid."

I also tried to enter:

DEL C:\boot.ini

but received another error message that said: "An error occurred
during directory enumeration."

Make sure you are entering the attrib command correctly. I see that
there is a typo that I picked up from copying Alex's instructions where
I've got "boot,ini" instead of "boot.ini". You've typed it correctly
above, but make sure you did it right at the commandline with the
attrib command. Perhaps you are also putting spaces between the
commandline switches?

Should be:
attrib -h-r-s c:\boot.ini [enter]

Here's a website with attrib commands spelled out:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/attrib.mspx

Incorrectly entering the attrib command would cause the second error,
too.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

 

[Guest]

T, thanks for the advice. But just so I am clear on what to do...

1. Remove my old hard drive and replace with a new one.
2. Load Windows XP on the new hard drive.
3. Connect my old hard drive to the computer via an IDE to USB cable.
4. Then transfer my data files from my old hard drive to the new hard drive.

Is this the correct procedure? Thanks.

x-no-archive: yes

Malke, I entered the attrib line as specified without the spaces, and
received another error message:

"The File cannot be opened."

Any more ideas???

I assume if I re-install Windows XP, I will lose all of my data - correct?

No.

There is an option of re-installing Windows to "fix" whatever problems
your copy may have WITHOUT reformatting.

Not promising you it'll "do the job", but it's the first step.

And if you have access to a local computer store, you might want to
dash over, get a 2nd hard drive that will hold your data and os, and a
jumper that attaches to your hard drive (IDE to usb), and connects it
to an available usb port.

When you have installed a new/ temporary hard drive, you can then
upload your data from your hard drive via the ide to usb cable.

reverse the two hard drives, and you're back where you started in a
few hours.

T

Thanks.

Jim wrote:

Malke, thanks for the response. At the C: prompt, I entered:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini

but got a message that said "Paramaters is not vaid."

I also tried to enter:

DEL C:\boot.ini

but received another error message that said: "An error occurred
during directory enumeration."


Make sure you are entering the attrib command correctly. I see that
there is a typo that I picked up from copying Alex's instructions where
I've got "boot,ini" instead of "boot.ini". You've typed it correctly
above, but make sure you did it right at the commandline with the
attrib command. Perhaps you are also putting spaces between the
commandline switches?

Should be:
attrib -h-r-s c:\boot.ini [enter]

Here's a website with attrib commands spelled out:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/attrib.mspx

Incorrectly entering the attrib command would cause the second error,
too.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

 

[Alias]

T, thanks for the advice. But just so I am clear on what to do...

1. Remove my old hard drive and replace with a new one.
2. Load Windows XP on the new hard drive.
3. Connect my old hard drive to the computer via an IDE to USB cable.
4. Then transfer my data files from my old hard drive to the new hard drive.

Is this the correct procedure? Thanks.

That should work.

 

[keelie]

I have exactly the same problem and followed Malke's advice.
The problem is that after running bootcfg /rebuild, it only finds one
installation of windows which is on thew E: drive, but this is my DVD
drive.
Is this right or should I expect to see an installation on C: drive at
this
point.

I have previously used my PC with no problems, this problem came out of
the
blue, could the recent windows updates haev caused this problem?

Many thanks
Mick