corrupt file <Windowsroot>\system32\hal.dll. Help

[Chelsea]

When I turned on my computer after coming home I go a 'unable to boot'
corrupt file <Windowsroot>\system32\hal.dll. and nothing but a black
screen. I was able to go into setup and get back into my computer but I have
lost most of my pictures and other files. I was meaning to back them all up
and just got the disks to do that last weekend but didn't get a chance to do
it. Is there anyway to recover all my pictures and other files that are
gone? The pictures are special to me they are of my daughter. Please help

 

[Kelly]

HAL=Hardware Abstraction Layer

How to Move a Windows XP Installation to Different Hardware
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBJ/tip4800/rh4839.htm

Situations in Which Windows May Not Start in Safe Mode
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q199175

How to Troubleshoot Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q237556

More information and a workaround here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm#xp_hall.dll
~~~
Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted,
select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the
repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation
that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one
try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list
of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would
be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. Substitute d: for the
drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit
the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

How to Troubleshoot Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q237556

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm