Corrupt or Missing HAL.DLL even after repartition and clean install

[photogman]

I wanted to do a clean install because I've got a ton of files
cluttering my computer and programs that I no longer want on my hard
drive. Anyway, I've done installs with this computer in the past,
probably at least 5. Anyway, this is a Maxtor hard drive. Performed
a repartition of C with MaxBlast4. Then my system Windows XP Pro that
came with the computer. I did a reformat, then it installed all the
system files and asked to remove any floppies or CD's. Did that.
Then I got the dreaded Missing or Corrupt HAL.DLL error.

I've been through all the fixes I've researched on the internet to no
avail. Why would this happen on a clean install from a clean OEM
setup CD that came with my computer when I bought it??

Also, when MaxBlast4 repartitions, it always indicated like the disk
hold 160 Gigs or whatever and that after the repartition it says only
like 158 Gigs is available. That couldn't be part of the problem I
wouldn't think, but at this point I'm grasping at straws.

And why, after going through reinstall on this same computer with the
same software would this happen now. I don't think there are any bad
sectors because just for the heck of it, I reinstalled C from a backup
with all the same garbage I'm trying to get rid of and the hard drive
boots fine. I then did another repartition and system reinstall to
only encounter the HAL issue again. Any insights would be really
welcomed. I'm still left scratching my head wondering why this issue
to appear now after having at least 5 previous clean installs with no
problems. Thanks for your help! It is greatly appreciated.

 

[Maincat]

Leave the CD in. I think that it just askes to remove FDs.

 

[DL]

Why are you using Maxblast4 and not the wincd to partition?

 

[photogman]

Leave the CD in. I think that it just askes to remove FDs.









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If I leave the CD in, my system is set to boot from the CD drive first
and it will go right back into Windows XP setup

 

[Maincat]

Trust me - just leave the CD in and watch.
Windows XP setup needs the files from the CD - where else are they coming
from?
Setup will continue - don't touch anything.
Try it and report back here. What have you got to lose?

 

[photogman]

Trust me - just leave the CD in and watch.
Windows XP setup needs the files from the CD - where else are they coming
from?
Setup will continue - don't touch anything.
Try it and report back here. What have you got to lose?







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What do I do when it goes back and asks me if a want to install,
recover, or cancel then? Because I believe that's what it's done in
the past or do you believe it will simply go out and write the files
it needs to the install process?

 

[Maincat]

What do I do when it goes back and asks me if a want to install,
recover, or cancel then? Because I believe that's what it's done in
the past or do you believe it will simply go out and write the files
it needs to the install process?

Well, you want to install don't you? Assuming that the disk is formatted
install is the only thing you can reasonably do. Then let the process
continue without taking out the CD. When the system reboots itself during
setup, do not press a key to boot from the CD, just let it install itself
without intervention.

 

[photogman]

Well, you want to install don't you? Assuming that the disk is formatted
install is the only thing you can reasonably do. Then let the process
continue without taking out the CD. When the system reboots itself during
setup, do not press a key to boot from the CD, just let it install itself
without intervention.



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I finally got the operating system to install. I adjusted some
setting in my bios like where it boots from, but I don't think that
did anything. What I did do was delete my big partition in C. I then
re-created the partition and it allowed me to install it. This time,
what was different and somewhat peculiar was it gave me the message,
press any key to boot from CD. Before when I having trouble with the
missing or corrupt HAL.DLL message, I never saw "press any key to boot
from CD". Oh well, all I know is it working. All the other steps I
took had no effect whatsoever, including everything Microsoft said in
its support bulletins and other remedies found on the internet.