F
Fred
The computer is(was)running an upgrade XP Home. Standard
stuff - 2 HDD (pri and sec)
I was doing some cleanup on the computer because the
system partition keeps filling up (4GB approx at last
look) and Partition Magic wouldn't install because of lack
of room. Thought I would delete the contents of the Z:
partition, in prep of using PM to speed up the resizing of
the partitions, as it was old stuff. Deleted all, which
included old windows stuff. Rebooted and after POST got:
Message #1
INVALID BOOT.INI FILE
BOOTING FROM C:\WINDOWS\
which would be fine 'cept I installed XP into partition D:
in the perhaps misguided concept that most software
defaults to C: and it would help save the build up of
content in the system partition. There are multiple users
with admin privileges for installations. I know, slap the
wrist.
As there is no C:\WINDOWS\ the next message pops up and
all stops:
Message #2
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.
Realized that obviously (now) XP was using the old w98
info on Z: for boot up files.
Now, how do I:
1. - undelete the contents of Z: (preferred solution) so
XP can boot normally, or
2. - how do I reinstall w98 back to Z: drive (w98 setup
only give the option of installing to C: or D:, or
3. - ???
stuff - 2 HDD (pri and sec)
I was doing some cleanup on the computer because the
system partition keeps filling up (4GB approx at last
look) and Partition Magic wouldn't install because of lack
of room. Thought I would delete the contents of the Z:
partition, in prep of using PM to speed up the resizing of
the partitions, as it was old stuff. Deleted all, which
included old windows stuff. Rebooted and after POST got:
Message #1
INVALID BOOT.INI FILE
BOOTING FROM C:\WINDOWS\
which would be fine 'cept I installed XP into partition D:
in the perhaps misguided concept that most software
defaults to C: and it would help save the build up of
content in the system partition. There are multiple users
with admin privileges for installations. I know, slap the
wrist.
As there is no C:\WINDOWS\ the next message pops up and
all stops:
Message #2
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.
Realized that obviously (now) XP was using the old w98
info on Z: for boot up files.
Now, how do I:
1. - undelete the contents of Z: (preferred solution) so
XP can boot normally, or
2. - how do I reinstall w98 back to Z: drive (w98 setup
only give the option of installing to C: or D:, or
3. - ???