Electricity Outage Caused Windows Error (won't Reboot)

[jviren]

An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got another
error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing
or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the
above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
recovery disks, but I have some questions.

My questions:
1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
computer guy did it. Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
disk I use. However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?
2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this, instead of
recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page, even though I have pressed
F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it won't
work.
3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking things
on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine. Last time it happened,
Outlook reverted to 2006. I have the computer on a surge protector, which
obviously was of no use in this case. I also have it hooked up to a UBS but
that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes out.
And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod and a
standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?

Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
this computer working without reformatting the hard drive, since I have too
many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.

Thank you for your help!

 

[Patrick Keenan]

An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got
another
error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is
missing
or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of
the
above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
recovery disks, but I have some questions.

My questions:
1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
computer guy did it.
Why?

Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
disk I use.
Why?

However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?

Why on earth do you not have the reinstall disks for the OS?

If this is how your "computer guy did it", get the disks from him.

2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this,

This specific problem can be related to a boot.ini issue, and that can be
fixed without the specific install disks. If you can get into Safe Mode,
you have already fixed the problem.

For example,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

instead of
recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page,

Then you can't get to Safe Mode.

even though I have pressed
F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it
won't
work.
3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking
things
on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine.

You need UPS protection. Expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars for
solid UPS units.

Last time it happened, Outlook reverted to 2006.

There is no Outlook 2006.

I have the computer on a surge protector, which
obviously was of no use in this case.

Surge protecters are of very limited help.

I also have it hooked up to a UBS

Do you mean a UPS? If so, you need a bigger one.

but
that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes
out.
And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod and
a
standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?

Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
this computer working without reformatting the hard drive,

Which you can't do without the install disks you say you don't have.

since I have too
many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.

Thank you for your help!

You need a more rational and practical approach to your PC setup, use, and
maintenance.

-pk

 

[Jose]

An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got another
error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing
or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the
above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
recovery disks, but I have some questions.

My questions:
1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
computer guy did it. Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
disk I use. However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?
2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this, instead of
recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page, even though I have pressed
F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it won't
work.
3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking things
on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine. Last time it happened,
Outlook reverted to 2006. I have the computer on a surge protector, which
obviously was of no use in this case. I also have it hooked up to a UBS but
that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes out.
And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod anda
standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?

Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
this computer working without reformatting the hard drive, since I have too
many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.

Thank you for your help!

Strating in Safe Mode will not help - you cannot even get into Safe
Mode, right?

After a power interruption, the integiry of your file system is
probably compromised and the chances of hal.dll really being missing
or corrupt are slim. XP just can't find it. Doing any file
manipulation with a compromised file system does not make sense, so
you need to fix that first.

You need to boot the XP Recovery Console from your XP installation CD
or if you don't have one make your own bootable XP Recovery Console
CD, fix your compromised file system first, then troubleshoot any
remaining issues. Most store bought systems do not come with either.

You should first boot your PC into the XP Recovery Console using a
bootable XP installation CD or a bootable CD with the XP Recovery
Console on it.

Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or
improper shutdown? (Yes.)

These can cause corruption in the file system which must be fixed
before you do anything else.

If any of those events have occurred, you should boot into the Windows
Recovery Console using a bootable XP installation CD, or create on a
bootable XP Recovery Console CD. This is not the same as any recovery
disks that might have come a store bought system.

For each of your hard disks, you should then run:

chkdsk c: /r

And the same for d: if you have a D drive.

You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file
and burning it to a CD.

The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

xp_rec_con.iso

Download the ISO file from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ueyyzfymmig

Use this free and easy program to create your bootable CD:

http://www.imgburn.com/

It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on the computer that
is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM
drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. These
adjustments are made before Windows tries to load. If you miss it,
you will have to reboot the system again.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder.

This is the same as the C:\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete, cd,
chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the
afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the
HDD light is still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on
the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will not be present.

 

[westom]

An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work.

Do we fix something rather than first learn what is wrong? Error
message tells you which direction to start an analysis. Trying to fix
it may create additional problems - exponentially complicate this
problem.

It says data from the disk is intermittent. So get and execute the
disk drive manufacturer's diagnostics to learn of disk drive
hardware. An analysis not complicated by Windows, the filesystem,
malware, or disk data. A diagnostic that executes without Windows
means the analysis is simpler using only their software and but a few
hardware components of your system.

Curing symptoms (ie UPS) is posting wild speculation. Power down by
any means is not hardware destructive (assuming the hardware meets
minimal hardware requirements). Many custom systems are assembled
without even basic electrical knowledge. Then to fix their bean
counter solution (it saved $25), they recommend a $100 UPS. If power
down caused hardware damage, an effective solution starts with the
reason for that failure - the computer assembler.

Meanwhile, you have no useful replies without hard information from
diagnostics and other analysis information. Only then can the actual
problem be identified and the informed reply. Later, that problem is
fixed. IOW how to solve a problem the first time, with less money -
and faster. First identify the failure. Then fix it.