ghost account - files still there, but PC won't let me access

[Jayne Cobb]

Hi guys,
I got a problem, and I need help: my PC restarted itself without warning,
(op sys is Windows XP professional) and gave me this error message at the
black screen:

“please re-install the following file: <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll. “

I didn’t know how to re-install just one file or where to get it, so I
re-installed Windows XP from CD on a different partition on C:/ I can run
the PC from that operating system but of course my old Admin account is gone.
The problem is, I had some VERY important files stored under that account,
and now the computer won’t let me access them; it shows the old admin
account name under ‘documents and settings’, but gives me the “access deniedâ€
message if I try to open that folder.
I know the data is still there (I tried running the file-moving wizard to
move the data to another drive; it told me to move them manually, but I could
see the folders and files, properly labeled), I just can’t get to them.

Now, the old windows XP is still on the other partition, and if I try to run
THAT one, it gives me the old error message you see above. I’m not a
computer guy at all, but I’m guessing that if I can fix that old XP that’s
still on there (by re-installing just that file mentioned in the error
message) I should be able to log on to my old admin account and retrieve
those Files.

Is any of this feasible? Can anyone help?

 

[Jim]

Hi guys,
I got a problem, and I need help: my PC restarted itself without warning,
(op sys is Windows XP professional) and gave me this error message at the
black screen:

"please re-install the following file: <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
"

I didn't know how to re-install just one file or where to get it, so I
re-installed Windows XP from CD on a different partition on C:/ I can run
the PC from that operating system but of course my old Admin account is
gone.
The problem is, I had some VERY important files stored under that account,
and now the computer won't let me access them; it shows the old admin
account name under 'documents and settings', but gives me the "access
denied"
message if I try to open that folder.
I know the data is still there (I tried running the file-moving wizard to
move the data to another drive; it told me to move them manually, but I
could
see the folders and files, properly labeled), I just can't get to them.

Now, the old windows XP is still on the other partition, and if I try to
run
THAT one, it gives me the old error message you see above. I'm not a
computer guy at all, but I'm guessing that if I can fix that old XP that's
still on there (by re-installing just that file mentioned in the error
message) I should be able to log on to my old admin account and retrieve
those Files.

Is any of this feasible? Can anyone help?

You can solve the "access denied" problem by taking ownership of the files
and folders. There is a "Help & Support" article which tells how to
accomplish this task.

I'll pass on the question of how to restore hal.dll.

Jim

 

[neil]

You should be able to "take ownership" of the old admin folder to give you
access to the files. If you type "take ownership" (no quotes) into Help and
Support in windows it should provide you with the info you need.

You could try this
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm
for the missing HAL, not something I've had to do so I don't know if it
works.
Neil

 

[Jayne Cobb]

Jim,
you are Teh Win! That did it. I shall spread the news of your Awesomeness
far and wide.
-Jayne

 

[Jayne Cobb]

Neil, you're teh Win, too. I severely appreciate the quick help. Y'all saved
me a whole lot of grief.
-Jayne