Help! - Invalid Boot.ini, Missing Hal.dll errors

[UUtopia]

When starting my computer I get both of the following error messages:

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:

Windows\System32\Hal.dll

I tried following the directions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184
but when I get to the "Recovery Console", there are no options; #1, #2,
etc. are absent - there is only a C:\ prompt(!). When I try to run the
bootcfg /rebuild command, it is not recognized.

My system was operating perfectly before this. What can I do to recover
it?

-Thanks

 

[UUtopia]

When starting my computer I get both of the following error messages:

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:

Windows\System32\Hal.dll

I tried following the directions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184
but when I get to the "Recovery Console", there are no options; #1, #2,
etc. are absent - there is only a C:\ prompt(!). When I try to run the
bootcfg /rebuild command, it is not recognized.

My system was operating perfectly before this. What can I do to recover
it?

-Thanks

Follow up...

OK...after hours of Google research, I tried this:

at the "Recovery Console" C:\> prompt, I entered:
chkdsk /r

Afterwards the hard drive did not show any errors, and from the disk
space shown, it looks like my OS and data are still there.

Then I tried:
bootcfg /rebuild

After a few minutes, this message came up:
"Error: Failed to successfully scan for Windows installations. This
error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent
Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to deteck any errors."

"Note: This operation must complete successfully in order for the /add
or /rebuild commands to be utilized."


Running chkdsk at this point doesn't change anything. What should I try
running next... FIXBOOT ...FIXMBR ..? I don't want to mess up the boot
record or OS partition by using the wrong approach.

- Thanks

 

[UUtopia]

When starting my computer I get both of the following error messages:

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:

Windows\System32\Hal.dll

I tried following the directions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184
but when I get to the "Recovery Console", there are no options; #1, #2,
etc. are absent - there is only a C:\ prompt(!). When I try to run the
bootcfg /rebuild command, it is not recognized.

My system was operating perfectly before this. What can I do to recover
it?

-Thanks

Follow up...

OK...after hours of Google research, I tried this:

at the "Recovery Console" C:\> prompt, I entered:
chkdsk /r

Afterwards the hard drive did not show any errors, and from the disk
space shown, it looks like my OS and data are still there.

Then I tried:
bootcfg /rebuild

After a few minutes, this message came up:
"Error: Failed to successfully scan for Windows installations. This
error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent
Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to deteck any errors."

"Note: This operation must complete successfully in order for the /add
or /rebuild commands to be utilized."


Running chkdsk at this point doesn't change anything. What should I try
running next... FIXBOOT ...FIXMBR ..? I don't want to mess up the boot
record or OS partition by using the wrong approach.

- Thanks

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Fixboot or fixmbr are not going to help if the file system is corrupt. As
you've already run chkdsk /r, you may be out of options. Pull the drive and
slave it in another working machine to see if you can retrieve the data.
Then bite the bullet and do a clean installation including removing and
rebuilding the destination installation partition (do not attempt to reuse
the existing one by formatting, you must delete and recreate it, formatting
is insufficient to correct the corrupt file system issue).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[UUtopia]

Hi, Rick -

Thanks for responding. The only other windows machine I have access to
is an old Pentium 1 running Win98. Can I slave it to the HD in that? I
was also wondering if an alternative would be to buy an external USB
drive (I need one for backup anyway, seeing as how XP is so unreliable)
and then use that as the master drive to access my PC's dead HD?

BTW, I tried creating and using an XP boot floppy to boot up. I got as
far as "Verifiying DMI Pool Data" and it looked like it was going to
boot, then the screen went black. After that, the same "hal.dll file
missing or corrupt" error appears that I get when booting from the XP
CD (I don't see the boot.ini error now, though).

-S

 

[Malke]

Hi, Rick -

Thanks for responding. The only other windows machine I have access to
is an old Pentium 1 running Win98. Can I slave it to the HD in that? I
was also wondering if an alternative would be to buy an external USB
drive (I need one for backup anyway, seeing as how XP is so
unreliable) and then use that as the master drive to access my PC's
dead HD?

BTW, I tried creating and using an XP boot floppy to boot up. I got as
far as "Verifiying DMI Pool Data" and it looked like it was going to
boot, then the screen went black. After that, the same "hal.dll file
missing or corrupt" error appears that I get when booting from the XP
CD (I don't see the boot.ini error now, though).

No, the old Pentium isn't going to help. In your case, I'd use Knoppix
(or a Bart's PE - but I think Knoppix is easier) to get the data off.
Here is information about doing that:

An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux
distro on a live cd. You will need a computer with two cd drives, one
of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to
hold your data. To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast
Internet connection and third-party burning software. Download the
Knoppix .iso from www.knoppix.net and create your bootable cd. Then
boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you are
using the usb thumb drive, right-click on its icon (on the Desktop) to
get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read Only". Then
click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action in the
window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open instead
of the traditional MS Windows' double-click. Otherwise, use the K3b
burning program to burn the files to cd/dvd-r's.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ (Bart's PE)

Malke

 

[UUtopia]

Thanks - I really like that concept but I don't have a CD burner on the
old Pentium.

I have heard of people using the FDISK /MBR command to repair boot
problems (from an XP floppy boot disk). Would that work here?

Failing that, what about a Repair Install?

 

[UUtopia]

In your case, I'd use Knoppix
(or a Bart's PE - but I think Knoppix is easier) to get the data off.
Here is information about doing that:

An easy way to retrieve Windows files is to boot with Knoppix, a Linux
distro on a live cd. You will need a computer with two cd drives, one
of which is a cd/dvd-rw OR a usb thumb drive with enough capacity to
hold your data. To get Knoppix, you need a computer with a fast
Internet connection and third-party burning software. Download the
Knoppix .iso from www.knoppix.net and create your bootable cd. Then
boot with it and it will be able to see the Windows files. If you are
using the usb thumb drive, right-click on its icon (on the Desktop) to
get its properties and uncheck the box that says "Read Only". Then
click on it to open it. Note that the default mouse action in the
window manager used by Knoppix (KDE) is a single click to open instead
of the traditional MS Windows' double-click. Otherwise, use the K3b
burning program to burn the files to cd/dvd-r's.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ (Bart's PE)

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

I don't have 2 CD drives on my machine (I realize now that you were
referring to the problem PC) and as it turns out, I don't have an
option for "Repair Install" available in XP like I was hoping for
but I have been able to see the files on my corrupted hard drive and
copy them to a floppy with "NTFS Reader", an excellent utility:

http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm

Unfortunately, copying to a floppy is a major limitation. I would like
to use my Corsair Voyager flash drive for this, and apparently it is
possible if the USB drive is made bootable:

http://www.apcstart.com/usb/rescue/

So far though, I have had no luck getting my system to see the USB
drive and boot to it (I used Corsair's included utility disk to format
the drive and make it bootable). I have tried various BIOS Boot
sequences and device settings in CMOS (ie: 1st Boot Device = USB-ZIP)
but nothing seems to work.

Is there some other trick to making a flash drive boot? My PC is only
about 6 months old (AMD 64 CPU & MSI K8N Neo 4 Platinum mobo).

 

[UUtopia]

I don't have 2 CD drives on my machine (I realize now that Malke was
referring to the problem PC) and as it turns out, I don't have an
option for "Repair Install" available in XP . But, I have been able
to see the files on my corrupted hard drive and copy them to a floppy
with "NTFS Reader", an excellent utility:

http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm

Unfortunately, copying to a floppy is a major limitation. I would like
to use my Corsair Voyager flash drive for this, and apparently it is
possible if the USB drive is made bootable:

http://www.apcstart.com/usb/rescue/

So far though, I have had no luck getting my system to see the USB
drive and boot to it (I used Corsair's included utility disk to format
the drive and make it bootable). I have tried various BIOS Boot
sequences and device settings in CMOS (ie: 1st Boot Device = USB-ZIP)
but nothing seems to work.

Is there some other trick to making a flash drive boot? My PC is only
about 6 months old (AMD 64 CPU & MSI K8N Neo 4 Platinum mobo).

 

[Dr.Isderjet]

UUtopia:

When starting my computer I get both of the following error messages:

Invalid Boot.ini

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt:

Windows\System32\Hal.dll

I tried following the directions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184
but when I get to the "Recovery Console", there are no options; #1, #2,
etc. are absent - there is only a C:\ prompt(!). When I try to run the
bootcfg /rebuild command, it is not recognized.

My system was operating perfectly before this. What can I do to recover
it?
go too the cmd with F8, tik bootcfg/all, all windows installations

come, make a choise. thats for XP with / HELP you get oll commands with
examples.
Good luck
Dr.Isderjet

 

[UUtopia]

Dear Dr. -

Thank you for your suggestion - it was a good one. Unfortunately, my
system responds with the same previously mentioned "missing Hal.dll
file" error when selecting anything in the F8 (Windows Advanced
Options) menu and restarting Windows. If I try "bootcfg/all" in the
Recovery Console it spits out "command not recognized".

BTW, I tried KNOPPIX 4.0. It's attractive GUI does allow me to view my
files but I can't get it to recognize either my network or USB drive,
so right now it isn't of much use. If anyone knows how to get it to do
this I would really appreciate your help.

I'm kind of between a rock and a hard place on this problem because the
machine is still under warranty. I will be returning it but they will
probably need to reformat the drive. I want to recover my files first
but if I open the case the warranty is voided. That's why I haven't
tried installing a slave drive and copying to it.

- S