Don't be afraid, just take a deep breath, and check out the links and also
the other part of the posting:-
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184
"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows Could Not Start" Error Messages When You
Start Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320252
Error Message: Windows Could Not Start Because the Following File Is Missing
or Corrupt...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654
How to Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314477
Error Message: Windows Could Not Start Because of a Computer Disk Hardware
Configuration Problem
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=298898
How to Determine the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) That Is Used in
Windows XP
You'll probably need to expand the file from the CD.
Type this command:
expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ (substitute "d" for the letter of your CD drive)
c:\windows\system32\hal.dll.
Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD.
Once the file is expanded exit the Recovery Console and restart the
computer.
********Other instructions:-1. Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the
floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive,
and then restart the computer. Click to select any options that are required
to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery
Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, choose the
installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted to do so, type the Administrator password. If the
administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and
repair your Windows XP installation. For a list of commands that are
available in Recovery Console, type recovery console commands or help at the
command prompt, and then press ENTER. For information about a specific
command, type help commandname at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
6. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the
command prompt, and then press ENTER.