Missing DLL - forgotten Admin password

[Grant Mearns]

When booting from XP I'm informed that the file <windows
root.\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.

Upon running XP from DVD, I select the restore option.
I'm then informed that I need an administrator password,
which I don't know.

Is there any way to get around the password?

If not can I restore my system in another way?

If not, is it possble to resuce my files so that I can
install XP again? Hopefully a very last resort.

Many thanks

 

[Miha Pihler]

Hi Grant,

Did you try leaving password empty? Did you try some other commonly used
passwords?

Files can be always saved (if you didn't use encryption). If you intend to
reinstall don't format your hard drive and your files should stay on your
system. Even better if you have the option to plug your hard drive into
another PC and copy its content to the other computer. Then plug the hard
drive back and do a reinstall.

I hope this helps,

Mike

 

[Grant Mearns]

Hi Miha,

Thanks for the info. I tried just hitting the enter key
when asked for the admin password. Unfortunately the
restore app just returns to the command line and stops,

Can a laptop hard drive be temporarily connected to a
desktop machine? Are the connectors the same?

Cheers

Grant

 

[Miha Pihler]

Hi Grant,

if you came to command line then I guess you have the "right" password. From
information that you wrote I can say you entered recovery console. The
feature that you are looking for is "Repair" not "Recovery console".

To connect your laptop HDD to your PC you will need a special connector.

I hope this helps,

Mike