Need Help Please!

[Bryan]

I have just recently came down with a problem on Windows
XP, I am not very good at computers so I figured I should
try here, when I start my computer it prompts the regular
COMPAQ, then reads as folling:

Windows could not start because the following file is
missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

IF anyone could be so kind to help me out, or know's how
to fix this problem and e-mail me, I would really
appriciate it. Thank you for your time
-Bryan
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

See www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips, How to do a Repair Installation.

 

[t.cruise]

The hal.dll is probably corrupt. You can't copy that file from elsewhere,
because it's created during Windows XP install according to your specific
system. A quick fix is to do a Repair Install, which keeps all of your
programs and data files, just repairs Windows XP. Go to:

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

When the page opens, scroll down and click on: How To Run A Repair
Install. There is a step by step walk through including images. Your
software, settings, data files, desktop, etc. are retained.

Windows XP Repair Installs have save me a few times...

 

[Alex Nichol]

Windows could not start because the following file is
missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

That implies that there is a fault in the boot.ini file, that tells the
boot where to look for the Windows components. So it is looking in the
wrong place: hal.dll just happens to be the first file it looks for. If
you had a normal XP CD you would be able to use that to fix the matter -
just what you can do with the limited tools Compaq supplies I am not
sure. Se if you can find a reasonably knowledgeable person around who
can run a recovery boot from a CD and use
BootCfg /Rebuild
for you

 

[Alex Nichol]

The hal.dll is probably corrupt. You can't copy that file from elsewhere,
because it's created during Windows XP install according to your specific
system. A quick fix is to do a Repair Install, which keeps all of your
programs and data files, just repairs Windows XP. Go to:

Incorrect. Boot.ini is corrupt and the boot is looking in the wrong
place