start up problem with XP

[Guest]

My lap top just messed up ... I can not turn it on it goes to a screen saying
unable to open windows file missing <windows root>\system32\hal.dll. so
what can I do?

 

[TaurArian]

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

Error Message: Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm
Also see http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm for troubleshooting issues with HAL
(Hardware Abstraction Layer).

 

[Guest]

I should also say that this is an older laptop and I have been having trouble
with my CD ROM drive. so I might not be able to use a CD to start up.

 

[TaurArian]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314096
How to troubleshoot CD-ROM drive problems in Windows XP

or perhaps you may need a new CD Rom Drive.

 

[Guest]

I can't start windows either. I get a message that
windos/system32/config/system is missing or corrupted. I get possible
solutions in the windows support page database, but it is not good for OEM
versions, so I really don't know what to do. Please, help!

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem, all the support I've found tells me to use recovery
consold, I can't get to it, nor command prompt, if windows won't start, you
are _____ is my attitude. My problem all started to begin with loss of my
printer I believe due to an automatic update. I found out there are lots of
people with the same problem I was having. Now I've got a lot worse problems.
Hal.dll to be the top one.
Anyone out there with help on cd?????