<windows root> system 32\hal.dll. file missing or corrupt

[ms]

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't know how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

 

[Tim Meddick]

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed :


To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.


Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password - just
press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :


expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll c:\windows\system32


....instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).


Then reboot.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

HAL=Hardware Abstraction Layer

How to Move a Windows XP Installation to Different Hardware
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBJ/tip4800/rh4839.htm

Situations in Which Windows May Not Start in Safe Mode
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q199175

How to Troubleshoot Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q237556

More information and a workaround here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_h.htm#xp_hall.dll
~~~
Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted,
select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the
repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation
that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one
try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list
of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would
be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. Substitute d: for the
drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit
the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

More information and a workaround here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[John John - MVP]

Hi Tim,

Trying to replace the HAL as you suggest will most probably not give the
poster the right HAL. hal.dl_ is the "Standard PC," Non-ACPI PIC HAL.
This would usually only be used on much older computers, for several
years now almost all PCs are ACPI PCs, the user would have to extract
the proper ACPI hal.

John

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed :


To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.


Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password - just
press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :


expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll c:\windows\system32


...instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).


Then reboot.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't
know how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

 

[Jose]

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't know how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

Caution is advised and you should proceed carefully after your reading
(s).

The message is often misleading and the problem may not be that the
hal.dll file is missing or corrupt in spite of what that message says.

Start with the easy stuff first, which would be to boot into the
Recovery Console.

Preferred order:

Obtain a bootable XP installation CD
Obtain/Create a bootable Recovery Console CD
Boot the Recovery Console option from your HDD

 

[Tim Meddick]

MS,
Further to being reprimanded by "John John - MVP" I need to
amend the advice given in my last post.

For a non-ACPI PC - follow the advice given in my first post.

However,.....

For an ACPI system PC - which *is* by far, the more common (and is most
likely to be your PC as well) follow this revised advice :

Start 'Recovery Console' as per the instructions in my last post, then,
instead of the commands given before, type the following at the RC
'prompt' :


expand x:\i386\halacpi.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll
(where x: is your cd/dvd drive-letter)


....or, if you have SP3 installed :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\halacpi.dll
c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


Type EXIT and press [ENTER] to reboot your machine...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed
:


To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.


Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password -
just press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :


expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll c:\windows\system32


...instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).


Then reboot.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't
know how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode
but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

 

[Richard]

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't know
how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

Problems with BOOT.INI can sometimes falsely report a HAL.DLL error.

FYI: The "missing or corrupt" hal.dll error displays shortly after the
computer is first started. Windows XP has not yet fully loaded when this
error message appears. (Sometimes you can get past that error on re-boot,
if it is a temporary disk mis-read.)

Four possible causes:
1. hal.dll could be missing because it was moved or deleted.
2. hal.dll could be damaged because of a bad disk sector.
3. A missing boot.ini file can cause a hal.dll error.
4. A corrupt boot.ini file can cause a hal.dll error.

Missing HAL.DLL
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/missinghaldll.htm

HAL = Hardware Abstraction Layer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_abstraction_layer

FWIW. --Richard

 

[ks]

I've tried all this, and the respond I get is "Access is denied."
Anyone know how else I can go about repairing this problem?
Thanks.

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed :


To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.


Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password - just
press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :


expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll c:\windows\system32


....instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).


Then reboot.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

When I booted computer up the following message appears and I don't
know how
to reinstall the file it is asking for. I tried to go to safe mode but
nothing happens.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or
corrupt;
<windows root> system 32\hal.dll.
reinstall a copy of above file

 

[Jose]

I've tried all this, and the respond I get is "Access is denied."
Anyone know how else I can go about repairing this problem?
Thanks.

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed :

To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.

Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password - just
press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :

expand   x:\i386\hal.dl_  c:\windows\system32\hal.dll

(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB  If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :

copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll   c:\windows\system32

....instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).

Then reboot.

Cheers,    Tim Meddick,    Peckham, London.    

What ever happened to Tim of Peckham?

That advice is not particularly sound and the problem is unlikely to
be a missing or corrupt hal.ddl - more like the boot.ini needs
fixing. It is a fair guess I suppose given the error message, but it
is just a guess.

It is almost as annoying as someone telling you what they think the
problem might be maybe or could be possibly and then not offering
advice on how to fix it.

Did you experienced a power failure prior to this issue?

Do you have a genuine bootable XP installation CD with which to boot
the XP Recovery Console?

If you do not, make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD and when that is
working you can work on fixing your issue.

You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file
and burning it to a CD.

The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

xp_rec_con.iso

Download the ISO file from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ueyyzfymmig

Use this free and easy program to create your bootable CD:

http://www.imgburn.com/

It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on a computer that is
working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM
drive
as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. These adjustments
are
made before Windows tries to load. If you miss it, you will have to
reboot
the system again.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder. This is the same as the
C:\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete,
cd, chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where
Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the afflicted
drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long
time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the HDD
light is
still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on the percentage
amount to
be sure it is still making progress.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will
not be present.

Before rebuiling your boot.ini file, read these articles:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

 

[Janet]

Caution is advised and you should proceed carefully after your reading
(s).

The message is often misleading and the problem may not be that the
hal.dll file is missing or corrupt in spite of what that message says.

Start with the easy stuff first, which would be to boot into the
Recovery Console.

Preferred order:

Obtain a bootable XP installation CD
Obtain/Create a bootable Recovery Console CD
Boot the Recovery Console option from your HDD

Ok I am really kind of confused about this w hole thing.... I had the same
message on my boyfriend's computer and I with the help of my ISP am trying to
get his computer going. I got the very same message as the above message. I
do have a reinstallation disk from Windows XP. So do I still need the
bootable recovery console? I am a bit in question about the downloads
mentioned above. Finally managed to download the xp_rec_con.iso and also
downloaded the imgburn but am now trying to burn onto a disk but not sure
what files to burn from the System 32 or all the other files that
downloaded??? Jeeesh, I need help!!! Anyone out there that can help? I've
got his computer about to download the recovery console but I need to make
the disk first right? help! Thanks.

 

[Jose]

Ok I am really kind of confused about  this w hole thing.... I had the same
message on my boyfriend's computer and I with the help of my ISP am trying to
get his computer going.  I got the very same message as the above message.  I
do have a reinstallation disk from Windows XP.  So do I still need the
bootable recovery console?  I am a bit in question about  the downloads
mentioned above.  Finally managed to download the xp_rec_con.iso and also
downloaded the imgburn but am now trying to burn onto a disk but not sure
what files to burn from the System 32 or all the other files that
downloaded??? Jeeesh, I need help!!!  Anyone out there that can help?  I've
got his computer about to download the recovery console but I need to make
the disk first right? help! Thanks.

Is there a power interruption in this story prior to the issue?

If you have an XP installation CD boot on that and choose the Recovery
Console. This is not the same as a system recovery or reinstallation
CD that came with your system from your hardware manufacturer. Most
folks that buy their system in a store do not have a bootable XP
installation CD.

If you are not sure what you have and to remove any doubt, make the RC
CD and there will be no question.

There are no files to burn from the system32 folder - just burn a
bootable CD using the xp_rec_con.iso to the CD using ImgBurn. Here
are some additional directions:

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

After you boot on the RC, follow the directions mentioned previously.

 

[Roy Smith]

Ok I am really kind of confused about this w hole thing.... I had the same
message on my boyfriend's computer and I with the help of my ISP am trying to
get his computer going. I got the very same message as the above message. I
do have a reinstallation disk from Windows XP. So do I still need the
bootable recovery console? I am a bit in question about the downloads
mentioned above. Finally managed to download the xp_rec_con.iso and also
downloaded the imgburn but am now trying to burn onto a disk but not sure
what files to burn from the System 32 or all the other files that
downloaded??? Jeeesh, I need help!!! Anyone out there that can help? I've
got his computer about to download the recovery console but I need to make
the disk first right? help! Thanks.

When you insert the reinstallation CD and boot from it, after it loads
drivers and other system files. The first screen that you have to enter
something with your keyboard does it look like this?

http://my.jetscreenshot.com/1443/20091202-un9o-30kb

If so then just press R and you'll get the recovery console. You won't
need the other download that Jose told you to get. Then just refer to
this page for what to do next:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945380/

Although this is for XP with SP2 installed, it will work if you have SP3
instead.

 

[CARLOS]

VERY SIMPLE JUST TURN YOUR PC OFF AND GO TO THE MOTHERBOARD.
REMOVE THE JUMPER CMOS WILL ERASE LAST BOOT .
YOU WILL SEE THE PINS 1,2,3
TURN ON SEE BIOS WILL TELL YOU CMOS IS WRONG AND TURN OFF AGAIN
PUT IT BACK ON SAME PLACE
CLOSE THE CASE AND TURN IT ON AND DONE!!!!