Windows XP missing file on startup?

Question

(Please read entire desciption - it has important details about the problem...)

When I try to start my computer, this message shows up:

'Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\system32\hal.dll.
Please reinstall a copy of the file above.'

I have inserted the Windows XP disk with the software on it and set the computer to start from the disk. It then went to a blue 'Windows Setup' screen and I pressed the 'repair' button, it asked me which windows installation I would like to log into (so I type the one I wanted).

However now it wants me to type a command but I have no idea which to type to recover/reinstall the missing or corrupt file?

The options are:
ATTRIB
BATCH
BOOTCFG
CD
CHDIR
CHKDSK
CLS
COPY
DEL
DELETE
DIR
DISABLE
DISKPART
ENABLE
EXIT
EXPAND
FIXBOOT
FIXMBR
FORMAT
LISTSVC
LOGON
MAP
MD
MKDIR
MORE
NET
RD
REN
RENAME
RMDIR
SYSTEMROOT
TYPE

Any help appreciated xo

Answer 1

Here is the file you want and how to install it



http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?hal

Answer 2

My old laptop used to that that you need to use a recovery disk and it will work

it used to do this a lot when i did a system recovery it solved the problem

it's F11 you press as the computer is starting up and follow the options

chose the option that doesnt need you to put in an operating system



this is what works, people always say put it in safe mode. this is not the same as system restore- thats just reversing changes

this is ressetting it to factory settings

if you dont have a recovery disk make one they are invalauble and can be used more than once

Answer 3

You need to type the following:



chkdsk /r



Then Enter/Return. When the scan finishes, remove the disk and restart.



If that doesn't work...



Boot from the disk, select Repair again and use the following command...



bootrec /fixboot



Press Enter/Return.

Remove the disk and restart when finished.



If that still doesn't work, reinstall XP.



©Techno

Answer 4

Safe mode will not help.

This issue is caused by corrupt registry files.

The only way to fix it is to use a special procedure to manually extract copies of the registry files from the hidden System Restore folder.



Microsoft have produced a help page on this - and there are also many posts on help forums about it.



http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545



The only other way out is to completely reinstall Windows.

Answer 5

This XP Repair video may prove useful:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNOQ0sCYY8s



When they boot with the XP disc, they select the first option...to set up Windows. Only on the next screen do they select Repair. I don't know if that makes a difference.



Hope this helps.

Answer 6

You may experience one or more of the following behaviors:



If you start the computer to the Recovery Console, a command prompt may appear with no option to log on to the Windows installation.



If you try to access the Windows folder, you may receive the following error message:

Access denied.



If you try to perform a Repair operation from the Windows XP CD-ROM, the Windows installation is not detected and you cannot repair Windows.



This behavior can occur if any or some of the following conditions are true:



The Default value in the [Boot Loader] section of the Boot.ini file is missing or invalid.

Windows XP is not installed in the location specified in the Boot.ini file.

The Ntoskrnl.exe file is missing or damaged.

The partition path in the Boot.ini file is not set correctly.

General hardware failure.



To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods.



Method 1



Edit the Boot.ini file to restore or correct the Default entry and to ensure that the other entries in the [Operating Systems] section of the Boot.ini file point to the appropriate directories.



Method 2

Use the Bootcfg utility in the Recovery Console to correct the Boot.ini file:



Use the Windows XP CD-ROM to start your computer.

When you receive the message to press R to repair Windows by using the Recovery Console, press the R key.

Select the Windows installation that you want, and then type the administrator password when prompted.

Type bootcfg /rebuild, and then press ENTER.

When the Windows installation is located, the following instructions are displayed:

Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)

[Type Y in response to this message.]



Enter Load Identifier:

[This is the name of the operating system. Type Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition.]



Enter OS Load options:

[Leave this field blank, and then press ENTER].

After you perform the preceding steps, restart the computer, and then select the first item on the boot menu. This should allow Windows XP to start normally.



After Windows XP has successfully loaded, the Boot.ini can be modified to remove the incorrect entry.



Method 3



Start the computer by using your Windows XP CD-ROM. Press any key to boot from the CD.

After the setup files are finished loading press R to repair using Recovery Console.

When you are in the recovery console, select the installation to log on to (usually number 1), and then press ENTER.

Login to the Administrator account by typing the password for this account, and then press ENTER.

At the recovery console command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:



For Uni-Processor systems:

expand :\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ :\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

For Multi-Processor systems:

expand :\i386\ntkrnlmp.ex_ :\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Note In these two commands, the placeholder represents the drive letter of your CD drive, and the placeholder represents the drive letter of the hard disk on which windows is installed.

If you receive a prompt to overwrite the file, press Y.

Type exit, and press ENTER at the command prompt.



Method 4



Start the computer by using the Recovery Console, and then run theCHKDSK /rcommand.



Note You do not have to include the /p switch in the Chkdsk command-line because the /r switch causes the Chkdsk utility to locate bad sectors and recover readable information. This command implies the /p switch..



Method 5



Start the computer and press F10 to access system restore.



I hope at least one of these can help

Answer 7

Here's a guide http://www.ehow.com/how_6152806_fix-root-system32-hal-dll.html

Answer 8

you need to download hal.dll and put it in system32 file but the problem how can you download it and put it there .... idk.





Good luck.