0x000000CE partmgr.sys DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATI ONS

I tried googling this, and I've tried several options to no avail, including bootcfg, chkdsk, etc... This laptop was also taken to the Costco computer dept., and they just suggested to get another harddrive. That's fine, but I still need to recover or save files.

This is what happened:
I loaded the included CD for the Maxtor OneTouch III USB external drive. I then transferred gigs of MP3s and movies, but I didn't back up the rest of my

files. The HP laptop's 80gig harddrive is almost filled to capacity, and this is the reason for the external harddrive purchase.

My son then decided to open a PDF file, but since the laptop was going slow, he kept clicking the keys until it froze. We could have waited, but he was in a hurry --- and so we did a hard boot on the system.

Then, the Windows XP didn't want to boot up, and I got this message on a black screen:
__________________
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.
__________________


My husband and I googled hal.dll, and tried F8, F11, bootcfg, etc. to no avail --- nothing comes up, and the harddrive kept making clicking sounds. The laptop did not come with discs originally --- it was bought from Costco last year. I did burn my own set of recovery discs from the PC recovery Disc Creator last year, but when I put disc #1 in while pressing F11, I get this message:
__________________
These PC Recovery discs do NOT support this PC model.
Press any key to continue.
__________________


When I do press any key to continue, I am taken back to the same black screen with the original message:
__________________
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.
__________________

It cycles like this over and over. I am only taken to a command prompt whenever I put in another Windows XP setup disc (one that did not come with the HP laptop). While this disc is in, there are choices for safe mode, etc., but I went down one by one through the selections, only to get the original message on a black screen. On the command prompt, we've tried all the bootcfg commands, but it cannot even go past the bootcfg /list command. Tried the F8, then r, screen still goes back to the original black screen message.

The command prompt only comes up if the XP disc is in, F8 then r. After doing this over and over numerous times and ending up with the original black screen message, this last one took me to a blue screen that says (after chkdsk /p on the command prompt):
__________________

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

The problem seems to be caused by the following file: partmgr.sys

DRIVER_UNLOADED_WITHOUT_CANCELLING_PENDING_OPERATIONS

If this is your first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x000000CE (0xF7895667, 0x00000000, 0xF7895667, 0x00000000)

partmgr.sys

__________________

So, before I do anything else, would anyone please let me know what else I should do? Thanks in advance!

 

using usb external hard drive enclosure as slave drive?

Now, I would just like to be able to retrieve and save files from the hard drive by making it a slave on a PC. How do I go about in doing this with a laptop drive by using a purchased USB external hard drive enclosure? The enclosure was connected to the PC, and it was recognized by the PC very briefly, then disappears. The laptop drive then makes clicking noises.

How do I go about in making this laptop drive a slave on the PC? Do I need to get something like this or this instead?

Please help . . .

thanks in advance . . .

 

sorry . . . what is SOL? do you think there's still a chance to recover any files in there?

 

Thanks for the edit PeteC . . . and sorry for that.

I just want to have a clear idea on how to set up the laptop drive as a slave on the PC . . . can I use the USB external drive enclosure, or something else?

 

Thank you both for your replies . . . I guess I am SOL