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system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by johnjm22, 2007/05/12.

  1. 2007/05/12
    johnjm22

    johnjm22 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Whenever I start up my computer I get a 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.


    I tried going into the recovery console and typing this command:
    expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll

    But it keeps telling me "Access is denied." Can anyone help me out? XP Pro is installed on the computer, but the XP disc I'm trying to use is Home. Could that be the problem? I don't have the original install disc that came with the computer.
     
  2. 2007/05/12
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Try booting to the Advanced Boot Options screen and selecting to boot from the last known good configuration. You can access that screen by press the F8 key multiple times during the initial boot period.
     

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  4. 2007/05/12
    johnjm22

    johnjm22 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Tried it. Doesn't work. :mad:
     
  5. 2007/05/12
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    Then try running an abbreviated System Restore (assumes you had it activated) from the Recovery Console:

    From the Recovery Console, navigate to the folder \System Volume Information of the root drive, using the command:

    cd "C:\System Volume Information "

    Here, locate and navigate to the folder whose name begins with _restore using the command:

    cd _resto~1

    This folder contains many subfolders which have names of the form RPxxx, where xxx is a number indicating the restore point. Locate an RPxxx folder which has the highest number as its suffix (highest xxx) using the command dir command. Then navigate into that folder using the command:

    cd RPxxx (don't forget to replace xxx with the corresponding number!)

    Now, there will be a folder named snapshot. Navigate to this folder using the command:

    cd snapshot

    There should be a file named _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM, copy this file to the \Windows\System32\Config folder with the name System using the command:

    copy _REGISTRY_MACHINE_SYSTEM C:\Windows\System32\Config\System

    Then reboot the system. This method works only when the System Restore feature of Windows XP is enabled.
     
    Last edited: 2007/05/12
  6. 2007/05/12
    johnjm22

    johnjm22 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks for your help and everything. Unfortunately system restore was not activated.
     
  7. 2007/05/12
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    That takes care of the easy stuff. :(

    Let's try a boot floppy or CD to see if it's a case of boot.ini or other bootloader file corruption. By way of explanation, if the bootloader files are corrupt, you may get the error message pertaining to the hal.dll file being missing. It may not be missing at all. It can be due to the fact that the bootloader files are corrupt and are directing the boot process to look in the wrong place for the system files.

    If you have a floppy drive, download this Boot Floppy Creator. Double click it and follow the screen directions to create a floppy disk that you can use to attempt to boot your system. Once created, leave it in the drive bay and reboot. It will present several drive and partition options. Select what you know to be your configuration. If in doubt, select the first one listed, that's the most common. If that fails, try the others in turn.

    It will substitute some important bootloader files so as to eliminate the ones on your HD that may be corrupt. If it boots from that floppy, we can use that knowledge to affect a repair to your system. If it doesn't boot with that floppy, you will be facing a repair install most likely.

    If you have no floppy drive, post bak and I'll hook you up to a boot CD creator that will do the same thing. That assumes you have a CD burner that can made a disk from an iso file.

    Post back if you need that.
     
    Last edited: 2007/05/12
  8. 2007/05/12
    johnjm22

    johnjm22 Inactive Thread Starter

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    No I don't have a floppy drive.

    I went to http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?hal and downloaded the hal.dll file. But how can I install it?

    I also tried doing a bootcfg /rebuild but I got a messaging saying "failed to scan disk for window instillation. "
     
  9. 2007/05/12
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    No floppy drive. :(

    OK, then download this iso zip file and unzip it to produce the iso file that you can create a boot CD with. That assumes that you are familiar with your burner software and know how to use it to create a CD from an ISO file.

    Once that boot CD is created, you will need to change your boot sequence in the BIOS/CMOS Setup so it polls the CD drive first before the HD. The procedure for that varies with the type of BIOS you have so watch for the option to enter setup when booting. If you need further help entering setup, post back.
     

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