Resolved XP won't start - corrupt or missing hal.dll

XP won't start - "Missing or corrupt <Windows Root>system32/hal.dll.
Same error even before trying "Safe Mode ".

Rather than reinstall XP is there any way to restore hal.dll from a floppy disk?

Thanks

 

Hi N Jeanes,

Haave you tried the solutions offered by Microsoft at Error message: "Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem "

 

Thanks, I'll give it a try. If not, reinstall I guess!

 

Since the thread is marked as resolved it would be good to know which solution worked for you (future posters may have similar problems).

Did one of Microsoft's solutions work or did you settle for a reinstall?

 

I'll find out tonight and let you know

 

Had no success. Apparently the boot.ini file needs to be edited. Problem is all documentation says use XP to edit it!! Great when you can't run XP. An "expert" friend-of-a-friend said SP3 installs regularly fail on older PCs and is a known problem - he says "steer clear of SP3 on old PCs ". Has Microsoft acknowledeged this alleged problem?

Bottom line is reinstall XP.

 

You can fix boot.ini from the recovery console.

Do you have the original XP CD (I'm assuming you do or you wouldn't be looking at a reinstall)

Have a read of this microsoft article for a guide...

"Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer

In the meantime perhaps you should mark this thread unsolved

 

Tried that but the command "bootcfg /rebuild" fails. Frankly, I think the System Partition is "stuffed" - if not the entire HDD.

 

Try chkdsk from the recovery console, but agreed it's not looking good.

 

Yep - tried chkdsk & got some errors
Time to call the knackery, I think

 

It is an oldish drive so yep, I'd think it's maybe time for a replacement. Though TBF I'm not there to actually see the symptoms.

Try Seagates Seatools and run non destructive diagnostics to verify the drives condition.

NOTE: I am assuming your HD is the same as listed in your System Details.

Disk Diagnostic Software ....

Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum

 

No, the PC is owned by a good friend of mine and I'm not sure what make drive it is. I suspect she'll now take it back to where she bought it in the hope that they can at least recover some of her data that she didn't backup.
She has an ext HDD but she backed up only her photos despite my ranting and raving that she has plenty of space to simply dump her entire C and D drives to it - just in case Mr. Murphy knocked on her door. Well, he didn't bother to knock - just burst straight through! Lesson has been learned the hard way.

Thanks for your help, anyway.

 

No problem, sorry we couldn't come to a solution

And yes Murphy is a law unto himself, for anyone else reading this thread BACKUP.