Hope I can repair XP? Help?

Somehow my XP OS isn't working. It won't start-up, it says it is missing a file, system32\hal.dll. Can I just replace the file? (I can see the partition it is on)
If this doesn't work, if there are more trbls, can I do a repair by booting up the XP cd and proceeding? The only problem I have with that it asks for an admin password. At the original install I didn't provide one? What does it want, is there a default?
Will I lose any programs if I do a repair?
If I reinstall will I lose my programs?

 

Try to copy it from the partition first (into C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32)to save yourself the trouble of doing a repair. I ran one myself last night, and I now have a problem with Administrator Accounts (I posted a thread about it below). I also had to reinstall the software for my video card. It appeared to be working, but there was a missing driver file. You won't lose any software from a repair, but you may have to reconfigure some devices that XP doesn't recognize as compatible (you'll get a message if this happens). Your personal settings should all stay the same as well. Hope this helps.

 

A repair installation is sometimes the easiest and quickest solution to some of these problems. The HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) is system-critical and a reinstallation will build a new one after redetecting your hardware.

You won't lose anything at all, except any Windows Updates you have installed. You'll need to go back there.

If you gave no password for Admin, then a blank should work. If you added an Admin password after you installed, use that one.

Boot from the CD. Proceed as though you were installing. You will get an option to press "R" and repair from the Recovery Console. Do NOT pres "R" this time. Just go ahead.

After you agree to the license agreement by pressing "F8 ", setup will search for installations of Windows. When it finds yours, it will ask you to press "R" to repair it. Press "R" this time.

The installation will proceed, answer the questions, and you will be back to your desktop in no time (a lot sooner than trying to solve these problems some other way!).

 

Hard to keep things in line with duplicate posts...anyhow...Abraxas has it nailed. You should be prompted to repair an installation, and it will give you TWO options, the one on C and the one on D. Make sure you select the correct one!!!