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No Boot - Missing \ntoslrnl.exe and \hal.dll

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by virginia, 2009/10/12.

  1. 2009/10/12
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    I helped a friend set up his new computer and he gave me his old Dell 4600, XP Home, SP3 machine but he couldn't find any of his original software. I added a GB of memory, uninstalled all the unnecessary programs, installed AVG, and installed all available Windows Updates.

    I discovered some personal financial files and photos and I downloaded and installed Eraser. I erased all the data files with no problem. During the erase of the photos in My Photos, I got a Blue Screen - but didn't write down the information - I apologize.

    I powered the computer off. When I turned it back on, wouldn't boot and got this missing file message <Windows root>\system 32\ntoskrnl.exe. I powered off again and when I turned it back on I got this missing file message - <Windows root>\system 32\hal.dll. I was able to use the F8 tap and get to the page with the Safe, Restore, etc. options. I tried booting in last known good configuration with no luck. Then I tried to boot to Safe with no luck. Now I can't even use the F8 tap to get that screen.

    Now when I start the computer, I get the Dell splash screen and beeps (no pattern) and then a message that says "Press F1 to continue or F2 for Setup Utility ". F1 simply repeats the message and F2 does get me to the Setup Utility. Also, I am getting a sound like something being written to the hard drive.

    I have searched and found several threads on this Board that address the problem and went to the Microsoft website and found their procedure. All of the fixes seem to be specific that a Microsoft original disc is required as opposed to Recovery discs. Even if my friend could find his original software I don't know if it is OEM/Recover/Microsoft.

    Bottom line - is this effort worth pursuing? I have already invested in memory and I don't think a new hard drive and OS would be good options. Any thoughts?
     
  2. 2009/10/12
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    The 4600 is old enough that it came with a standard OEM XP Install cd...The cds sell here at the monthly flea market for 20 bucks. Or you can borrow one for someone maybe;)
     

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  4. 2009/10/13
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    What are you up to this time Robert? :D:D

    I agree with Steve. If you have another full version you could try installing it, but you won't be able to activate it if it is installed on another computer (or don't activate it if you want to save it for a "good" system). As I see it, "pre-Activation" (30 days) is for testing, so use it if you can. Get a full version, along with it's own activation if the testing works.

    Run tests on the HDD, it sounds like it could possibly be failing or the disk surface has errors and may be breaking down. Run CHKDSK /r on it from the recovery console (the "R" option when you first boot to the Windows disk). There could possibly be HDD checking utilities in the BIOS, or you could check at Dell, or get the HDD manufacturer's testing utilities. I see if CHKDSK can fix the problem (but it could recur if it is a disk surface error...the surface is peeling off).

    Matt
    Edit: A Beginner with 4 reputation points...sheesh! :D
     
  5. 2009/10/13
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Steve and Matt,

    Thanks for the suggestions. Current status:
    • Don't have a standard version of XP. I do have two Reinstall discs for Dell 4600 and Dell 8400. Put both of them in just to see what they would do and on the first try for both it appeared that files were being installed but at about the point where it addressed the drives, I got a blue screen with this stop message: Stop: 0x0000007f, (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) A problem has caused ...
    • Now when I turn the computer on I get the splash screen and then black screen that says "Diskette drive 0 seek failure. Primary drive 0 not found.
    • I am then offered the option of F1 to continue (which does nothing but repeat) or F2 to run setup - which I can access but don't really know what to do when I am there.

    I know little if anything about reinstalling operating systems, boot sequences, etc - thus my Beginner tag Mattman. All I can access now is a flashing cursor which won't let me enter anything to run CHKDSK as you suggested.

    Any other thoughts?
     
  6. 2009/10/14
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Dell Windows installation disks ONLY have drivers for the model they were supplied with. You cannot install them on any other model, hence the blue screen and non-start, the Dell installation disk only has drivers for one Dell model, the model it was supplied with.

    You should be able to install a retail version of Windows though, if you can possibly borrow one.That should let you do tests and checks, then you could buy one as Steve suggested.

    I like testing and checking first. I have had a fair bit of experience working on Dells, but not a lot. They are reasonably flexible, but not when it comes to their installation disks. You will need to look at another Windows installation method.

    Matt
     
  7. 2009/10/14
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Mattman, I think I am clear now on the difference between Reinstallation Discs and retail versions of Windows. I will look around to get a retail version - this is a spare computer so I'm in no hurry. Will probably be a few days before I can get to it.

    In the interim, I have an Ubuntu "Live Disc" that I use for financial transactions on my own Dell Desktop. I put that in the ailing unit and was able to get the OS on the CD to boot up and run - could get to the internet, etc. One of the options on the CD is to install to the hard drive. Would I create problems with the XP recovery I am now working on if I installed the Ubunto OS on the unit to use as an interim?

    Any discussion of another OS on this Board may be inappropriate so if I have overstepped here, just delete this post.
     
  8. 2009/10/14
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Me, I would get a spare HDD that Ubuntu could be installed on and take the current HDD out for safe keeping. It uses a different boot system and if it makes partitions Windows may not recognise them.
     
  9. 2009/10/21
    amdace

    amdace Inactive

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    I think this is an interesting error.
    "splash screen and then black screen that says "Diskette drive 0 seek failure. Primary drive 0 not found. "
    If you access the BIOS does it recognize the HDD?
     
  10. 2009/10/21
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Amdace,

    Thanks for the input. We have visitors now and I have the computer stored. I plan to get it out after the first of the week and I will see if I can get into the BIOS and answer your question. Also want to pursue getting a disc as Steve and Mattman discussed.
     
  11. 2009/11/21
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Arie - Thanks for reopening this thread.

    Steve, Matt, and amdace - Sorry for the delay in getting to this. I should be able to spend some time on it now.

    In the interim, I discovered from the original owner that this was an XP Pro computer. I recently bought a new Dell Laptop with XP Pro SP3 on it. I have the Reinstallation CD that came with it. I tried that CD in it and it downloaded files and then asked if it was a recovery or an install. Either way I selected, I got a message that it couldn't find the hard drive and aborted.

    In the BIOS, I get the following information:

    Drive Configuration
    • SATA Drives 1 & 2 - Off
    • Primary Master - Off
    • Primary Slave - Off

    HD Drive Sequence
    • 1. System BIOS boot devices
    • 2. USB Device (not installed)

    Boot Sequence
    • 1. IDE CD-ROM Device (Check mark in front)
    • 2. Hard disk drive (not installed) (Check mark in front)

    I am still confused about what discs can be used for a repair/recovery. Is the XP Pro CD I have usable for that? Also, is the information I am getting during the Reinstallation CD process and the BIOS telling me that my hard drive is bad? disconnected? something else? Thanks for your help.
     
  12. 2009/11/21
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    Here is the manual
    http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600i/sm/syssetup.htm#1138127
    look under System Setup.

    From what I can see, those settings should say Auto.

    Under the heading Integrated Devices, set the IDE to Auto
    You should also try setting Defaults, which is by pressing Alt + F.

    The CMOS battery could need changing.

    Matt
     
  13. 2009/11/21
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Matt,

    I forgot to mention that I did replace the CMOS battery earlier today.

    I opened the Dell System Setup guide and your instructions and tried to get all the settings to line up. Still wouldn't boot but got a couple of new messages:

    Diskette drive 0 seek failure.
    SATA Primary drive 0 not found.
    SATA Secondary drive 0 not found.
    Primary drive 0 not found.
    Primary drive 1 not found.

    Then the "Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility" message appears. F1 does nothing and F2 just puts me back in the setup. I should note that the IDE drive UDMA only has settings of On or Off - not Auto.
     
  14. 2009/11/22
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    [Aside: if the system does not have a floppy disk drive, turn off the FDD Seek function in the BIOS.]

    It seems to report that no HDDs are installed. There is a possibility the HDD has failed, ALTHOUGH it might be that the data in the HDD's boot sector is corrupt.

    Identify the manufacturer of the HDD, go to their website and look up their testing utilities. I have had the testing utilities "see" the drive, even though the BIOS cannot.

    Put the HDD into another computer, it may be something "related ", like a failing power supply.

    Matt
     
  15. 2009/11/25
    amdace

    amdace Inactive

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    Just as a troubleshooting tip, I would check the cabling to drive(s) just to make sure they are properly connected. I have made a few dollars (and made some endusers thankful) from simply reseating loose cables. lol
    I don't know if I missed it, but did you say you set SATA Drives 1&2 back to Auto or On with the same result?
     
  16. 2009/12/17
    virginia Lifetime Subscription

    virginia Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Sorry for the delay. I put a replacement hard drive in and got the same messages regarding "not able to find the hard drive ". A friend has the unit now and is working to see if he can figure out what the problem.

    I will follow up as soon as he is through and let you know the current status. Thanks for your help and interest.
     
  17. 2009/12/18
    Jilly

    Jilly Inactive

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    Hi,

    I was moved to post this in another thread. This guy---found him via relentless Googling--- is a genius. I once used his fix, the one for my then issue---he offers all for free-- and it was a miracle:

    http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm
     

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