[hulud]

when booting up my machine, which is windows xp home edition (previous installation of windows ME still on there) i get the following error 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 checked the link hereand tried all of the steps to no avail (including taking the drive out and putting it into another machine - but unfortunately nothing has worked. i am able to boot into ME but i cannot access the XP installation at all. no last known good, no safe mode.

has anyone experienced this problem before?

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It is quite a problem with xp failures.

What happens when you try to do a repair?

[ultimateslacker2]

It is quite a problem with xp failures.

What happens when you try to do a repair?

[hulud]

okay, im following these steps as from the link i posted in my first post:

Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console. Then:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

there is only 1 installation to choose:
1: c:\windows

i select that and then enter:

C:\WINDOWS\attrib -hrs c:\boot.ini

i hit enter and it takes me back to the C:\WINDOWS prompt

i enter:

del c:\boot.ini

back to prompt c:\windows

then:

bootcfg /rebuild

it says:

scanning all discs for windows installations

Please wait, since this may take a while...

after a few minutes it says

the windows installation scan was successful.

note: these results are stored statically for this session. if the disk configuration changes during the session, in order to get an updated scan, you must first reboot the machine and then rescan the disks.

total identified windows installs: 1

[1]: C:\WINDOWS
add installation to boot list (yes/no/all): a
enter load identifier: 1
enter os load options: 1

it takes me back to C:\Windows

and i type exit to make it reboot

when it boots back up, i get the error still.

[ultimateslacker2]

Are you trying to run the repair installation from the Recovery Console?

[hulud]

that was the boot config repair attempt...

hold on i'll try the repair install

[ultimateslacker2]

Here is a guide if you need it

[hulud]

okay, i run the repair installation and hit a snag during the file copying when i get:

Setup cannot copy the file: vgafix.fon

i tried retrying to no avail, going to skip it and see what happens

[hulud]

the following also don't copy properly and i had to skip them

roman.fon
serife.fon
raavi.ttf
shruti.ttf
swmidi.sys
verdanai.ttf
verdanaz.ttf
webdings.ttf
wingding.ttf
verdanab.ttf
cpqdap01.sys
cyycoins.chm
cyzcoins.chm
digiras.chm
driver.cab
dvdplay.exe
kodak_dc.icm
mdwmdmsp.dll
nikedrv.sys
rend.dll
rio8drv.sys
riodrv.sys
RMCast.sys
rootau.inf
rootmdm.sys

at this point i exited the setup at 36% copying files.

[ultimateslacker2]

Your CD might be damaged.


Is this a legit CD?

[hulud]

yes it is a legit cd. Windows XP Home Edition OEM Software

the cd does appear to be a bit scratched. i have an xp pro disc too... but its install on another machine... can i use taht to repair my xp home installation?

Edited by hulud, 26 February 2007 - 12:40 PM.

[ultimateslacker2]

Make sure the CD does not have any smudges, finger prints ,or scratches on it, and try it again.

[hulud]

cleaned it off, trying again... will report back in a few minutes

[ultimateslacker2]

Will be waiting

[hulud]

i ran the repair and it copied all files and then restarted, but came up with the same error after restarting. should i have booted from the cd again? i know you dont when you do a fresh install.

[ultimateslacker2]

So the repair completed but the hal.dll still persists?

Edited by ultimateslacker2, 26 February 2007 - 01:37 PM.