[Capp]

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie with a sad problem. I use easy cleaner on my lap top, and while running it I checked for duplicate copies, I have over 7000, so i started deleting them. I figured if I had two of each then I can make my computer run faster if I delete the copy. WRONG THING TO DO, it wouldn't respond to anything. I manually shut it down, and when I restarted it here's what it says, 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 didn't get a back up copy of anything when I bought this computer, but I do have an old gateway cd with Operating System windows xp home edition, version 1.3 I've tried several times to run this CD each time it stops at this: The file sparrow.sys is corrupted press any key to continue. When I press any key it goes off. I've tried it several times with no luck. Can you help me get back this file please?
Capp

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Hi Capp, welcome to G2G.

You really shot yourself in the foot on this one . There is no way to know how many critical system files you deleted, so there is very little you can do except do a Repair Install or a recovery to factory installed state.

For this you are going to need a XP Install CD that will work on your computer, around $80 or order a recovery CD from the computer manufacturer, $20 to $30. You can usually do this from their web site.

If you need help finding this, please post the make and model of your computer and I'll see what I can locate for you.

Edited by Ztruker, 09 May 2008 - 07:56 PM.

[Ztruker]

Hi Capp, welcome to G2G.

You really shot yourself in the foot on this one . There is no way to know how many critical system files you deleted, so there is very little you can do except do a Repair Install or a recovery to factory installed state.

For this you are going to need a XP Install CD that will work on your computer, around $80 or order a recovery CD from the computer manufacturer, $20 to $30. You can usually do this from their web site.

If you need help finding this, please post the make and model of your computer and I'll see what I can locate for you.

Edited by Ztruker, 09 May 2008 - 07:56 PM.

[Capp]

Thanks Ztruker,
I've got a friend that has the CD, I'm going to get it and try it. If not I'll email Microsoft and get one from them.
Thanks for the help.
Capp

[Ztruker]

Capp, a recovery CD from the computer manufacturer would be considerably cheaper than buying XP from MS. If you really want a retail copy of XP, buy it from a local computer store, not form MS.