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Help missing or corrupt file hal.dll

Started by chelsea87 , Aug 18 2009 06:46 PM

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#1
chelsea87
Posted 18 August 2009 - 06:46 PM

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Hello I hope someone can help me with this because I am lost. The other day I got this 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.

This is what I have done to try to fix the hard drive:

1. System restore, this didn't work because it won't let me restore back past the hal.dll. error, when I did try my back up hard drive crashed and it took me 45 minutes to fix it.

2. I tried to reset it to the default settings and that didn't work.

3. Using the recovery console I inserted the OS disk and tried running bootcfg /rebuild, using windows xp home edition as the load identifier, this was the closest I got to getting it to run, however it froze while trying to load windows. I also tried running expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ f:\windows\system32\hal.dll. I got an access denied message, there is no password set so I don’t know how to get past that.

4. I tried using the OS disks to repair it with no luck and when I tried to reinstall it I got a message that it couldn't be installed. The only other option I had in the recovery console was to delete the partition. I am somewhat of a novice so I didn't select that option because I am unsure of the results of that action.
5. Since I can access this drive through command prompt I tried chkdsk/r this didn't work so I tried this chkdsk F: /f /r

6. As a last resort, I was out of ideas, I turned off the computer unplugged everything and let the computer set for quite a while. Nothing.


This is all I know how to do aside from reformatting the drive completely and losing everything or sending the drive back to Seagate and losing everything. I am running on my backup drive but it is only 80GB and I only have 9% of my space left. My DVD RW went out a couple of months ago so I can’t back up my data on disks and I don’t have enough flash drives to touch the data I have. I don't really want to buy a new hard drive because I want to buy a new computer next year and want to use this one as a trade in. What am I doing wrong, please help? :)

Edited by chelsea87, 18 August 2009 - 06:47 PM.

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#2
edge2022
Posted 18 August 2009 - 07:32 PM

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Go here: http://icrontic.com/...pair_windows_xp
Using your OS disk, follow the directions on the site.

What boot options work? (Safe Mode, Command Prompt, etc.)

Edited by edge2022, 18 August 2009 - 07:33 PM.

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#3
chelsea87
Posted 18 August 2009 - 08:04 PM

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I can access the hard drive from command prompt from the backup drive.

I have a quick question about the instructions on the site you posted. The 5th command is C:del boot.ini. will this command delete boot from the computer all together? I'm sorry I am a novice at this so I just want to be sure.

Another question, the disk drive I am trying to repair is in directory F: does that matter with the instructions? Thanks.

Edited by chelsea87, 18 August 2009 - 08:40 PM.

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#4
chelsea87
Posted 19 August 2009 - 12:46 PM

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Should I mail off the hard drive to Seagate or should I keep trying? Please advice on the other questions too. :)
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#5
edge2022
Posted 19 August 2009 - 03:06 PM

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Another question, the disk drive I am trying to repair is in directory F: does that matter with the instructions? Thanks.

If the hard drive's drive letter is F:, then replace every C: with F: in the instructions.

The 5th command is C:del boot.ini

The boot.ini file is deleted, then the following commands are used to rebuild it and to write a new bootsector.

If you have a Windows CD, then try a repair installation: http://www.geekstogo...ws-XP-t138.html
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#6
chelsea87
Posted 19 August 2009 - 08:46 PM

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If you have a Windows CD, then try a repair installation: http://www.geekstogo...ws-XP-t138.html


This worked and I am currently using the hard drive. :) However it is running very sluggish, I am currently running a virus scan with AVG. I have a couple of problems besides the way it is running.

* I got an error message could load file C:\WINDOWS\system32\vesnwshi.dll, I tried to Google it and there is nothing at all on it on the internet. I have no idea what it could be.

* My desktop shortcuts don't work including Internet Explorer. Is there an easy fix?

* I got about 50 messages that this file couldn't be found while the computer was rebuilding the files, I tried to use the browse option but I could find them either. Will this hurt?

* I am so afraid to turn this off is there anyway to find out what happened to the hard drive so I can prevent this from happening again?

* Is there any programs I should be running to protect my computer, in case this is due to a virus? I have AVG Anti-Virus and Adware now.


Thank you so much for your help, I have been trying to fix this thing since Saturday. :)

Edited by chelsea87, 19 August 2009 - 08:48 PM.

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#7
chelsea87
Posted 19 August 2009 - 08:54 PM

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I almost forgot, there is a file on my desktop that wasn't there before it is called commonpriv.log.lock it is a Lock file and the application is unknown. What is it and what should I do with it? :)

Thanks again.
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#8
edge2022
Posted 20 August 2009 - 12:37 PM

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You might be infected...
Go here: http://www.geekstogo...uide-t2852.html
Follow the guide, and post the logs asked for in the Malware Forum. Link them to this thread too.
A tech will help you clean out your system, if problems persist, come back here.
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#9
chelsea87
Posted 20 August 2009 - 10:54 PM

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Followed the link and created a new topic here.

Thanks for all of your help can't wait to have my computer back! :)

Edited by chelsea87, 21 August 2009 - 11:04 AM.

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#10
edge2022
Posted 20 August 2009 - 11:41 PM

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I'm sorry if I wasn't clear enough.
Can you please remove the logs.

Post your logs in a new topic here: http://www.geekstogo...emoval-f37.html
Also post a link to this topic in the new one you create. Explain your problems, and a malware tech will help you out... if problems persist after you are clean of malware, then come back here for additional help.
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#11
rshaffer61
Posted 21 August 2009 - 05:46 AM

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You are infected and need to follow Edge's advice.
Please go to the Malware forum and start a topic there.
Post a link to this topic so that the tech who helps you can see everything that has been done here.
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