Winnt_root\System32\Hal.dll missing or corrupt:
Please re-install a copy of the above file.
I tried following these steps,
(found on about.com)
In situations where it has become damaged, either from virus activity or hardware failure, it may be necessary to replace it with an undamaged copy. Here are the steps necessary to replace the hal.dll file with an undamaged copy from the Windows CD:
As above, insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.
When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console.
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair, typically this will be #1.
At the command prompt type: expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. (where d: is the drive letter of your CD and c:\windows is the location for your Windows installation folder.) If prompted for permission to overwrite an existing version of the hal.dll file select yes.
Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
The installation is stalling, won't complete. Could their be a virus on board? I had JUST scanned with everything. The comp had been running pretty slow. It was my dads. He cleaned it all out then we put my old hard drive on it as well, as a second hard drive. Ive had it a few months, and other than being pretty slow, it worked fine.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Shilo