Argh! My Windows keeps crashing. Help me please.

2048Megabytes

2048Megabytes

Active Member
I am so sick of this! I used to use Norton Ghost Version 15 to clone Serial ATA to a Parallel ATA hard drive. I used to have no issues doing it. I am not even cloning my C:\Windows partition. It is another partition I am cloning to another hard drive. Now every time I do the clone it crashes my Windows XP 32-bit. I know it is the Serial ATA to Parallel ATA clone that is messing my Windows operating system up. Windows runs fine until I restart my Windows and then I get this 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 have cloned my hard drive over about five times in the last several days before I really figured out what the heck is going on. Anyone have any fixes for me? The master image I am cloning from does not have all my software installed and I am sick of having to re-install software over and over.

I know the "FIXBOOT" and "FIXMBR" tricks and these do not work for me. "Last Known Good Configuration" does not work either.

Anyone have any other tips on how I can fix Windows XP without having to do a re-install or a clone?

Norton Ghost Version 15 Serial ATA to a Parallel ATA hard drive clone with Windows = bad things happening. Parallel ATA to Serial ATA hard drive clone works fine.
 
Call me stupid, but did you try copying over a good copy of that file to your OS?
That is what the error says to do, after all.
 
I would not call you stupid. You are trying to help me.

I just tried copying the "Ntoskrnl.exe" file and the "hal.dll" from the master clone hard drive to the damaged operating system and put the files in the correct folders. It did not work. I still get the same error message.

Edit: I cannot get to safe mode for Windows either.
 
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Do you have linux and xp installed on the same machine thus booting with/through GRUB? I ask because you have linux and xp listed in your sig.
 
No it is not booting to Windows through GRUB. I have two separate hard drives on my system. One has Windows XP on it the other has Linux Ubuntu 10.10. When I want a different operating system I simply change the hard drive priority in BIOS.
 
You can mark this one as resolved. I got tired of battling with it and cloned Windows over again. The problem is resolved.
 
bigfellla said:
Not trolling here, but I just read your sig, its amazing how ironic that is for the USA.
Click to expand...

It is not just an American problem. Everybody is their own worst enemy. If people do not want to be responsible for their actions and act in riotous ways communities and nations will suffer the consequences.
 
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