error message on system boot

[wadeheat3]

hi when i start my pc i get an error message that says

"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll please reinstall a copy of the above file"

What do i have to do to fix this?

 

[johnb35]

You will need to do a repair install of the Operating system

 

[wadeheat3]

how do i do this? i have the xp CD in my drive and start my computer but it doesnt load

 

[johnb35]

Go into the bios and set the first boot device to be the cdrom

 

[wadeheat3]

i did that it still doesnt work, if i replace the hard drive would i have to deal with any of this? could i just do a clean install of xp and move on with my life, lol?

 

[johnb35]

Then either the install CD you have isn't bootable or the cdrom drive is bad

 

[linkin]

Check the BIOS screen for a boot menu button (mine is F11) and then select the CD/DVD drive with the windows disc in there. When it prompts you to press any key to boot from the CD, do so and do a repair installation.