Windows\System32\Hal.dll

L

lostchris08

New Member
Here is my issue:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll

I used the suggested tutorial from Microsoft on how to fix it, however, when I reach the recovery console part. It brings up:

[1] I:\Windows
which is my iPod that obviously does not have Windows.

It should be:
[1] C:\Windows

I turned off my computer...unplugged my iPod and tried the Recovery console and it just went to my H:\ drive which is my external hard drive!

I then tried to just reinstall Windows on the C drive. I received this error along the lines of cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. setup cannot install windows xp on the this hard disk windows xp

Please help! Thank you!
 
I've posted this like a billion times, can a mod just make it sticky on how to fix many different windows XP issues?

This rebuilds everything that is required to start windows, from the boot.ini to the required .dll files that are also required for the system to run. The infamouse HAL.dll and NTLDR.dll errors can be fixed by doing this. Please note it is not a 100% guaranteed fix, if your OS is botched beyond repair then its botched beyond repair and there is nothing you can do but wipe and reload. Use this hint at your own risk, and you should have your data backed up that is your responsibility....

Okay, boot into recovery console off your windows XP CD. Choose your installation and log in as administrator, if you never set a password for the Administrator account, just hit enter since the password will be blank.

Type the following sets of commands

Code: 
attrib -h c:\boot.ini

attrib -s c:\boot.ini

attrib -r c:\boot.ini

del c:\boot.ini

This changes the boot.ini from read only, system file, and hidden to a plain file, then we delete it.

next code
Code: 
bootcfg /rebuild
-it will ask you if you wish to rebuild, say yes to all
-name it whatever you want, like "Windows XP Professional"
-make sure to add the /noexecute=optin and /fastdetect options are flagged,
-if you mess this part up, it is easily fixed once you boot into windows, don't panic

next code
Code: 
chkdsk /r

This scans the HD for file system errors and fixes them if possible, the /r option is needed for this, and it may take minute, be paitent

final step

Code: 
fixboot

rewrite the boot sector with everything we just did, this will fix and rebuild lots of system files when having boot problems. I can't begin to tell you how many machines I have fixed with this method with out having to reimage, even though reimaging would be the faster fix, this allows users who did not back up their data have a second chance at it.

If a Moderator would want to copy/paste this, plus clean it up a bit and make it sticky so I wouldn't have to post it anymore and maybe people could just refer to it as a how to repair from the recovery console.
 
tlarkin said:
I've posted this like a billion times, can a mod just make it sticky on how to fix many different windows XP issues?

This rebuilds everything that is required to start windows, from the boot.ini to the required .dll files that are also required for the system to run. The infamouse HAL.dll and NTLDR.dll errors can be fixed by doing this. Please note it is not a 100% guaranteed fix, if your OS is botched beyond repair then its botched beyond repair and there is nothing you can do but wipe and reload. Use this hint at your own risk, and you should have your data backed up that is your responsibility....

Okay, boot into recovery console off your windows XP CD. Choose your installation and log in as administrator, if you never set a password for the Administrator account, just hit enter since the password will be blank.

Type the following sets of commands

Code: 
attrib -h c:\boot.ini

attrib -s c:\boot.ini

attrib -r c:\boot.ini

del c:\boot.ini

This changes the boot.ini from read only, system file, and hidden to a plain file, then we delete it.

next code
Code: 
bootcfg /rebuild
-it will ask you if you wish to rebuild, say yes to all
-name it whatever you want, like "Windows XP Professional"
-make sure to add the /noexecute=optin and /fastdetect options are flagged,
-if you mess this part up, it is easily fixed once you boot into windows, don't panic

next code
Code: 
chkdsk /r

This scans the HD for file system errors and fixes them if possible, the /r option is needed for this, and it may take minute, be paitent

final step

Code: 
fixboot

rewrite the boot sector with everything we just did, this will fix and rebuild lots of system files when having boot problems. I can't begin to tell you how many machines I have fixed with this method with out having to reimage, even though reimaging would be the faster fix, this allows users who did not back up their data have a second chance at it.

If a Moderator would want to copy/paste this, plus clean it up a bit and make it sticky so I wouldn't have to post it anymore and maybe people could just refer to it as a how to repair from the recovery console.
Click to expand...

awesome! this looks like my ticket out of here, however, even though my problem is in the C drive, the recovery console is under the H drive (my external hard drive). Therefore, typing those commands, I receive errors like the file cannot be opened and an error occurred during the directory enumeration.
 
lostchris08 said:
awesome! this looks like my ticket out of here, however, even though my problem is in the C drive, the recovery console is under the H drive (my external hard drive). Therefore, typing those commands, I receive errors like the file cannot be opened and an error occurred during the directory enumeration.
Click to expand...

when you first enter recovery console it asks you which windows installation you wish to modify. Choose your C drive then.
 
tlarkin said:
when you first enter recovery console it asks you which windows installation you wish to modify. Choose your C drive then.
Click to expand...

I think that's where my problem is. I only have my H drive available to choose from. It's weird. Windows isn't even installed on that drive!

I think the problem now lies in the fact I received this error when I tried to reinstall windows XP:
cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. setup cannot install windows xp on the this hard disk windows xp
 
well it sounds like your system is hosed, do you even have enough drives to take up enough letters to reach H?

Recovery console scans all hard disks for installations, if its not picking up your installation you have either so much corruption its toast or a hardware issue.
 
tlarkin said:
well it sounds like your system is hosed, do you even have enough drives to take up enough letters to reach H?

Recovery console scans all hard disks for installations, if its not picking up your installation you have either so much corruption its toast or a hardware issue.
Click to expand...

haha yeah I actually do have that many drives. dvd burner and external hard drives. well I sure hope it's a hardware issue...

I was researching and I came across the fact that I could put Windows XP on another drive like external or USB and I guess have the C:\ drive as a slave.

Then, when I boot with the external or USB drive I can fix the Windows\System32\Hal.dll on C:\ drive that way. I'm not sure how but maybe run some kind of problem that would fix the registry?

Is this method even plausible? It seems like it would require lots of time and I'd hate to waste it all if it doesn't even make sense
 
thats not a good method, if you can install windows on another drive just do so and change the boot order of the drives, then copy whatever data you need to keep all onto one working drive, then wipe and reload.

Put it this way, if your problem is as bad as it sounds I would recommend just starting over. Rebuilding the registry can be a pain, and it can back fire later on.
 
tlarkin said:
thats not a good method, if you can install windows on another drive just do so and change the boot order of the drives, then copy whatever data you need to keep all onto one working drive, then wipe and reload.

Put it this way, if your problem is as bad as it sounds I would recommend just starting over. Rebuilding the registry can be a pain, and it can back fire later on.
Click to expand...

honestly though, I don't need any of the data. I just recently reformatted it. However, if I do install Windows XP on a different drive...

how can I get rid of the..."cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. setup cannot install windows xp on the this hard disk windows xp" message from the C:\ drive.
 
lostchris08 said:
honestly though, I don't need any of the data. I just recently reformatted it. However, if I do install Windows XP on a different drive...

how can I get rid of the..."cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. setup cannot install windows xp on the this hard disk windows xp" message from the C:\ drive.
Click to expand...

wipe it all out if data doesn't matter problem solved
 
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll"

This error message could arise if the System32 hal.dll file is missing or corrupt in your system. You need to boot your computer by the Windows XP CD. After that start the Recovery Console. Then use the Bootcfg.exe tool to rebuild the Boot.ini file.

Follow the tutorial http://www.completepcpedia.com/file_missing.html
 
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