Dual Boot Windows 2000/XP

[RashMorbius]

I dual boot between Windows 2000 Pro and Windows XP Pro. I can boot into XP, but now I cannot boot to Windows 2000. I get an error, "Missing or corrupt system file
%systemroot%\system32\hal.dll" I am not sure what to do in order to correct the problem other than blow Windows 2000 away. I have the dual boot menu disabled as of now.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[darranagl]

The HAL controlls the hardware layer of Win2k. Have you installed any new hardware?

If you just reinstall Win2k you will have to contend with the problem of XP not starting. When you install Win2k it will put its NTDETECT and NTLDR on the boot partition, these files start Win2k but don't know about XP so XP will not start. You will have to copy the NTDETECT and NTLDR from the XP CD and overwrite the Win2k ones.

Try running a Repair of your Win2k system, You will have to run the Win2k CD and take the R option when it comes up with the menu.

Before you do that I would make a copy the NTDETECT and NTLDR put them in your C:\, that way if Win2k overwrites the XP ones you have a copy. New Zealand, a great place to visit.

http://www.southland.org.nz

 

[Guest_imported]

My two cents, next time you install 2k/xp dual boot, Do the two O/S's on different partitions.

That's how I handle the two O/S's

 

[darranagl]

Even installing to different partitions you have to install Win2k first then XP (oldest OS to newest).

Each OS still writes its boot loaders to the boot partition even if you are installing the OS to a different partition. New Zealand, a great place to visit.

http://www.southland.org.nz

 

[RashMorbius]

I do have two partitions and I did install 2000 BEFORE XP.
Now, after (hopefully) resolving that, does anyone have a really GOOD solution?

 

[RashMorbius]

Oh and I did not install any new hardware and I am aware of what the HAL does. I did not try to repair the install for either 2000 or XP because I am not sure where the problem lies with the hal.dll file. To me, since it is a .dll file, does 2000 and XP share it?

 

[darranagl]

I think the Hal.dll is different (just because one is on each partition) but they use info out of the NTLDR and \<SYSTEMROOT>\SYSTEM32\CONFIG, I think thats the path (it holds the SECURITY and SYSTEM hidden files, only visable in the rescue console).

I would still try the Repair from the Win2k install CD and see what it finds. New Zealand, a great place to visit.

http://www.southland.org.nz

 

[wolluf]

I'd try using the recovery console (either XP or 2K, doesn't matter) and run fixboot command on the 2K partition.
PS. You haven't installed new memory, overclocked your cpu or similar? Messages like the one you've had often occur as a result of a hardware problem - nothing actually wrong with particular file.