hal.dll missing: Cannot expand file from CD in recovery console

[superslurpee]

Hi,

Today I got the message about the missing or corrupt hal.dll file on my fairly new Dell business laptop. Yipee!

I have successfully put in the CD that came with the system and entered the recovery console.

I have also tried to rebuild the boot.ini file and now I have like 3 OS's or something when I try to boot up (all of which give the error that hal.dll is missing or corrupt).

The folder I386 and hal.dl_ is there but when I try to expand to c:\windows\system32\hal.dll I get 'Unable to create file hal.dll. 0 files expanded'. What would be the reason why it would be unable to expand? The CD is the official Dell one!

I have many business files which I would rather not write over (they're there on the drive, I can see them in the DOS recovery console). I just need to get that stupid file in there.

Any ideas? I really appreciate your help.

THANK YOU.

Darth Slurpee
--At last we will reveal ourselves to the SEV employees--

 

[linney]

Error Message: Windows Could Not Start Because of a Computer Disk Hardware Configuration Problem

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314477#kb1

Error Message: Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[superslurpee]

Thanks for posting! I will take a look at those topics right now.

An update: I was able to get a copy of hal.dll onto USB and get it into my c drive. Now if I try to boot up I get an error that states "Windows could not start because of an error in the software. Please report this problem as: load needed DLLs for kernel."

Any ideas on this one?

Thanks!!!

Darth Slurpee

 

[linney]

Load needed DLLs for kernel.

http://www.google.com/search?source...6-29,GGLR:en&q="load+needed+DLLs+for+kernel."

http://groups.google.com/groups?sou...6-29,GGLR:en&q="load+needed+DLLs+for+kernel."

 

[toolman59]

Now and again I get exactly the same message about the HAL.dll. I have solved the problem by booting from the floppy A: drive that contains the following files.

ntldr ntdetect.com BOOT.INI

It would appear that there is something amiss with the boot sequence which produces the HAL.DLL message, whilst in fact the fault does not lie directly with HAL.DLL. Every time that I am forced to boot this way Windows loads up OK and will return to normal. Dont ask me why!

I presume that your laptop does not have a floppy drive so you should be able to copy these files onto a CD and set your laptop to boot from the CD.

toolman59

 

[linney]

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

 

[superslurpee]

Hi all!

Thank you for your help. I got everything to work. I'll just write this here so if anyone else has a problem, then don't have a dead-end thread! I did a repair on my windows installation. Put in your CD and don't push 'R', press 'Enter' to install Windows. The next screen will allow you to repair your version of Windows. It'll take a long time but it basically repairs just the Windows portion without damaging any of your files. When it re-booted, my computer was just like it was before this fiasco!

Thanks again!

Darth Slurpee

 

[bcastner]

When it re-booted, my computer was just like it was before this fiasco!

Not quite. You are missing any Service Packs and Hotfixes you may have applied.

Head to Windows Update.

 

[superslurpee]

You bet, I forgot to mention that. That was the first thing I did.

Cheers!

Darth Slurpee

 

[bcastner]

Good.

Best,
Bill

 

[superslurpee]

So my computer worked for all of one day. I started it up this evening and guess what? Black screen with hal.dll corrupt or missing! The repair got me back up for 1 day! I did a virus scan earlier and there were 0.

What would be the reason why it would do it again? This is a business laptop and it's really frustrating me!

Darth Slurpee

 

[bcastner]

The most likely reason is a failing hard disk.

 

[superslurpee]

Yeah, that's what I thought. Now I just have to explain all of this to Dell Support and redo everything I've already done to prove it to them.

Thanks.

Darth Slurpee

 

[linney]

Your hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that can thoroughly check out your hard drive.