<windows root>\system32\hal.dll?

Question

a friend of mine has this old pc he bought from a guy in the pub it has no name or anything (think he makes them up himself) when you turn it on it says "American
Megatrends" it worked well for years but something has happend to it recently, when my niece turned it on it did not start and message came up on screen saying that "\system32\hal.dll" is corupt or missing please re-install a copy of the file. After typing this into my own browser it says something about reinstall windows 98 or millenium edition, but the thing is i know for a fact that it was running xp pro. where do i get this file and how do i re-install it once i have it ?

I have a windows xp pro disc but when i put it in the drive and restart the pc it just does the same as if there was no disc in it, jusi get the windows root message as before

Answer 1

It sounds like your friend bought a PC which originally had Windows98, but was illegally upgraded to WindowsXP.

You can try running a Windows Repair but if you are asked to insert the CD along the way, you will not be able to proceed.

I'm sorry to say it looks like your friend is going to have to buy WindowsXP, but before he does, he should try to run the Advisor which will tell him if in fact the PC can handle it.

Here is the link to the Advisor, then links to Windows Repair.

WindowsXP Advisor – will PC run XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/upgrading/advisor.mspx


WindowsXP Repair Explained
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/options_to_use_when_a_system_will_not_start.mspx?mfr=true

WindowsXP Repair Tools
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm#How%20to%20Repair%20Windows%20XP%20by%20Installing%20Over%20top%20of%20Existing%20Setup:

http://www.download-download-this.com/4.html?OVRAW=Windows%20Installer%20corrupted&OVKEY=window%20installer&OVMTC=advanced

Answer 2

i had this problem a while back. It started when i ran Windows Automatic Update. After the Update was installed, istarted recieving that error message. I forget the exact reason this happens, but basically you need to download a patch from MicroSoft.com to fix it. Copy and paste your error into google and that will get you started in the right direction.

Answer 3

Put in WinXP CD in the CD drive get command prompt
and typing the following:

extract d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll

Answer 4

Hi how are you? There are serval ways to trouble this problem. One is to boot from the CD drive using your system disk and repair the corrupted files..you can do this by going to your BIO..startup your computer and hold down delete key( ect) until the bio setting dsplay..then try to find setting for BOOT Sequence and change CD to first boot. save and exit out, then insert your system disk. it should detected the disk and just fellow the direction until you see and option to repair or install a fresh copy(choose repair) of WinX...hope I was some help..

Answer 5

i pressume it was Windows XP...ok what you need is Genuine windows XP_ CD...boot from the Cd-ROM, and let Windows copy corrputed file. after that do complete back back up. in case if youe windows will start acting weird.

Answer 6

u will have to get a xp pro cd and put in in n rebgoot the computer off of the cd and use the repair tool

Answer 7

you have to repair your windows xp installation. get your install disk and put it in your cd drive and reboot (assuming your pc boots from cd-rom).


here are the other instructions

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Answer 8

Her system files are damaged, either reinstall or do a repair-install, chances are virus that caused it

Answer 9

Look here.