Printable View
when i start up the computer it says "invalid boot.ini file, booting from c:\windows\"
then it comes to, and stops at:
what is the easiest way to fix this? :ermm:Quote:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file.
sfc/scannow in run
wouldn't i need to be *in* windows to do that? :mellow:Quote:
Originally Posted by Linkin Park
Yea, you cant get into windows?
nope, like i said up there, it stops at that message, then restarts after any key.Quote:
Originally Posted by Linkin Park
Go to http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm and read the information. You do NOT have to re-install your operating system if you receive this error. This error maybe cause by a dual boot.ini in your operating system, invalid Runtime Files or a conflict with the OEM version of Windows.
source: http://www.im-l.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76
EDIT: if you don't have a recover disc, or WindowsXP CD you can boot to DOS by formating a system floppy on your working PC and boot up the broken PC with it, to edit your boot.ini
thanks for the site vargas, but at the end it seems that the only solution that works was installing a second hdd etc. and thats not really viable right now. :frusty:
i do have bootable discs and the windows xp cd. i got into the system recover business and i managed to find hal.dl_ in the i386 directory. i tried copying it to c:\windows\system32 and it did it, but it still says the file is corrupt or missing.
edit: i found this site: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm
and it seems i know shit about dos or how to copy files, because this is the command that would re-install the right hal.dll file, "expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll"
lets see if that works.
did you check your boot.ini for errors?
i'm not really familiar with what is right/wrong in a boot.ini file... :blushing:Quote:
Originally Posted by Vargas
i can re-type it for you to look at.... :ermm:
edit: i got to the boot.ini file and its gotta be mest. its all jibberish and random characters.
edit2: right now this looks like a viable fix: http://www.compphix.com/corrupthal.html
Quote:
# Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.
# At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
# Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
# Typically this will be #1
# Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
# Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
# Take out the CD ROM and type exit
that sounds like what you need to try:
bootcfg /rebuild
(i never had this problem myself)
it asked me to enter a loder identifier, i didn't know what to put, then it asked for some kind of options.
after a reboot, it seems i just created another boot entry and the file is still corrupt, so maybe i need to replace it with that command i found earlier.
i gotta head to work now, but i'll work on this later. thanks for the help.
what i would try is
1.or if that dont workQuote:
Select Repair ® option.
Go to the DOS prompt.
Now type "chkdsk /r" (space after Chkdsk without " ")and enter leave it to finish. Now restart by typing "exit" and press enter. It should work.
if it doesn't
Type chkdsk /p /r + enter. When check disk is finished, type fixmbr + enter.
If it doesnt - type "chkdsk /p" and enter. If it finishes. type "fixboot X:" (X being the drive letter windows is installed on, it's usually C, but sometimes it can be a virtual drive like E). Next press enter.
Finally type exit to restart. It should work.
2.put working hall.dll and boot.ini on a floppy disk (see attachment)
these two attachments are for windows XP professional!
then
Quote:
1. Boot to Recovery Console.
2. type the following commands
cd system32 [enter]
ren hal.dll hal.old
3. C:\ [enter]
ren boot.ini boot.old
4. a:\ [enter]
copy hal.dll c:\windows\system32
copy boot.ini c:\
3 Type EXIT and hit enter
if other missing or corrupted dlls turn up you will have to replace them likewise
reboot
can you look at boot.ini and see something like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\Your WINDIR here
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Your OS Here"
what does it have in the spots where it sez 3 above?
i'm back. was gone for awhile, but i'm still working on this problem.
i managed to replace the boot.ini and hal.dll files from the attachments (thanks 99) but then i got a 'corrupt or missing...' message for ntoskrnl.exe. i went in and expanded that from the windows cd, and rebooted.
now i get this message:
:wacko: :frusty: wow. its telling me to give up. :lol:Quote:
Windows could not start because of an error in the software.
Please report this problem as:
load needed DLLs for kernal.
Please contact your support person to report this problem
no one have any advice? :wacko: :cry:
Sorry don't mean to be funny but boy do you have pateince . Your a better man than me ghunga din . I would of formated a week ago. :blushing: All of the above advice is tryed and true I can 't add anything . Wish you luck . :)
would it be alright to just re-install windows? i would like to try and keep everything on the hdd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lee551
Have you tryed a repair install ?
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Edit : You'll notice the warnings ! Use at your own risk . :) You 'll have to reinstall all the winupdates of course .
Quote:
Originally Posted by peat moss
wow! thanks, that would have been a good solution in the beginning i think.
thanks everyone that helped. :cool:
bringing this topic back because this problem is haunting me again.
same problem happened to the computer. it fails to boot and comes to a message saying that the file 'hal.dll' is missing or corrupt. last time i finally solved the problem by just doing a repair install to xp pro.
i solved the problem *again* by doing this just a few days ago. i restarted the computer multiple times without any problems and after cleaning a few things i gave it back to my buddy. now when he got it back again it gives him the *same* message on the first startup.:blink: wtf? i just had it booting normally about 10 times in a row.
i told him to find an xp pro cd and we can just do a repair install over the phone again. well, for some reason, this time the menu lacks the repair function where it was last time.:unsure:
well, we tried to replace the file by expanding it from the cd, but it comes back with an 'unable to create file hal.dll.....' error.
1. is the cd he got a hold of just messed up or is there a reason the repair option is missing?
2. if a repair is not possible this time, could windows just be installed again, while keeping files intact? i know that the windows & docs&settings folders will be overwritten, but what about other stuff?
thanks for the help.:)
i just wanna know if doing a regular (not repair) install will keep all the non-windows files intact?
i tried that once on someones PC, it installed the OS in to a new folder, ie: C\WINDOWS(1)\ (or something like that) you might try it, to save any files from the HD before reformatting, but when i tried it alot of stuff didn't work, so i reformatted it in the end
thanks! thats what i was looking for. i've read that you can do another install, but that programs that have registry settings wont work. however, i'm just concerned with getting some files back.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vargas