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Error message 'Windows\System32\hal.dll'

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13 replies

by mdanturthy

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I have Xp operating system and i recently had the cable modem with Us Robotics router with SMCUSB32 Wireless flash drive. It was fine and after 15 days I am getting error message like "
"Windows could not start because of the file 'Windows\System32\hal.dll' is missing or corrupt. After searching here in this i found out that from the below site
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?hal
I can download hal.dll.and will solve the problem. So I copied that to a cd from another computer and want to download that my XP computer. After i turn the pc i am getting the above error and don't know what to do.Is that hal.dll would work..? How to copy those files..and where..? Would anybody tell me ..step by step..? thanks

13 replies

by oz_media

You will need to add this through the commad prompt.

firstly, you will need an unzipped copy of the file you downloaded. Unzip it on the other PC and just copy the file hal.dll to a 3.5 inch floppy disk.

turn on the power and as the PC is beginning to boot press F8 repeatedly until you get a startup menu (if you get a key pressed eror, just continue on {F1 to boot} and start pressing F8 again).

You will be brought to a startup screen, Normal mode, Safe Mode, Command prompt etc.

choose command prompt and it will bring you to a C: prompt. Place you diskette in th efloppy drive. Change to the drive letter of your floppy drive A: type 'cd a:' without the quotes.

Now your prompt should read a:\

type 'copy a:\hal.dll c:\windows\system32' again without the quotes.

This should copy the HAL.DLL file to the System32 drive and enable you to boot.

If you have problems (or if anyone has noticed I missed something) post back.

Gooc luck.

NOTE: If you do NOT have a floppy drive, you can do the same from CD. once unzipped copy the hal.dll file to CD and then erpeat the above steps but substitute your CDROM drive letter for the A: drive.

by mdanturthy

Thank you ..but as you said i tried F8 to get the command prompt..but here it is showing the options
0 Safe mode
1 Safe mode with command prompt
2 Safe mode with networking
3 Enable boot logging
4 Enable VGA mode
5 Last known good configuration
6 Directory services restore mode
7 Debugging mode
8 Start windows normally
9 Reboot
...
I tried.. 1, 5, 8, 9 nothing worked ..
after i selected safe mode with command prompt that it is taking me to 2 choices
1 Ms windows XP home edition
2 Ms windows Recovery Console
1st one is doing nothing but rebooting and again i am getting the same error..i could not get the command prompt..
2nd one is taking me to recover the system..which i am afraid will delete the data files i have created... Do you have another idea..?
thanks

by oz_media

OOOPs sorry.

I meant Option 1 Safe Mode with Command Prompt but you've tried that. I suppose you must have a proprietary system (HP or Compaq or somthing?) if you enter the Windows recovery console, it may let you use the XP roll back feature. It won't (SHOULDN'T) start automatically reformatting your drive, it will at least ask for confirmation before starting recovery. In which case just say no, like you really mean it. I don't think it will be a problem but you should look around at least.

At this point, if you can't get to a command prompt, I am stumped, I would at least go into the recovery console and see what options it offers you, rollback, reformat, fix windows etc.

It won't just start erasing your disks without confirmation, or I have yet to see one do that yet, it wouldn't be a very good recovery console if it did.

by mdanturthy

Yes I have HP Pavilion a305w.
As OZ suggested I tried 'MS Windows Recovery Console' and it started with checking hardware ...and gave me
'MS XP( TM) Recovery console'
System Recovery Console provides System repair and recover functionality Type Exit to Quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.
1: D:MININT
2: D:1386
Which window installation would you like to log onto

I pressed 2 which is D:1386
Turned to Command prompt D:/1386

But I am not able to change the directory. CD is not working it is default to D:/1386
I just looked by DIR in C where my personal files and BOOT. INI etc are there
DIR D: I have ..BIOS INFO, AUTOCH.exe, WIN32k.SYS?etc files are there
DIR E: CD ROM.

As Florinel mentioned to get the disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm where I have this Windows XP setup disks I have ?XP Home? where I got to the Microsoft site (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=E8FE6868-6E4F-471C-B455-BD5AFEE126D8) and here I found this

Windows XP Home Edition Utility: Setup Disks for Floppy Boot Install
?WinXP_EN_HOM_BF.EXE?
Why he suggested Win98.. if there is XP one? Which one can I down load..what I have to do..Thanks for your help

by gigelul

If your HDD is FAT32 formated you can try the Oz's suggestion, using a Win98 boot diskette.
- change in BIOS boot sequence to A,C...
- insert the boot diskette
- follow the same steps like in Oz's answer.

You can download from www.bootdisk.com the required files for a boot diskette

You can post comments if you need additional details.

by mdanturthy

Hi i am able to look at the files in D and C the default drives. After i got the D:\1386 i moved around C, D and E..
I can see
D:\1386\system32\hal.dll
D:\1386\windows.hl etc
C:\windows\system.ini, system etc..but not system32
The error i am getting is
"\system32\hal.dll"
not 'Windows\System32\hal.dll'

How d i get into this directory to copy hal.dll file..

by dusty1one

Do as Oz said, but try typing it this way: 'copy D:\1386\system32\hal.dll c:\windows\system32\hal.dll ' again without the quotes. When copying like this, you need to put the file name in the copy line.

by gigelul

You missunderstand that a [boot diskette] is not the same thing with a [setup boot diskette].

You have here all necessary steps to repair your PC.

Other option is to call a specialist guy to repair your OS/PC.

by moakkapookie

first insert an installation cd into another
pc (make sure it is OEM cd) then browse the cd
by going to my computer and left clicking
on the cd drive and go to the I386 folder
and open another my computer and select the
file you put hal.dll file and copy and paste
it to the setup cd and drag it to the I386
file in the cd then insert the cd in to the
other computer the dosent work and reinstall
windows xp(backup all important data)

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