Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows ro

[Roxyyyy22]

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

system32\hal.dll

Please re-install a copy of the above file

 

Upon starting Windows the above error appears. I am running XP Pro sp 2.

 

Any idea what could be the reason for this error. I would be really thankful if anybody provide me the solution.

[6Foot2]

Have a look at this Support.Microsoft.COM page:

 

Link: Error message: "Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem"

 

However it could be bad news I am afraid. From the same page:

 

If you try to perform a Repair operation from the Windows XP CD-ROM, the Windows installation is not detected and you cannot repair Windows.

 

Whenever I have had this issue I have cut my losses and either re-installed Windows from CD or re-imaged the station using Ghost.

 

I suggest you move to SP3 as soon as you can [if you are not planning to migrate to Windows7]

[plexer]

Windows XP Setup - Missing HAL.DLL

[m25man]

You need to boot to a command prompt from CD media and run chkdsk first.

In most cases this will fix it or get the disk to a readable state to repair or recover data.

[mac_shinobi]

As per the kellys corner link - instead of taking the hard drive out you can use the expand command in recovery console

 

Assuming you can find out which HAL DLL you require as there are different HAL Dll's for the different CPU Architectures ie single core, multi core etc you could possibly use the expand command in the recovery console to expand the hal.dll into the relevant system32 directory, reboot and test, if it doesnt work you can repeat and try with the other hal dll files until one works ??

 

Long long shot and not even sure if it will fix it - just a thought really.

 

As above backup data first, try the above and if that fails a fresh install

Edited December 29, 2010 by mac_shinobi