Laptop mising XP file

  • Thread starter Thread starter JB
  • Start date Start date
J

JB

Hello. I hope someone can help me here.
While I was using my Laptop, (IE and Word running) the screen suddenly went
black.
The Laptop now will not start up Windows (XP). The initial boot screen comes
on as normal but then it goes black again then this message comes up.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

Can I please have some guidance on how to do this.
Thank you
Jen
 
Hello,

as I know there is a simple way for repair an existing installation.

I think you must boot from the orginal windows xp pro cd and the you should
find something like a repair-mode or something like this.

It´s a least a simple test if the repair-mechanism of the original windows
xp pro cd will fix your problem!

I realy don´t think that a repair-try from the original cd will kill your
system or brings up new problems.

As I would suggest. Give it a try with the original windows xp cd. Put in
the cd into your drive and make a reboot. After the computer is finished
p.o.s.t. (power on self test) he starts booting from the cd (if the
bios-settings are set to try booting first from cd and after that from
harddisk, otherwhise try to check bios-settings. If you need help you get
help from the manual of your pc). After he has bootet from the cd he sould
show you some sellection-possibilities. One of them sould be repairing of
your existing installation. But I am not shure about the
selection-possibilities. Just give it a test!

regards,

Dirk Lehmann
 
Thanks for your reply.
I chose the option for 'repair' but it just rested on c:/windows> and that
was it.
I restarted the machine but now it says 'No operating system present'.

I am just going to reformat but first I want to rescue a few files in My
Documents.
So with a win98 boot disk, I got to the C: prompt , I typed dir /p and it
says I only have 15 files in the whole of the C drive !! None of them are a
folder and no 'Mydocuments'.
I have not reformatted and surely if the repair reformatted it should have
said so.
How can I recover those files? please!
J
 
JB said:
Thanks for your reply.
I chose the option for 'repair' but it just rested on c:/windows> and
that was it.
I restarted the machine but now it says 'No operating system present'.

I am just going to reformat but first I want to rescue a few files in
My Documents.
So with a win98 boot disk, I got to the C: prompt , I typed dir /p and
it says I only have 15 files in the whole of the C drive !! None of
them are a folder and no 'Mydocuments'.
I have not reformatted and surely if the repair reformatted it should
have said so.
How can I recover those files? please!
J
Click to expand...

To retrieve the files will require data recovery software. I use Easy
Recovery Pro, but it is expensive. Here are a few links to other
programs (I have no idea if they are useful in your situation or how
good they are; you can Google for "data recovery software").

File Saver Pro - Recover Deleted Files -
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_u.htm#xp_util
www.recovermyfiles.com
http://www.collina.us/files/REST2514.htm
http://www3.telus.net/mikebike/RESTORATION.html
PCInspector File Recovery -
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/welcome.htm

Otherwise, you will need to send the drive to a professional data
recovery firm. This will not be cheap. I like DriveSavers, but there
are others.

DriveSavers - http://www.drivesavers.com
Seagate Data Recovery Services -
http://www.seagate.com/support/service/drs/services.html

Before you reinstall Windows, I'd make sure the hard drive is healthy if
I were you. Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the
mftr. Download the file and make a bootable floppy or cd with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it. Obviously you'll need to get any files from a
different, working computer.

Malke
 
JB said:
Thanks for your reply.
I chose the option for 'repair' but it just rested on c:/windows> and that
was it.
I restarted the machine but now it says 'No operating system present'.

I am just going to reformat but first I want to rescue a few files in My
Documents.
So with a win98 boot disk, I got to the C: prompt , I typed dir /p and it
says I only have 15 files in the whole of the C drive !! None of them are a
folder and no 'Mydocuments'.
I have not reformatted and surely if the repair reformatted it should have
said so.
How can I recover those files? please!
J
Click to expand...

If your Windows XP partition is useing the NTFS file system you will not
be able to access it when running from a boot floppy generated by
Windows 98. The DOS mode (which is what the floppy provides) can only
read FAT and FAT32 file systems. Unfortunately the Windows XP repair
console has some restrictions on what folders it can access.

I ran into a similar problem trying to add a Linux boot to a system that
was already booting in Windows 98 and Windows XP Home SP2. As best I can
tell it has to do with the low level designations for the hard drive
partitions not matching the contents of the boot.ini file. When XP tries
to boot it uses the boot.ini file to find some of its components and
gives the missing or corrupt hal.dll (Hardware Abstraction Layer) error
when it doesn't find the hal.dll file in the expected location (it's
looking in partition x when the file is actually on partition y - not
actual drive letters). I never could come up with a boot.ini edit that
would tell Windows XP where to look for the rest of the OS. The root of
my problems is in the way I originaly left some of the hard drive
unallocated instead of setting ALL the partitions up before installing XP.
 
Well,

I suppose your file was erased due to restart. You can try recovering
it from DOS, in case windows is not loading using Active@ uneraser
tool. This is imho the most powerful DOS based data restore utility.
http://www.uneraser.com/
 
First of all you hae to check that what is your partions type (NTFS of
FAT32) if its FAT32 then all you files are lost and you have to use
some recovery tool/software if its NTFS (as most of the laptops have)
then need not to worry you have to reinstall the windows and keep in
mind while installing it will ask you to format the disk dont select
that option just select leave the partion as it is then you will
recover all your file and you have to reinstall the softwares
 
Well I tried everything and what's coming up is "no hard drive found"
:(
I'm shattered as those files were really important. I hate computers!
 
I dont think you have that knowledge about computer that you solve thi
yourself
I advice you if you really need your files try to located some goo
expert neraby and get your work done from him you need some expert no
no online help will be effective
Rest its your data you are owner of that and its your wish what to do
 
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