Corrupt: <windows root>\ system 32\hal.dll

[Rone38]

Please help I loaded the disk for my iPAQ I got for my bithday and the message said that I had to restart to the computer. When I did that a black screen came up with this message: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows root>\ system 32\hal.dll What should I do?

[Basementgeek]

From what I see, you are going to probably have to do a repair install of XP.

Do you have the XP CD program ?

Have you tried the HP sites to see if they have answer ?

BG

[Canuck]

Take a look at this http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm . Your iPAQ may be the cause of the hal.dll problem. Are you able to boot up in Safe Mode? If so, go to an earlier Restore Point and try that. If you can only get to Safe Mode and no further try the 'last good configeration'.

[Rone38]

No, I have not tried the website. I have a reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. I told the computer to boot from the cd and the end results was the same message.

[Rone38]

I understand how to follow directions, but I am not very good with the techinal side of computers. Please make it simple instructions for me.

[Grim322]

Check out this previous post: http://www.help2go.com/postt16362.html

As Basementgeek said, a repair install should work. Post 6 of that thread has a link to repair installation instructions. there may be other ways around it, but the repair install should be the easiest. Charlie

Try Canuck's suggestion in the next post first, if that doesn't work, try the repair install.

[Canuck]

To get into Safe Mode with a Dell >turn on the computer >immediately begin tapping the <F8> key> use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode and press the <Enter> key. Windows will open, but it won't look like the normal windows view .. icons etc will look bigger and some desktop icons will be missing. Click Start>Help & Support>under Pick a Task>Undo changes to your computer with System Restore>Restore my computer to an earlier time>Next>you will see a calandar, some of the dates are in Bold type, click on a date before you had this problem>Next> follow all instructions given. Hopefully this will restore your PC to the settings before you loaded iPAQ. Keep us posted.

[Rone38]

I tried to do the safe mode function and it would not go to a safe mode. It goes back to the missing file. I am getting very scared that I will lose all of my picture I have saved on the hard drive. I know I should have backed them up, but I had that on my things to do list. I tried going back to the last good configuration, but it would not do that either. Can someone please, please help me. :cry:

[Basementgeek]

If you are concerned about losing the pictures, suggest that you remove the HD and install it on another PC, set up as "slave drive".

You should be copy them onto a removeable drive or their HD.

BG