Hi again. I am now missing a file nessecary to boot my computer. I can run the cpu but only on a different hard drive. Help.

Hi masterman

Could you please elaborate a little on your issue. To me thus far it makes no sense.

Thanks

Okay, during boot, I have a message come up that says " <windows root>\system 32\ hal.dll Above file missing please reinstall.

If you have the original install media. Try a repair install (if XP does that). If not, it sounds like it may be a case of booting into the command prompt and manually copying the file in.

That's just it. I don't have the XP discs.

That doesn't bode well..... i don't really know too much about XP's installation process so i can't be of any further assistance. Hopefully someone else will be along soon. Though without installation media, it really doesn't look good.

I had to fix this problem on my in-laws computer... not to put you off, but it really sucks. I will get into the nitty gritty when I have time to find all the resources again, but here is the gist of what I had to do to fix it:

• Boot from the XP Install CDs.
• Cut off a 5GB partition at the end of the drive.
• Install a new iteration of XP on this partition.
• Enable hidden file view, go to your other C: drive, and find the hidden system restore point folders.
• Copy the registry & system restore files from the restore point to the Windows folder.
• Reboot in safe mode to the broken Windows. It should boot.
• Restore using that restore point.
• Reboot in normal mode. Windows should work now. I had to put in the license code and re-register for it to work.

Theoretically, this should work if you install Linux on a cut-off partition as well, since all you're doing in there is copying & pasting. Ubuntuwould do a great job, and it finds all of your drivers for you at startup (something XP sucks at). This way you could be browsing the web for help while you attempt this. I'll try to find the Microsoft Support Article I used to help me through this.

Just out of curiosity, what led to this problem?

I was trying to dual boot my computer with windows xp, original os on the computer, and Linux.

Yeah... sounds like a partition problem. Resizing a partition in XP can be a big problem. I was using EASUS partition master when it happened to me.

Here is the Microsoft support article: Recovery from corrupted registry. Make sure you read the warnings at the top (you could make things worse, as if not booting wasn't bad enough), and instead of copying the files in the command prompt at the recovery console, you can use Linux to find and copy & paste there. Let me know if this helps you fix it. It worked like magic for me. Good luck!

Can you properly explain what's the problem whenever this type of problem happens with you will not be able to get K:\ to be C:\ without a fresh install.i would remove the old C:\, reinstall to the new drive to make that one C:\ at that point you could put the old drive back into the system if you choose.