Windows XP not starting

[Rodney McGeathy]

When starting Windows XP on my laptop an error message comes up reading the following file is missing or corrupt:
[Windows Root]\system32\hal.dll
I don't have a boot disk, how do I fix this

[Reverend]

Hi Rodney.That particular file normally relates to your boot.ini file located in the root directory.It may be pointing to the wrong loader sequence.

A couple of questions first.
Did you do an upgrade to XP or a fresh install.Are you using a dual boot ? Do you have the Windows XP cd?

If you do have the XP cd you can repair your installation.
Step by step guide here (http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/winxp/repairxp/page1.htm)

[phishhead]

Hal stands for hardware abstraction layer...kinda like the config.sys in win9x systems...it uses this to load all your devices...if you can boot from the xp cd and type sfc /scannow from the dos prompt or from run command should copy the file it needs.

[Rodney McGeathy]

Windows XP came on my Toshiba laptop.
I have Recovery and Configuration Builder CD from Toshiba that came with it. If I use those it will reformat my hard drive.
What is a dual boot.

[Blackwar]

well, since hal.dll is a vital file for your OS to run correctly, you need to get that back, either with the recovery disk or some other way..
I would suggest the recovery disk, just put it in and let it do its business.. easiest way to fix your problem.

Blackwar

[kempouk]

i just had the same error but it was the boot sequence , i forgot to change it from boot from cdrom