<windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing

**Jewelzz** · February 10th, 2009

My daughter has an HP laptop (sorry don't have the specifics) and is getting message <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing every time she boots up. She's tried (instructions I found on the net for this issue) ...
I've tried:
1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.
2. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
3. When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console.
4. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair, typically this will be #1.
5. Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file. At this point you may get a message telling you that the boot.ini file does not exist. The next step will correct this error.
6. Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it. This will scan your hard dives for installations of Windows XP, 2000 or NT and display the results. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your Windows installations to the boot.ini file. Those step will be:
1. Total Identified Windows Installs: 1
(1) C:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All)
Type y and hit enter
2. Enter Load Identifier
This is the name of the operating system. When you receive this message, type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER.
3. Enter OS Load options
When you receive this message, type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER.

Note: The instructions that appear on your screen may be different, depending on the configuration of your computer.
7. Take out the CD ROM and type exit.

Which, brings be right back to the initial error message.

Even trying to reformat gives here this message, how do we fix it??

**LordOfLA** · February 10th, 2009

you want to skip recovery console and proceed to repair install.

If the option is not presented you'll need to do a full reload after extracting important files if they've not been backed up recently.

**Jewelzz** · February 10th, 2009

She's tried to do a full reload (format) but gets that error

**LordOfLA** · February 10th, 2009

the file could be getting corrupted either from a scratched CD or bad ram. Do you have another disc around?

**Jewelzz** · February 10th, 2009

I'll be delivering one Next Tuesdsay

Nicole · February 21st, 2009

Hi-I'm daughter.

So I'm still having the same issue with the new disk. I've tried to do a full system format with the new disk and ended with the same error message as before:

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

I was linked to a Microsoft site in another forum, where I followed steps from the Repair option on my XP disk. When I boot the laptop, it now flashes a screen that looks like the boot menu (where you can choose Safe Mode?) with 2 options of Windows XP. If I do nothing and let it load, it goes to the error screen and stays there. If I use the down arrow to attempt to choose the 2nd option, not only does the 2nd option not highlight, but the computer quickly flashes the original error screen and the reboot loops itself continually.

Help? D=

**American Zombie** · February 21st, 2009

Have you checked the ram yet?

Memtest86+

**epk** · February 21st, 2009

Originally Posted by Nicole

I've tried to do a full system format with the new disk

do you mean u tried to reformat? or you reformatted, reinstalled and got that error again?

if its the first, when do u get the message?
if the second, def has to be a hardware failure.. check your mem with the util AZ posted
tho most likely sounds like a hard drive problem

Nicole · February 21st, 2009

I reformatted, yeah. I get the error like...almost right away. I get the HP screen, the 'hit any key to boot from CD" screen, then the error.

"Have you checked the ram yet?"

And...how might I do that? O.o I'm clueless so...just speak in dummy terms =D

**American Zombie** · February 21st, 2009

Go to the link I provided then scroll down and click on Download (Pre-built & ISOs).

Next download either ISO, exe for USB key or the package for a floppy disk.

For whatever else you need to know visit the Official Memtest86+ forums.

**epk** · February 21st, 2009

hehe.. sure :]

go here http://www.memtest.org/#downiso
and download one of the bootable isos, burn it to a cd and boot ur computer with it
it (should start right away)
leave it for a full pass, at least, and check if there are any errors

Nicole · February 21st, 2009

*has no blank disks so will let you know if it worked tomorrow* =D Thanks all!

**American Zombie** · February 21st, 2009

You can also download a file for USB key or a floppy.

**Jewelzz** · February 22nd, 2009

I'm the techie geek in the family, they both call me for help when their PC or laptops have issues so you guys will have to be specific with what needs to be done.

Nicole · February 22nd, 2009

Disk didn't work-I don't have the option to boot from the disk when the disk is in my drive.

bmclaughlin807 · February 22nd, 2009

How did you burn the disk? What program did you you use?

dz2k · February 22nd, 2009

my friend gave me his girlfriends dell laptop to fix several months back that had this same error. Just to explain what was happening after the bios logo passed, it would go right to a black screen with that error message on top saying hal.dll file is corrupt or missing. i was able to fix it and ill tell you how. i stumbled across a great web site: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm which will guide you through how to fix that error. basically, you will want to copy a file(or two..it may ask for ntldr afterwards: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm#b) from your windows xp OS installation cd to your hard drive, then you will be able to just reinstall windows xp just fine. not a big deal. you let me know if you have any other questions and ill help you get through this.

**Jewelzz** · February 22nd, 2009

Originally Posted by bmclaughlin807

How did you burn the disk? What program did you you use?

We don't discuss illegal software here besides, who said it's a burned disk?

Nicole · February 22nd, 2009

Originally Posted by dz2k

my friend gave me his girlfriends dell laptop to fix several months back that had this same error. Just to explain what was happening after the bios logo passed, it would go right to a black screen with that error message on top saying hal.dll file is corrupt or missing. i was able to fix it and ill tell you how. i stumbled across a great web site: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm which will guide you through how to fix that error. basically, you will want to copy a file(or two..it may ask for ntldr afterwards: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm#b) from your windows xp OS installation cd to your hard drive, then you will be able to just reinstall windows xp just fine. not a big deal. you let me know if you have any other questions and ill help you get through this.

I've tried to copy both files from my OS install disk and get the error: "Unable to create file (FILE NAME HERE).
0 file(s) expanded".

**American Zombie** · February 22nd, 2009

Are you trying to expand the file(s) from the recovery console or through Windows msconfig?

February 10th, 2009	Top \| #1
Jewelzz Queen of Farts Joined: March 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 10,949 Blog Entries: 7 Reputation: 1843 Power: 252	<windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing My daughter has an HP laptop (sorry don't have the specifics) and is getting message <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing every time she boots up. She's tried (instructions I found on the net for this issue) ... I've tried: 1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD. 2. When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM. 3. When you receive the "Welcome to Setup" message, press R to start the Recovery Console. 4. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair, typically this will be #1. 5. Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file. At this point you may get a message telling you that the boot.ini file does not exist. The next step will correct this error. 6. Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it. This will scan your hard dives for installations of Windows XP, 2000 or NT and display the results. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your Windows installations to the boot.ini file. Those step will be: 1. Total Identified Windows Installs: 1 (1) C:\Windows Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All) Type y and hit enter 2. Enter Load Identifier This is the name of the operating system. When you receive this message, type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER. 3. Enter OS Load options When you receive this message, type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER. Note: The instructions that appear on your screen may be different, depending on the configuration of your computer. 7. Take out the CD ROM and type exit. Which, brings be right back to the initial error message. Even trying to reformat gives here this message, how do we fix it??

February 10th, 2009	Top \| #2
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing you want to skip recovery console and proceed to repair install. If the option is not presented you'll need to do a full reload after extracting important files if they've not been backed up recently. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

February 10th, 2009	Top \| #3
Jewelzz Queen of Farts Joined: March 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 10,949 Blog Entries: 7 Reputation: 1843 Power: 252	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing She's tried to do a full reload (format) but gets that error

February 10th, 2009	Top \| #4
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing the file could be getting corrupted either from a scratched CD or bad ram. Do you have another disc around? If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

February 10th, 2009	Top \| #5
Jewelzz Queen of Farts Joined: March 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 10,949 Blog Entries: 7 Reputation: 1843 Power: 252	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing I'll be delivering one Next Tuesdsay

Latest News Posts

Latest Forum Posts

Latest Member Blogs

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #6
Nicole OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2009 Posts: 25 Reputation: 0 Power: 40	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Hi-I'm daughter. So I'm still having the same issue with the new disk. I've tried to do a full system format with the new disk and ended with the same error message as before: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll Please re-install a copy of the above file. I was linked to a Microsoft site in another forum, where I followed steps from the Repair option on my XP disk. When I boot the laptop, it now flashes a screen that looks like the boot menu (where you can choose Safe Mode?) with 2 options of Windows XP. If I do nothing and let it load, it goes to the error screen and stays there. If I use the down arrow to attempt to choose the 2nd option, not only does the 2nd option not highlight, but the computer quickly flashes the original error screen and the reboot loops itself continually. Help? D=

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #7
American Zombie OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: June 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,864 Reputation: 2689 Power: 151	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Have you checked the ram yet? Memtest86+

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #8
epk OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: October 2006 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 1,242 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 951 Power: 90	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Originally Posted by Nicole I've tried to do a full system format with the new disk do you mean u tried to reformat? or you reformatted, reinstalled and got that error again? if its the first, when do u get the message? if the second, def has to be a hardware failure.. check your mem with the util AZ posted tho most likely sounds like a hard drive problem My Battlefield 2 Stats Page My Youtube account, I have some cool game videos there << check it!! (:

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #9
Nicole OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2009 Posts: 25 Reputation: 0 Power: 40	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing I reformatted, yeah. I get the error like...almost right away. I get the HP screen, the 'hit any key to boot from CD" screen, then the error. "Have you checked the ram yet?" And...how might I do that? O.o I'm clueless so...just speak in dummy terms =D

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #10
American Zombie OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: June 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,864 Reputation: 2689 Power: 151	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Go to the link I provided then scroll down and click on Download (Pre-built & ISOs). Next download either ISO, exe for USB key or the package for a floppy disk. For whatever else you need to know visit the Official Memtest86+ forums.

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #11
epk OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: October 2006 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 1,242 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 951 Power: 90	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing hehe.. sure :] go here http://www.memtest.org/#downiso and download one of the bootable isos, burn it to a cd and boot ur computer with it it (should start right away) leave it for a full pass, at least, and check if there are any errors My Battlefield 2 Stats Page My Youtube account, I have some cool game videos there << check it!! (:

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #12
Nicole OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2009 Posts: 25 Reputation: 0 Power: 40	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing has no blank disks so will let you know if it worked tomorrow =D Thanks all!

February 21st, 2009	Top \| #13
American Zombie OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: June 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,864 Reputation: 2689 Power: 151	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing You can also download a file for USB key or a floppy.

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #14
Jewelzz Queen of Farts Joined: March 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 10,949 Blog Entries: 7 Reputation: 1843 Power: 252	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing I'm the techie geek in the family, they both call me for help when their PC or laptops have issues so you guys will have to be specific with what needs to be done.

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #15
Nicole OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2009 Posts: 25 Reputation: 0 Power: 40	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Disk didn't work-I don't have the option to boot from the disk when the disk is in my drive.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Problems reinstalling Windows XP, File Missing/Corrupt	kev59	Windows Desktop Systems	9	September 5th, 2006 4:35am
system can't boot because of C:\Windows\System32\Config\System is corrupt	logisticprism	Windows Desktop Systems	11	August 20th, 2004 7:03pm
Missing or corrupt file	Marco	Windows Desktop Systems	19	July 26th, 2002 2:41pm
corrupt or missing system file	TonyH	Windows Desktop Systems	2	April 7th, 2002 10:16am
system32/software corrupt	stapler101	Windows Desktop Systems	5	February 18th, 2002 11:21am

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #16
bmclaughlin807 Let's blow something up. Joined: April 2008 Location: Denver Posts: 84 Reputation: 50 Power: 51	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing How did you burn the disk? What program did you you use?

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #17
dz2k OSNN Junior Addict Joined: March 2006 Posts: 26 Reputation: 0 Power: 75	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing my friend gave me his girlfriends dell laptop to fix several months back that had this same error. Just to explain what was happening after the bios logo passed, it would go right to a black screen with that error message on top saying hal.dll file is corrupt or missing. i was able to fix it and ill tell you how. i stumbled across a great web site: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm which will guide you through how to fix that error. basically, you will want to copy a file(or two..it may ask for ntldr afterwards: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm#b) from your windows xp OS installation cd to your hard drive, then you will be able to just reinstall windows xp just fine. not a big deal. you let me know if you have any other questions and ill help you get through this.

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #18
Jewelzz Queen of Farts Joined: March 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 10,949 Blog Entries: 7 Reputation: 1843 Power: 252	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Originally Posted by bmclaughlin807 How did you burn the disk? What program did you you use? We don't discuss illegal software here besides, who said it's a burned disk?

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #19
Nicole OSNN Junior Addict Joined: February 2009 Posts: 25 Reputation: 0 Power: 40	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Originally Posted by dz2k my friend gave me his girlfriends dell laptop to fix several months back that had this same error. Just to explain what was happening after the bios logo passed, it would go right to a black screen with that error message on top saying hal.dll file is corrupt or missing. i was able to fix it and ill tell you how. i stumbled across a great web site: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm which will guide you through how to fix that error. basically, you will want to copy a file(or two..it may ask for ntldr afterwards: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm#b) from your windows xp OS installation cd to your hard drive, then you will be able to just reinstall windows xp just fine. not a big deal. you let me know if you have any other questions and ill help you get through this. I've tried to copy both files from my OS install disk and get the error: "Unable to create file (FILE NAME HERE). 0 file(s) expanded".

February 22nd, 2009	Top \| #20
American Zombie OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: June 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,864 Reputation: 2689 Power: 151	Re: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll file is corrupt or missing Are you trying to expand the file(s) from the recovery console or through Windows msconfig?