My computer automatically installed some UPDATE, and the next time I tried to turn it on, I got the hal.dll is missing or corrupt message.

I booted from WINDOWS XP cd and replaced the hal.dll file, but the problem was still there. So I assumed it must be the boot.ini. Next I tried bootcfg /rebuild. Now the hal.dll is missing or corrupt message does not appear and the computer gets to the Windows page in startup but the page freezes. When I try to startup in safe mode, I get the blue screen of death.

I have also tried chkdsk /r which claimed to correct some errors but the startup page still freezes.


Thank you for your help!
Beni hope this would help.. http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/missinghaldll.htmThere are seven different versions of the Windows XP "hal.dll" file. The Windows XP Setup selects the appropriate one for your system and renames it "hal.dll" in the installed system. Which one did you copy:

Description_in_Device_Manager HAL_File_Name

ACPI Multiprocessor PC Halmacpi.dll
ACPI Uniprocessor PC Halaacpi.dll
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC Halacpi.dll
MPS Multiprocessor PC Halmps.dll
MPS Uniprocessor PC Halapic.dll
Standard PC Hal.dll
Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor or 100% Compatible Halsp.dllI really appreciate your help.

I replaced hal.dll according to these instructions in the recovery console:

http://shanegfowler.wordpress.com/2007/01/10/missing-haldll-error-corrupt-bootini-file-quick-fix/

I typed c:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32>expand d:\i386\hal.dl_

This seemed to replace the file.1. Two Options. While there are others, you have two obvious options at this point:
a. Perform Repair Install of Windows (to automatically fix current installation).
b. Troubleshoot and manually fix current installation.
(1) "Post" Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) output from Safe Mode boot.
(2) Identify and use "correct" hal.dll file for current windows installation.

2. Repair Install. The Windows XP CD needs to match version of current Windows installation; i.e. Home Edition, Professional, MEDIA Center. This procedure, if done correctly should preserve your data and installed applications, but will revert your system files back to the versions of the Windows XP CD. Not a good thing if your current system is at Service Pack 3 (SP3) level and the CD is SP2 or older. You would also need to reapply all of the subsequent Windows updates (security fixes and other updates). I haven't done this much and don't recall whether you need to provide "Product Key" and/or reactivate the Windows XP installation with Microsoft. Some reference(s):
Perform a Repair Installation
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
How-to repair Windows XP, How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade

3. Use Correct HAL. The appropriate "hal.dll" file is dependent upon your motherboard, processor, and BIOS. My guess is you should be extracting a different HAL version onto your system as "hal.dll". For example, on my very old hardware, the Windows system file with external name of "hal.dll" has the internal name of "halacpi.dll". Windows XP setup automatically determined that was the correct one for my hardware configuration and renamed it "hal.dll". Perhaps if you identified your hardware, someone could point you in the right direction. Some reference(s):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309283
TROUBLESHOOTING the Startup Process

4. Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). If you can read the BSOD, post the "exact" Stop Code string (with its four parameters) and any error message and/or module name it might identify.

5. Recommendation. Troubleshoot and manually fix the current installation. Your previous actions, which included the "chkdsk /r", may have fixed the original underlying problem. If you can restore the original software configuration, it might work. If the data on the hard drive is important to you, you should backup it up first. Especially if you do a Repair Install, as more than one individual have taken a wrong turn during the process ending up with a "fresh" install of Windows XP and no data.Thanks so much for your advice - I will keep you POSTED.