I get the message "Windows can't load- reinstal  Windows Root\System32\hal.dll.  I can't start up in safe mode. I don't have an OS cd, the computer came with it installed.  HELP?We'll NEED some more INFORMATION. What OS do you have? What are your computer specs? Thanks! The OP's OS is in the Title, "WinXP" = Windows XP.What is the last thing you see on the screen while trying to start in SafeMode?

Safemode can take up to 5 minutes to load. How long did you wait? It's XP Home. I got as far as choosing which type of safe mode and the OS. Then it goes back to the error message.Go to a friend's house that's running the same version of XP and copy it to a disk (or cd).  Then look around online for WIndows boot disks that support writing onto NTFS.  USE the boot disk, then copy that file back onto your computer.  (If you need more specific help, message me.)This is a website I have come to trust for DLL files that have gone awry on my system:
http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/pop.php?hal

Just click the Download link


Ignore all the free registry scan stuff.

Figure out a way to copy it to your computer, and put it under:
C:\Windows\System32\
Meanwhile...Which files would I put on the cd?  Thank you all for your help.You need to borrow an XP CD to do this...simply COPYING one has been known not to work.
Make sure it is the same version as you have and if SP2 is installed it must be on the CD you are using otherwise you will have problems.
You may need to re-activate Windows as well.