Solve : hal.dll missing - need to reinstall?

1.	Solve : hal.dll missing - need to reinstall?
Answer» I have Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop, Windows XP Pro. Laptop will not boot up, so I am following instructions on Dell site here http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=6926D01F5744169CE040AE0AB6E14CD3&docid=117590#4. What could be more simple I hear you cry..... When I get to 'dos' screen I get the prompt C:\> , I think I need C:\WINDOWS> - is this correct? How do I do that? I tried CD \WINDOWS - but I get message 'access denied' - (there are no passwords on the computer) ? help, I am sure tis must be easy to do try typing: cd windows instead of cd \windows edit: my appologies, after pressing "R" to get to the recovery console, press "1" and enter to select what HARDDRIVE you wish to access. Then if there is no Admin. password simply press enter. You will then automatically be at C:\Windows> You then need to change to the root directory by typing cd \ and pressing enter. That's it, up to about half way, follow the rest of the instructions here: http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=6926D01F5744169CE040AE0AB6E14CD3&docid=117590#4 Just be sure to click on the Windows XP button to correctly select which Operating System you are trying to fixWhen booting from CD, after clicking 'R', I do not get the option of selecting '1' - the dos screen simply goes straight to this prompt: C:\> - if I try cd windows or cd\windows , I get the message 'Access is denied' Windows XP Repair Install: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htmCripes - thats too complex for me! Will I lose my data if I do a 'repair install' ? Why can't I change directory to windows on the dos screen? Quote Why can't I change directory to windows on the dos screen? Either somehow you're doing it wrong, you're not where you think you are, or...you just can't. Just follow the Repair Install steps and it should all be fine. You could LOOK here too. It still requires the Windows CD, but there are options to use the Recovery console instead of a Repair Install. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477 Note: Your files will be safe with Repair Install. Repair install does not touch your programs or personal data.aYou said in that other topic you have been resetting Windows to Factory Settings. Have you tried resetting it now? Does the problem continue?On past experience ie the 3 times I have reset to factory settings - the computer is ok for a month, then I seem to get another issue. I have not reset to factory settings this time because I am coming to the conclusion that perhaps the hard drive is to blame ? - that is why I started a new topic, to which I did'nt get a reply before topic was closed Do you think an old hard drive can cause problems like this? I cant use the XP Recovery console as there is no POSSIBILITY of me changing to the Windows directory - searching the web this seems to be a common issue, possibily something to do with security settings. However, I have followed the link to the microsoft site. Under 'Error Message 3', I think this best describes my situation. It also says: Additionally, you may experience one or more of the following behaviors: * If you start the computer to the Recovery Console, a command prompt may appear with no option to log on to the Windows installation. * If you try to access the Windows FOLDER, you may receive the following error message: Access denied. * If you try to perform a Repair operation from the Windows XP CD-ROM, the Windows installation is not detected and you cannot repair Windows. Since it says 'you cannot repair Windows' - does this mean I have to reinstall or reset to factory settings anyway (and lose my data)? Or - if I use the 'set up Windows XP' option when booting from the cd will this work without losing my data? Hope you can follow this it seems to have got a bit complicated! I am now trying a Reinstall via the boot cd. When I get to the 'repair' bit, windows is not detected on C: What I get is C: Partiton2 (NTFS) 73140MB (62490 MB free) I do not get an option to 'Repair' - so I guess this means the easiest thing for me to try is reset to factory settings again. This means I will have to take the hard drive out to recover my important data (but on a positive note I only know how to do that cos you guys on here TOLD me how to do it some time ago ) thank you all for helpingedit: sorry, I did this before your post above. The phrase "hal.dll missing" can be called a"Red Herring." The boot loader does not do an search for the item. It just expects it to be in a certain place. Either you or someone or something has either moved the file, not likely, or has altered the information about the location. The later is often the case with poor quality Portion management software. Or individuals who modify the BOOT.INI file and do not know how to count partitions. You suspect the hard drive? Hard Drive dysfunction happens more often that what most people realize. The simple answer is to start using you backup hard drive. Everybody should have a backup hard drive. Cost less that a bunch of diagnostic programs that only tell you what you learn by using a spare Hard Drive. (For FREE diagnostics, to the the Se agate or Western Digital sites.) Red Herring - I do see what you mean. The computer was ok yesterday, and just was wrong when it was turned on the next day. Nobody here (including me) knows enough about computers to start fiddling around with them! I just wondered if it could be a 'worn out' hard drive.Here is a unpublished, I think, trick to reduce some kinds of hard drive start up errors. Set up your BIOS to boot in this order: floppy drive CD-Drive Hard Drive Do not put in a floppy. But do put the Install CD into the CD-Drive. When it says "Press and key to boot CD" keep you fingers on the keyboard and wait. It will boot the hard drive. If not. Power off, wait ten seconds, try again. If that works for you, just keep doing that until you get a new drive. You may also want to replace the drive cable. In a few cases it can be a Power supply issue that weakens the hard drive's ability to work well.

Answer»

I have Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop, Windows XP Pro.

Laptop will not boot up, so I am following instructions on Dell site here http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=6926D01F5744169CE040AE0AB6E14CD3&docid=117590#4. What could be more simple I hear you cry.....

When I get to 'dos' screen I get the prompt C:\> , I think I need C:\WINDOWS> - is this correct? How do I do that?

I tried CD \WINDOWS - but I get message 'access denied' - (there are no passwords on the computer)

? help, I am sure tis must be easy to do try typing: cd windows

instead of cd \windows

edit: my appologies, after pressing "R" to get to the recovery console, press "1" and enter to select what HARDDRIVE you wish to access. Then if there is no Admin. password simply press enter. You will then automatically be at C:\Windows>
You then need to change to the root directory by typing cd \ and pressing enter. That's it, up to about half way, follow the rest of the instructions here:
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?journalid=6926D01F5744169CE040AE0AB6E14CD3&docid=117590#4

Just be sure to click on the Windows XP button to correctly select which Operating System you are trying to fixWhen booting from CD, after clicking 'R', I do not get the option of selecting '1' - the dos screen simply goes straight to this prompt:

C:\>

- if I try cd windows or cd\windows , I get the message 'Access is denied'

Windows XP Repair Install:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htmCripes - thats too complex for me!

Will I lose my data if I do a 'repair install' ?

Why can't I change directory to windows on the dos screen?

Quote

Why can't I change directory to windows on the dos screen?

Either somehow you're doing it wrong, you're not where you think you are, or...you just can't.

Just follow the Repair Install steps and it should all be fine.

You could LOOK here too. It still requires the Windows CD, but there are options to use the Recovery console instead of a Repair Install.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

Note: Your files will be safe with Repair Install. Repair install does not touch your programs or personal data.aYou said in that other topic you have been resetting Windows to Factory Settings.

Have you tried resetting it now? Does the problem continue?On past experience ie the 3 times I have reset to factory settings - the computer is ok for a month, then I seem to get another issue.

I have not reset to factory settings this time because I am coming to the conclusion that perhaps the hard drive is to blame ? - that is why I started a new topic, to which I did'nt get a reply before topic was closed

Do you think an old hard drive can cause problems like this?

I cant use the XP Recovery console as there is no POSSIBILITY of me changing to the Windows directory - searching the web this seems to be a common issue, possibily something to do with security settings.

However, I have followed the link to the microsoft site. Under 'Error Message 3', I think this best describes my situation. It also says:
Additionally, you may experience one or more of the following behaviors:

* If you start the computer to the Recovery Console, a command prompt may appear with no option to log on to the Windows installation.
* If you try to access the Windows FOLDER, you may receive the following error message:
Access denied.
* If you try to perform a Repair operation from the Windows XP CD-ROM, the Windows installation is not detected and you cannot repair Windows.

Since it says 'you cannot repair Windows' - does this mean I have to reinstall or reset to factory settings anyway (and lose my data)?

Or - if I use the 'set up Windows XP' option when booting from the cd will this work without losing my data?

Hope you can follow this it seems to have got a bit complicated! I am now trying a Reinstall via the boot cd.

When I get to the 'repair' bit, windows is not detected on C: What I get is

C: Partiton2 (NTFS) 73140MB (62490 MB free)

I do not get an option to 'Repair' - so I guess this means the easiest thing for me to try is reset to factory settings again.

This means I will have to take the hard drive out to recover my important data (but on a positive note I only know how to do that cos you guys on here TOLD me how to do it some time ago )

thank you all for helpingedit: sorry, I did this before your post above.
The phrase "hal.dll missing" can be called a"Red Herring."

The boot loader does not do an search for the item. It just expects it to be in a certain place. Either you or someone or something has either moved the file, not likely, or has altered the information about the location. The later is often the case with poor quality Portion management software. Or individuals who modify the BOOT.INI file and do not know how to count partitions.

You suspect the hard drive? Hard Drive dysfunction happens more often that what most people realize. The simple answer is to start using you backup hard drive. Everybody should have a backup hard drive. Cost less that a bunch of diagnostic programs that only tell you what you learn by using a spare Hard Drive.

(For FREE diagnostics, to the the Se agate or Western Digital sites.)

Red Herring - I do see what you mean.

The computer was ok yesterday, and just was wrong when it was turned on the next day.

Nobody here (including me) knows enough about computers to start fiddling around with them!

I just wondered if it could be a 'worn out' hard drive.Here is a unpublished, I think, trick to reduce some kinds of hard drive start up errors.
Set up your BIOS to boot in this order:
floppy drive
CD-Drive
Hard Drive

Do not put in a floppy.
But do put the Install CD into the CD-Drive.
When it says "Press and key to boot CD" keep you fingers on the keyboard and wait.
It will boot the hard drive.

If not. Power off, wait ten seconds, try again.

If that works for you, just keep doing that until you get a new drive. You may also want to replace the drive cable. In a few cases it can be a Power supply issue that weakens the hard drive's ability to work well.

Solve : hal.dll missing - need to reinstall?

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