I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
<Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.

I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).

Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
anybody help me. Thanks, Steve

Read this:

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how...ing_or_cor.htm

"Steve" wrote:

> I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> <Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
>
> I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
>
> Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> anybody help me. Thanks, Steve

Thanks for the reply. Windows CD still won't boot...I still get the same
message. Checked the BIOS and the CDROM is the 2nd drive on boot so it should
have started the install-repair. Any other suggestions?

Steve

"st.daniel" wrote:

> Read this:
>
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how...ing_or_cor.htm
>
> "Steve" wrote:
>
> > I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> > on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> > and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> > Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> > reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> > <Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
> >
> > I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> > boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> > to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
> >
> > Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> > anybody help me. Thanks, Steve

Steve wrote:

> I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> <Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
>
> I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
>
> Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> anybody help me. Thanks, Steve

[Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]

That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.

Use
Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
DEL C:\boot.ini
to delete the bad one
BootCfg /Rebuild

to search for Windows installations and make a new one.

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

x-no-archive: yes
On Thu, 29 Dec 2005 19:28:02 -0800, "Steve"
<Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Thanks for the reply. Windows CD still won't boot...I still get the same
>message. Checked the BIOS and the CDROM is the 2nd drive on boot so it should
>have started the install-repair. Any other suggestions?
>
>Steve

You ain't gonna like it,but when you're dealing with system issues--
which this is-- you can pull your hair out for several days trying to
"patch" a bad install (which is what your issue boils down to), or
take the QUICK and DIRTY approach

Go into BIOS.

Go to Boot order.

Be sure the boot order is

A drive
CD Rom Drive (ATAPI device)

C drive

Go to your main menu. Be sure you can see your Hard drive.

Pop a boot disk into the A: drive, reboot, (IT WILL boot to the A
drive),

reboot,

and fdisk.

That is, at the A: prompt, simply type
fdisk

I don't recall if you need a C: after that or not.

You'll find out.

Once it's fdisked, you'll reboot.

Leave the disk in A.

When you get the A prompt,

type

Format C:

Once it's formatted,

You can now pop your Windows XP disk into the cd rom drive

Remove the disk from A

Reboot.

Follow the prompts.

When you see the prompt

"press any key to boot from the CD Rom"

You're on your way.

Be sure, when the computer reboots in 10 minutes or so,

you do NOT press a key.

Leave it alone, and it will install.


Good luck.

Tallahassee



>
>"st.daniel" wrote:
>
>> Read this:
>>
>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how...ing_or_cor.htm
>>
>> "Steve" wrote:
>>
>> > I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
>> > on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
>> > and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
>> > Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
>> > reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
>> > <Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
>> >
>> > I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
>> > boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
>> > to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
>> >
>> > Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
>> > anybody help me. Thanks, Steve

I set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, but I still get the message and the
CDROM won't boot. I really don't want to reformat the hard drive.

Rock, you're right that it's a corrupt Boot.ini, since the last thing I did
was to modify the Boot.ini to remove the 2nd version of Windows.

Can anyone tell me why the boot diskette I created on my main system won't
let me see my C Drive on the bad machine? I can boot from the boot diskette,
but not change to the C:. Suggestions?

Thanks, Steve

"Rock" wrote:

> Steve wrote:
>
> > I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> > on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> > and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> > Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> > reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> > <Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
> >
> > I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> > boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> > to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
> >
> > Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> > anybody help me. Thanks, Steve
>
> [Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]
>
> That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
> that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
> looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
> first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
> the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
> Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.
>
> Use
> Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
> DEL C:\boot.ini
> to delete the bad one
> BootCfg /Rebuild
>
> to search for Windows installations and make a new one.
>
> --
> Rock
> MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
>

Steve wrote:

> I set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, but I still get the message and the
> CDROM won't boot. I really don't want to reformat the hard drive.
>
> Rock, you're right that it's a corrupt Boot.ini, since the last thing I did
> was to modify the Boot.ini to remove the 2nd version of Windows.
>
> Can anyone tell me why the boot diskette I created on my main system won't
> let me see my C Drive on the bad machine? I can boot from the boot diskette,
> but not change to the C:. Suggestions?
>
> Thanks, Steve
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
>
>>Steve wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
>>>on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
>>>and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
>>>Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
>>>reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
>>><Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
>>>
>>>I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
>>>boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
>>>to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
>>>
>>>Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
>>>anybody help me. Thanks, Steve
>>
>>[Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]
>>
>>That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
>>that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
>>looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
>>first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
>>the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
>>Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.
>>
>>Use
>>Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
>>DEL C:\boot.ini
>> to delete the bad one
>>BootCfg /Rebuild
>>
>>to search for Windows installations and make a new one.
>>
>>--
>>Rock
>>MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
>>
>>

Is the C: drive formatted in NTFS? If so Dos won't see it. Download
the six diskette set from MS. That should allow you to enter the
recovery console.

How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/en-us

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks for your help Rock. I downloaded and created the 6 disk set, but I get
the following error 'File \NTKRNLMP.exe could not be loaded, Error Code=7'

Any suggestions? Thanks, Steve

"Rock" wrote:

> Steve wrote:
>
> > I set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, but I still get the message and the
> > CDROM won't boot. I really don't want to reformat the hard drive.
> >
> > Rock, you're right that it's a corrupt Boot.ini, since the last thing I did
> > was to modify the Boot.ini to remove the 2nd version of Windows.
> >
> > Can anyone tell me why the boot diskette I created on my main system won't
> > let me see my C Drive on the bad machine? I can boot from the boot diskette,
> > but not change to the C:. Suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks, Steve
> >
> > "Rock" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Steve wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> >>>on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> >>>and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> >>>Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> >>>reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> >>><Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
> >>>
> >>>I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> >>>boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> >>>to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
> >>>
> >>>Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> >>>anybody help me. Thanks, Steve
> >>
> >>[Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]
> >>
> >>That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
> >>that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
> >>looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
> >>first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
> >>the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
> >>Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.
> >>
> >>Use
> >>Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
> >>DEL C:\boot.ini
> >> to delete the bad one
> >>BootCfg /Rebuild
> >>
> >>to search for Windows installations and make a new one.
> >>
> >>--
> >>Rock
> >>MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
> >>
> >>
>
> Is the C: drive formatted in NTFS? If so Dos won't see it. Download
> the six diskette set from MS. That should allow you to enter the
> recovery console.
>
> How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/en-us
>
> How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us
>
> --
> Rock
> MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
>

Thanks, Rock. I downloaded and created the resue disks. The 2nd disk gives me
the following error: 'File \ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. Error Code=7'

Any suggestions ? Steve

"Rock" wrote:

> Steve wrote:
>
> > I set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, but I still get the message and the
> > CDROM won't boot. I really don't want to reformat the hard drive.
> >
> > Rock, you're right that it's a corrupt Boot.ini, since the last thing I did
> > was to modify the Boot.ini to remove the 2nd version of Windows.
> >
> > Can anyone tell me why the boot diskette I created on my main system won't
> > let me see my C Drive on the bad machine? I can boot from the boot diskette,
> > but not change to the C:. Suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks, Steve
> >
> > "Rock" wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Steve wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> >>>on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> >>>and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> >>>Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> >>>reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> >>><Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
> >>>
> >>>I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> >>>boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> >>>to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
> >>>
> >>>Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> >>>anybody help me. Thanks, Steve
> >>
> >>[Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]
> >>
> >>That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
> >>that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
> >>looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
> >>first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
> >>the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
> >>Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.
> >>
> >>Use
> >>Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
> >>DEL C:\boot.ini
> >> to delete the bad one
> >>BootCfg /Rebuild
> >>
> >>to search for Windows installations and make a new one.
> >>
> >>--
> >>Rock
> >>MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
> >>
> >>
>
> Is the C: drive formatted in NTFS? If so Dos won't see it. Download
> the six diskette set from MS. That should allow you to enter the
> recovery console.
>
> How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/en-us
>
> How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us
>
> --
> Rock
> MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
>
>

Rock: I found an MS Tech article about Error 7 with the knrlmp. It said to
hit F6 to load a ScSI and then F7. Didn't work...skips asking about
SCSI...wants to go to Disk 2, so I get the error again.

Steve

"Steve" wrote:

> Thanks, Rock. I downloaded and created the resue disks. The 2nd disk gives me
> the following error: 'File \ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. Error Code=7'
>
> Any suggestions ? Steve
>
> "Rock" wrote:
>
> > Steve wrote:
> >
> > > I set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM, but I still get the message and the
> > > CDROM won't boot. I really don't want to reformat the hard drive.
> > >
> > > Rock, you're right that it's a corrupt Boot.ini, since the last thing I did
> > > was to modify the Boot.ini to remove the 2nd version of Windows.
> > >
> > > Can anyone tell me why the boot diskette I created on my main system won't
> > > let me see my C Drive on the bad machine? I can boot from the boot diskette,
> > > but not change to the C:. Suggestions?
> > >
> > > Thanks, Steve
> > >
> > > "Rock" wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >>Steve wrote:
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>>I had a backup machine that I inadvently installed 2 copies of Win Home XP
> > >>>on. I decided to clean things up, and now have a problem. I installed SP2,
> > >>>and removed the 2nd version based on an article I found in the Knowledge
> > >>>Base. Lastly, I edited the Boot.ini according to the instructions. When I
> > >>>reboot my machine I get the following error at the DOS prompt:
> > >>><Windows Root>\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt.
> > >>>
> > >>>I made a boot diskette on my main machine and copied hal.dll onto it. I can
> > >>>boot from the diskette, but the C Drive isn't there (DOS won't let me change
> > >>>to it, nor can I copy the missing DLL).
> > >>>
> > >>>Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about DOS to go beyond this step. Can
> > >>>anybody help me. Thanks, Steve
> > >>
> > >>[Courtesy the late MVP Alex Nichol]
> > >>
> > >>That message is rather misleading. It happens because the boot.ini file
> > >>that tells the boot where to look for 'Windows' is damaged, so it is
> > >>looking for files in the wrong place - hal.dll just happens to be the
> > >>first one it looks for. Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot
> > >>the XP CD and, instead of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair.
> > >>Assume any password requested is blank, and TAB over.
> > >>
> > >>Use
> > >>Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot,ini
> > >>DEL C:\boot.ini
> > >> to delete the bad one
> > >>BootCfg /Rebuild
> > >>
> > >>to search for Windows installations and make a new one.
> > >>
> > >>--
> > >>Rock
> > >>MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > >>
> > >>
> >
> > Is the C: drive formatted in NTFS? If so Dos won't see it. Download
> > the six diskette set from MS. That should allow you to enter the
> > recovery console.
> >
> > How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/en-us
> >
> > How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
> > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us
> >
> > --
> > Rock
> > MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
> >
> >