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Resolved Question

Windows XP won't boot up

Jan 4, 2013 7:50PM PST

Running Windows XP Home edition on a Dell XPS 4700. I was getting messages earlier about a file missing (and i didn't do anything because Windows was working fine), but now Windows won't boot up and I get the following message: "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 tried starting in Safe Mode and all of the other options (including "Last known good configuration") available after pressing F5 upon boot up but I received the same message.

I could not find my original Windows XP CD so I downloaded one from a file sharing program and burned it onto a CD. However, when I inserted the CD and tried to reboot I still received the same message.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Oishi

Discussion is locked

HotRoddies58 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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Since you can't boot from C: or CD
Jan 6, 2013 1:24AM PST

You can download Ubuntu from http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop and put it on a flash drive (2 GB or greater), then boot from that. This will allow you to copy any data you want to save. If you need another DVD/CD, you can buy another internal one for around $20 or an external one for around $30 and boot from that.

Good luck.

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Thank You
Jan 6, 2013 5:01PM PST

Thank Bob and "wpgwpg" for your suggestions.

I enlisted the help of my brother in law who is in the "IT" business. Turns out I didn't even know enough to press "F12" in order to bring up the options to be able to boot from a CD or USB. But when he did try, the result appeared to be that there were other corrupt files, which couldn't be fixed from the boot CD even in the "repair" mode. Not sure if the boot CD was missing some files. He will now try to copy the files from his workplace onto a flashdrive and see if he can fix it that way. Otherwise the last resort will be to copy the files from the stricken computer and rebuild it.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

Sincerely,
Oishi

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Answer
The missing XP CD is still missing.
Jan 5, 2013 1:29AM PST

By now you know to set the CD drive as the boot drive in the bios so I won't discuss that.

Some old PCs lose the ability to boot from CD so be sure to test that CD on another CD to see if your PC has lost this capability.

The repair is not always possible and I see you encountered some prior virus or pests that lead to this issue. I fear no one warned you to backup your system?
Bob

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Tested the CD
Jan 5, 2013 10:07AM PST

Thank you for your reply, Bob. I tested the CD on another computer and the CD appeared to be good. What should I do now?

Yes, I have no one to blame but myself for not backing up my system. I knew that I should have done it, but procrastinated.

Thanks,
Oisihi

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I'd try another drive.
Jan 6, 2013 1:16AM PST

As CD/DVD drives age they may work but fail to boot. If your PC supports an USB boot you can research how to put the CD to some USB but Windows does not support this. You are very much on your own in that effort (sorry even I don't discuss that!)
Bob