BleepingComputer.com: Windows XP Home and Compaq

Moved our computer from one room to another on Saturday and when we hooked it back up got the error message "missing or corrupt file: system32\hal.dll"; couldn't get the bleeping computer to do anything and ended up doing a "restore" to factory settings (of course, NO disks were provided when the PC was bought and everything was pre-loaded. Naturally, the RESTORE resulted in everything we have put on the computer being lost. Computer will not recognize the driver we need for internet (I know how to fix THAT issue), but now we can't access any of our Microsoft Office programming (spreadsheets, word processing, etc.). It appears the programming is still there but I can't find an "Install" icon. Can you give me some direction on getting that programming back in place?

Do you have the actual office install disk?


You said that you had to reload all the software, so i assume you do. Id try this first.

(since you lost your files anyways already)

If you cannot find your copy of MS Office, you can download (free) OpenOffice. org which is MS-Office compatible. Quite frankly, though, I am surprised that a factory restore left your .doc and spreadsheet files intact.
Regards,
John