BleepingComputer.com: windows root system32 hal.dll

Dear fellows,
My father inlaws old laptop is causing problem. I know it got that google virus and now I can't boot xp home ed, not even in safe boot. When I restart the computer, I get a msg saying 'windows root system32 hal.dll is missing or corrupt, please insert disk to install the file' something in that context. I can't even boot in safe mood to install this file or do anything.
Please help me, how I can fix this problem.
I dont want to format the HDD as he has some files which are imp and dont wana loose them.
Thank you.
Kind Regards,
Ali

Hello and welcome to the forum!

The fix for this requires an original XP cd.

Boot to an XP cd then follow the prompts to get to the recovery console
At the recovery console C:\> prompt type

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

Restart your computer

Dear Eyesee,
Thank you for your prompt reply.
I found windows cd but guess what, it is for xp professional, not home edition.
Will it work?
Can I install the xp professional over xp home without loosing personal data files? if I can, then how please.
Thank you.
Regards,
Ali

Please dont attempt that!

Boot to the XP Pro cd
Then follow the instructions above.
It shuld take care of the hal.dll issue for you

In the instructions capitalization doesnt matter, just so you know.

I may not be around this weekend. If I am not, others will be more than glad to assist you from here.

alionline, on 14 October 2011 - 01:19 PM, said:

You should backup important files to a separate physical disk. I do it daily. It's only a matter of time before he loses them if you don't.

Thank you guys
let me try what you said and will let you know.
take care and have a nice weekend.
Ali

Hello again.

Now everytime I boot for the XP Pro Cd, it shows starting windows setup, blue screen and then it shows in the botton that different setups are loading...and suddenly a message pops up, one time is ISAPNP.SYS file is corrupt, windows setup cant be run, second time it showed ACPIEC.SYS file is corrupt and 3rd time it showed some system error 7.

what should I do next?

Regards,
Ali

I test the XP cd on an other computer it seens to work fine, I get the menu screen and everything.
so what should I do next?
thank you.
Regards,
Ali

Please sit tight and be patient.

I have requested that an experienced helper who specialises in malware-related un-bootable computers respond to your topic.

Thank you.

Lets perform a memory test, because the files shouldnt be corrupt.

How to Test your RAM


Guide Overview

The purpose of this guide is to teach you how to check whether your system's RAM (Ramdom Access Memory) is working properly. Bad RAM can lead to a whole host of problems, often which do not appear to have a single cause -- appearing as systemwide glitches, blue screens, and other system trouble. MemTest86+ provides a very good detection mechanism for failed RAM, and is about as good a test you get short of actually replacing the module itself.

Tools Needed
Please perform these steps from a separate, working, machine.

• Download MemTest86+, and unzip it to your desktop.
  
• Burn the image file to a CD, as an image file. If you're unsure how to do this, see the How to Burn an ISO File tutorial.

Perform these steps on the problem machine.

• Put your CD in the drive and configure your machine to boot to the CD. This is different on all machines, but it's usually by pressing F12 or F10 as your system boots, and selecting either "CDROM" or your cdrom drive. If you are unable to force a CDRom boot, reply with the make and model of your machine and I should be able to get you exact instructions.
  
• If you've done it correctly, MemTest86+ will start to run automaticly, as shown below:
  
  
• If you want to be reasonably your RAM is OK, then allow MemTest to run until you see this message:
  
  
  On the other hand, if you want to be completely sure your RAM is OK, allow MemTest to run overnight. Memtest will run forever until power is pulled on the machine.
  
• Check the MemTest screen for any reported errors. Errors will appear as RED warnings at the bottom of the screen, similar to the following screenshot:
  
  
• Hard-Reset the machine, removing the MemTest disk in the process.

If you didn't get an error screen, Congratulations!

Compliments of Billy O'Neal.

Thank you AustrAlien, Eyesee and cryptodan.

Eyesee I did what you asked, at the end it said successful. I restarted the comp but again, the same error, windows root systems32 hal.dll missing or corrupt and cant even start in safe mode.

Thanks.
regards
Ali

Hello Ali,

Is this an older XP CD (look at the CD and see if it is dirty or has scratches)?

Hello Elise
thank u for ur reply. The cd is clean and has no scratches.
As I said in my earlier post, I got the cd to boot (after few more try) and I go on to the recovery console...I try to run chkdisk command, it runns 32% and gives error message...I cant even fixboot.
what esle can I do to test.
thank u all for ur help
Regards,
Ali

Hi -
When was the last Defrag ? Did it show too much RED or mostly BLUE -

Try a sfc / scannow if you have not yet.
Did you use RUN for the chkdsk, or open My Computer, Right click on Hard drive > Properties > Tools > Error Checking > then tick both boxes and reboot.

noknojon, the computer wont boot