XP won't boot

[Justin_Garrett]

After doing a complete system restore by pressing F-10 on the setup screen it did the restore. MANY pop-ups come up saying "cannot recover file". I clicked ok...after the restore was over an error came up saying "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 can't even get into Windows. Any ideas??? I'm running on Windows XP.

 

[borat_sagdiyev]

do you have access to a windows cd?

 

[dude_se]

the easiest thing would be to set the bios to boot from cd and shuv your xp cd in and do a repair instalation. youll still have all your files. you could also use the recovery console to replace that file (from the cd aswell) but i suspect you will get other missing files and errors also so id just repair if i were you
oh and welcome to cf

 

[Justin_Garrett]

do you have access to a windows cd?

A Windows recovery CD?

 

[Justin_Garrett]

the easiest thing would be to set the bios to boot from cd and shuv your xp cd in and do a repair instalation. youll still have all your files. you could also use the recovery console to replace that file (from the cd aswell) but i suspect you will get other missing files and errors also so id just repair if i were you
oh and welcome to cf

I can't get to the bios because Im on a Compaq and there locked.

 

[Tommy Boy]

Ohh man.....you got some corrupt files there, if you put in your windows XP cd and do a repair install it should work. But if I were you, and depending on how long your windows installation has been on that pc, I'd recommend a complete reformat and start clean with a fresh install. I know it could be a pain, but it's your best bet.

 

[prosser13]

http://www.mcse.ms/archive59-2005-4-1194954.html

 

[Justin_Garrett]

My computer didn't come with a Windows XP cd. It was installed on the computer when I got it.

 

[Tommy Boy]

Are you sure? They give you a Windows CD when you buy it, along with several "system recovery" and "application recovery" discs.

 

[Justin_Garrett]

Nope. The system recovery was also installed on the computer when I got it. No discs came with it.