missing or corrupt system32\hal.dll

[Tanmaya]

As usual one day you start your system and screen pop ups with an error message like to one of the following:

• 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.
OR
• windows_root\System32\hal.dll missing or corrupt:
Please re-install a copy of the above file.
OR
• Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

If you have Windows 2003/XP installed on the system, insert the appropriate CD in CD-ROM drive and boot the system with CD-ROM priority. When the Recovery Console appears, press ‘R’. Provide the administrator password and press Enter.

1] At the command prompt, enter the following commands

ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\BOOT.INI
DEL C:\BOOT.INI
BOOTCFG /REBUILD FIXBOOT

Take out the CD from CD-ROM and restart the system.

2] At the command prompt type the following command:

EXPAND D:\I386\HAL.DL_ C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL