boot failure after running adaware and spybot S&D software

Question

A couple of weeks ago I posted a message about spy programs I suspected I had picked up and a webcontrol message window that opened each time I booted my computer.   Mike gave me directions about how to get rid of the nasties and the annoying window that which included downloading the free Adaware,  Spybot Search and Destroy  and Hijackthis software.  I followed all his directions, which also included an autoscan from microtrend and posting hijack this logs.  The webcontrol message window disappeared and all seemed cool.   On Thursday of this week, as a weekly 'cleanup' measure, I ran Adaware and Spybot search and destroy again, both of which found problems.  and Adaware's problems were listed as DSO Exploit and contained four  HKEY items; spybot found 11 items (one of which has a date of 5/12/04, six days before I even ordered my computer from Dell!).   Both programs 'fixed' the problems. I shut the pc down for the night.   Next day:  computer won't boot.  I get the BIOS screen and the little moving dot, then a black screen with this message.  Boot.ini failure.  Reinstall following file:  Windows root> \system32\hal.dll   Have no clue what this file is, but assume it was deleted when I fixed the problems identified by the adaware and spybot programs.   That, or this is a bigger, badder bug that has invaded my system.    In an effort to get the computer to boot, I hit F2 or F12 to go to Setup, but didn't know what to do there except to run the diagnostic program, which took two hours and declared everything 'passed.'   Stupidly, we never made a boot disc upon delivery of the computer last May.  I do realize that if I could actually boot up, I could 'restore' to an earlier configuration, before I ran this adaware & spybot software.  I am also concerned, though, about running these programs in future so would like to know what happened.   Any advice?  Anyway to download a boot disc config file so I can take it home and try it?  I'm currently on my office computer.   Thanks.   Marilyn

MichaelCretired · Answer

mme3924,

Thanks for using the Dell Community Forum.

I really don't think this is a BIOS issue but more than likely an operating system one. Can you tell us just to make sure what operating system you're using.

Jason98036 · Answer

Have you followed the instructions on Microsoft's support site? If you did and it didn't help, let us know what issues you ran into when trying them.

Here's the link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314477

Message Edited by Jason98036 on 01-28-2005 12:49 PM

mme3924 · Answer

Windows XP, on a Dimension 8300, bought from Dell in May 2004.   I now no longer think it has to do with my running the adaware and spybot software because this problem seems to just appear to many people.  Since posting my message, I've done some more research on the web and it seems this is a fairly common and very aggravating problem and has to do with either a) the faults of XP;  b) a bad hard drive, c) a dual boot system (whatever that is; does it refer to the partitioned hard drive? My pc does have a large capacity hard drive and it is partitioned).  Anyway, lots of frustrated people out there getting this hal.dll message and not all of them having any luck fixing it., apparently.  I hope I'm luckier.   Thanks. Marilyn

MichaelCretired · Answer

mme3924,

I honestly don't this this is a BIOS issue at all. If you think it's a hard drive failure, post the message in that board. I'm going to move this to the Windows XP board because it's there that I really think you would get the most help.

Also, have you made this a dual boot system?

mme3924 · Answer

...oops, hit submit post before I meant to.

I meant to say, thanks, guys, for your suggestions. I'll either be back in here on Monday singing the blues or not, depending on my success with all the instructions this weekend.

Marilyn

mme3924 · Answer

I have not made this a dual boot system....clearly, I do not know what that is, so I think it's safe to say I have not done it.

Thanks for redirecting my original message.

To answer Jason below: No, I have not followed the directions you mention at the Microsoft support website, because I am in my office, not at home, where the problem child resides (the Dell that won't boot). I did find this site today though, by googling the hal.dll error message, and have printed the instructions. Being a natural pessimist, I'm somewhat discouraged by the many reports of failures to fix this problem. And since I have no other computer access, I won't be able to seek any other help before Monday.....SINCE I CAN'T GET THE DELL AT HOME TO BOOT UP!!!!!

Thanks,

mme3924 · Answer

I followed the instructions on the Microsoft support webpage supplied by Jason here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314477

and it worked.....halleluejah!

These instructions also direct one to edit the Boot.ini file (support article # 289022), but the instructions in this module are not detailed enough for a rookie (me) to feel secure doing this, so I'm leaving it for now. I am afraid to turn the pc off, though, afraid it will not boot again.

FYI: there is a more recent microsoft support article about this hal.dll problem, #330184, dated June 2, 2004, located at

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184

It is entitled "Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer , all of which precisely outlines the error I got . The cause says this issue may occur if the Boot.ini file is missing, damaged, or contains incorrect entries. There is a step or two in this version that is not in the one I used (#314477), but they are basically the same. This version seems to imply that the boot list is updated when you give the bootcfg /rebuild command and then say "yes" to "add installation to boot list?" ; however, under More Information, you are directed to the How to edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP module (#289022). Again, I don't know enough about this stuff to mess with the Boot.ini file.....unless someone wants to give me VERY detailed instructions about how to do this.

It's been fun.....or at least profitable. Thanks again to all who replied and offered help.

Marilyn

Windows General

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