Will not boot - I may hate Microsoft

No luck. Computer, monitor, and keyboard only. Same result.

 

The first step is simple. Unplug all your external devices and try rebooting your system. If it starts normally, you may have a hardware issue. If it does boot properly after removing all external devices, then plug your devices in one at a time, then reboot the system ( using this procedure until you recreate the non boot issue). Make certain once you recreate the issue, you should then know which piece of hardware is causing it.

I have a suggestion, try running your operating system cd, and use the emergency repair option. If this does not remedy the issue, you can always use the final option of the recovery console: chkdsk /r also from the operating system cd.

Latest - I got it to boot from the CD, wants to reinstall XP and I'm going to resist that until after all else fails.

Can get to dos screen. Any suggestions on what to try next?

 

 

billthomas,

A Repair Reinstall may correct the problem without destroying your data. Instructions for this are here. You will need to reinstall all Critical Updates again after doing this but since nearly all of them are included in SP2 that problem is not a major concern.

Thanks but I tried that. The utility doesn't even recognize that XP was ever installed on the machine. I did get in to dos and all my data files (try as I might they're never comjpletely back up are they?) are still intact.

My plan is to get a new hard drive (we need one anyway) load the OS, then install the old one to get my data files and use it for backups.

Change the title of my thread - I do hate Microsoft.

 

Some info on hal.dll. Possibly the problem?

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm

The emergency repair option on an XP cd is located after the license agreement (same procedure as a fresh (clean) installation. You do have to pass the licensing agreement, and the emergency repair option ( when it checks for any windows operating systems loaded on your system) appears.