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hal.dll error message
I have an Inspiron 6400, XP Home edition. Suddenly, it will not boot. I get a message telling me to reinstall c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. I found a thread at Dell Support for PCs, and I've tried everything there. I've tried all options given at Microsoft.com (except editing the Boot.ini, which I don't feel competent to do). I'm currently running CHKDSK from Recovery, as suggested at Microsoft.com.
Any suggestions as to how to fix this mess. Ive done the following:
1. Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot
On this try, after I type Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini, I get the message: Invalid Parameter. It was spelled correctly and had proper spacing.
2. from Microsoft: for Uni-Processor systems: whem I type: expand d:\i386ntoskrnl.ex_d\Windows\system32 I get invald drive/ file
3. From Dell PC thread: when I type expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. I get the message: Access denied
- So, since I've been able to reboot after running CHKDSK r/, do you suggest I run the Dell Diagnostic or the Check Now procedure you suggested. Or, do I just wait for the world-class Dell HD to fail completely? As I stated, I do not keep critical data on my hard drive, so data recovery is really not an issue for me.
- Before you go any further with the repair, BE SURE you have backed up any data that is irreplaceable. Remove the drive, mount it in a 2.5" external case, attach it to a working system via USB, and copy anything you can't afford to lose.
Then return the drive to the system, power on, press F12, boot to the Dell diagnostics partition, and run the extended test of the hard drive. IF the drive passes (I'll bet it fails), then proceed with your fix attempt. - If your drive is failing, the less you do to it before you recover your data, the better off you'll be. There are two options to accessing your system.Option 1 - Bart PEDownload the kit from here and build a bootable CD. You'll need a Windows distribution but any will do. Boot off the CD (press F12 during the power up screen) and run it. Get your data off the drive. You can copy it to a USB drive or if you've installed the network drivers in BartPE, you can open a share from another machine and copy to there. If you're unsure of how to do this, go to Option 2. Once you have your data backed up, expand the hal.dll into the Windows directory.Option 2 - External DriveTake a trip to your local big box store and pick up an external 2.5" USB enclosure for your S-ATA drive. Make sure it either has two cables or one cable with a "Y" USB connector. Take the drive out of your PC and mount it in the USB enclosure. Connect it to another system and get your data off. Make sure when you connect it, you connect the extra power cable or "Y" cable to two USB ports. Many of the enclosures don't provide sufficient power to the drive when connected to only one USB port. Once you have the drive mounted and your data backed up, you can expand a copy of hal.dll onto the system.From either OptionPut the drive back in the laptop and/or boot it. If you get it booted, right-click on My Computer and select Open. Right-click on the C: drive and select Properties. Click on the tools tab and select Check Now. Check both boxes and click start. It may ask you to reboot your PC. Go ahead and do it.This will scan your drive for bad sectors and mark them unusable. Note, this may render your PC unbootable again but you'll know if it's a bad hard drive or just a couple of bad sectors.If it finds lots of bad sectors, starts clicking or doesn't complete, go buy a new S-ATA hard drive or if you have warranty, call Dell.
dcblawdog
11 Posts
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Posted December 28th, 2007 16:00