I have a Dell Dimension 4550 with Windows XP. I used a registry cleaner and then performed a disk cleanup. When I restarted my computer I got a black screen that said: windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupted:<windows root>\system32\hal.dll. Please re-install a copy of the above file. Please help. What can I do?
I looked at similar threads and found the directions to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents windows xp from starting. I tried it but computer doesn't start the xp cd-rom. It doesnt go to "welcome to setup" like directions say it should.
So I got the xp cd-rom to start but now when I type the lines in the recovery console it tells me the parameter is not valid. It copied the first file but when i entered the second line it told me that. I then exited and tried again and now its telling me the md tmp file already exists. Still getting same parameter message when I try to enter following lines. Please help. Any idea what's going on?
So I got the xp cd-rom to start but now when I type the lines in the recovery console it tells me the parameter is not valid. It copied the first file but when i entered the second line it told me that. I then exited and tried again and now its telling me the md tmp file already exists. Still getting same parameter message when I try to enter following lines. Please help. Any idea what's going on?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy
Can you try a repair install from the system / OS disk?
use Guy's recommendation, tell your BIOS to boot from disk as the first boot device, have your Win XP disk in the drive and press any key when prompted. use the Repair current installation option when asked what to do. this will reinstall any missing files / registry entries and should solve your problem.
windows won't start 
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