Posts: 1,976
Threads: 26
Joined: May 2008
Does anyone know how to fix this? I got back from college and went to turn on my desktop, and this showed up.
"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."
Posts: 8,812
Threads: 131
Joined: May 2008
1. what version of windows
2. do you have your install disc
Posts: 1,976
Threads: 26
Joined: May 2008
1. Windows XP
2. I believe so. I found a disc that said Windows XP, so I am assuming that is the disc.
Posts: 5,502
Threads: 134
Joined: Dec 2011
06-14-2012, 03:58 PM
(This post was last modified: 06-14-2012, 03:59 PM by puggsoy.)
The install disc should have a repair option, if you use that it'll probably reinstall any missing/corrupt files. Just make sure it doesn't wipe the drive or anything.
Alternatively you could install Linux as a dual-boot, and use that to copy-paste the file from the disc onto the HDD. No idea why you'd do this though
Posts: 8,812
Threads: 131
Joined: May 2008
using the windows disc and using the repair option should fix the problem, as puggsoy said
rather than dual booting linux though (i'm assming you're posting from a computer since there is no call phone icon) you can just burn a linux live cd and do it from there
Posts: 1,976
Threads: 26
Joined: May 2008
Yep, I got it working again!

I had to use the repair option and it worked (just took a long time).
Thanks for the help guys!
Posts: 13,131
Threads: 168
Joined: Jan 2011
Problem solved, thread closed!