The Hendon Mob

AngusD · Flush Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 721

Have old (2003, I think) Dell Dimension 8300 desktop

Getting Invalid BOOT.INI file message

then:

'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'

Looked this up online and my relief at seeing a possible solution didn't last long once I remembered we no longer have the disks for this computer... (is it possible we never had them?)

Is there anything I can do?

Just been reading more and it seems even with the disks it might not be possible...

Thanks very much in advance...

Angus

Grumbledook · Moderator Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 15733

windows xp?

see if you can borrow a friends xp disk and try the repair option, or you can dl a copy and install it on a usb flash drive or burn it as a bootable cd

there may also be a recovery partition on the hard drive

try googling for "dell recovery partition" for instructions / details

pembo

AngusD · Flush Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 721

Thanks for this.
1st option doesn't look promising.
Is downloading/saving and then using in desktop etc easy for someone as daft as me?
Angus

Grumbledook · Moderator Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 15733

probably not tbh ;]

recovery partition would be the easiest method if there is one

darrensprengers · Misclick Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 6900

this is known issue t do with the hardware extraction layer or hal.

just download xp from ms. as long as you have the activation code you can fix it. then patch it up to stop this problem happening again.
_________________
The next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing.

-- Nick "The Greek" Dandalos

AngusD · Flush Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 721

Found the disks... progress.
Fingers crossed.
Thanks again.
Angus

jellyface · Failed Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Posts: 600 Location: Embedded

Grumbledook · Moderator Joined: 25 Dec 2003 Posts: 15733

I did as well but didn't want to go too far off topic ;]

AngusD · Flush Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 721

So did I but witty stuff like that deserves to be left untouched (and seems even funnier)

darrensprengers · Misclick Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 6900

but his names not dave. Confused

_________________
The next best thing to gambling and winning is gambling and losing.

-- Nick "The Greek" Dandalos

oldbloke

As my name is Dave, I used to get "I'm sorry..." quite a lot at one time.
Gets old pretty quickly

darrensprengers · Misclick Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 6900

AngusD · Flush Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 721

Thanks for the suggestions!
After finding the disk we managed to get it fixed, albeit from scratch as we had to reinstall XP. Now in the process of (down)loading and installing stuff.
Cheers,
Angus

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