Please help!!

[Mark Winland]

After restarting my computer, I got the following errror
message: "Invalid Boot INI file
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
please re-install this file"

I have tried talking to Dell and they have taken me
nowhere. I have done all the steps to repair, but it asks
me for my administrators password and I have no idea what
this is because I have just bought the computer from my
brother. He has no idea what this would be either. What
can do so that I do not have to erase my entire hard
drive. Thanks

[CWatters]

What I would do is make a windows boot floppy disc on another computer and
use it to boot your computer. Then run a drive recovery program. Try a
posting over on comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (if you haven't already
done so) to get a recommendation on a recovery prog.




"Mark Winland" > wrote in message
...
> After restarting my computer, I got the following errror
> message: "Invalid Boot INI file
> <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
> please re-install this file"
>
> I have tried talking to Dell and they have taken me
> nowhere. I have done all the steps to repair, but it asks
> me for my administrators password and I have no idea what
> this is because I have just bought the computer from my
> brother. He has no idea what this would be either. What
> can do so that I do not have to erase my entire hard
> drive. Thanks

[Harry Ohrn]

Have you tried simply pressing the Enter Key when prompted for the
Administrator password? Often this is left blank on systems with XP
preinstalled.

You might have better luck rebuilding HAL by running a Repair Installation.
This runs XP overtop of itself and your installed apps, data and settings
are left unchanged. However a Repair Install does remove previously created
System Restore Points and removes all Service Patches. After you run a
Repair Install immediately check to ensure that your Firewall is enabled
then install relevant Hotfixes from the Windows Update Site. You will need a
Windows XP CD, your Product Key and ensure the BIOS is set to boot off the
CD-Rom drive in order to complete a Repair Install. Instructions here
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

--

Harry Ohrn - MS MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


"Mark Winland" > wrote in message
...
> After restarting my computer, I got the following errror
> message: "Invalid Boot INI file
> <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
> please re-install this file"
>
> I have tried talking to Dell and they have taken me
> nowhere. I have done all the steps to repair, but it asks
> me for my administrators password and I have no idea what
> this is because I have just bought the computer from my
> brother. He has no idea what this would be either. What
> can do so that I do not have to erase my entire hard
> drive. Thanks

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Assuming you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a recovery CD, try a Repair
install as follows:
NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data files intact, if
something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be forced to start
over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your data backed up,
you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

If you only have a recovery CD, your options are quite limited. You can
either purchase a retail version of XP will allow you to perform the above
among other tools and options it has or you can run your system recovery
routine with the Recovery CD which will likely wipe your drive, deleting all
files but will restore your setup to factory fresh condition.


--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Mark Winland" > wrote in message
...
> After restarting my computer, I got the following errror
> message: "Invalid Boot INI file
> <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
> please re-install this file"
>
> I have tried talking to Dell and they have taken me
> nowhere. I have done all the steps to repair, but it asks
> me for my administrators password and I have no idea what
> this is because I have just bought the computer from my
> brother. He has no idea what this would be either. What
> can do so that I do not have to erase my entire hard
> drive. Thanks