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Author Topic: Windows XP will not boot  (Read 1914 times)

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Robin Hood

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Windows XP will not boot
« on: 14 August 2007, 17:03:19 »
I’m being told that <windows root>system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupted.  I’ve tried replacing it with a copy from another machine but it didn’t work – is it machine pacific?

Can anyone tell me what I could/should be doing?

Thanks
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Crazydad

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #1 on: 14 August 2007, 17:09:00 »
Try booting from the Windows Software disc and click on repair, it shuold then reload the missing file, had this problem before, even up to now i  don`t know how i lost the file though :y :y
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Robin Hood

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #2 on: 14 August 2007, 17:54:10 »
Can not even get into the bios now (to change boot device) it’s hanging at “detecting IDE devices…”   >:(
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Taxi_Driver

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #3 on: 14 August 2007, 18:19:34 »
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Can not even get into the bios now (to change boot device) it’s hanging at “detecting IDE devices…”   >:(

Im assuming you an ide hard disk? If so..........

Sounds like summat possibly the hard disk is causing it to hang.....unplug everything of the ide bus except the HD and try again......if it still hangs looks like the hard disk  :( Tho you can double check by unplugging the HD as well.....then it should whinge it carnt find any boot devices
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TheBoy

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #4 on: 14 August 2007, 18:34:17 »
sounds like hdd has failed...  ...hence the hanging as it tries in vain to properly initialise.

Good news, they are cheap. Bad news, bye bye data.
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Robin Hood

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #5 on: 14 August 2007, 22:12:45 »
Got the bios back by clearing cmos and then booted from original CD.  XP didn’t automatically replace Hal.dll with repair but was able to copy it manually, but still hangs on “detecting IDE devices…”

Only have one HD and DVD in that machine and they are on separate IDE cables, but will try unplugging everything tomorrow.  

I did however, have full access of the HD under “repair” so not sure that that is the problem, could an original copy of hal.dll cause conflict if the rest of the machine is running SP2?
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TheBoy

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #6 on: 14 August 2007, 22:18:12 »
Quote
Got the bios back by clearing cmos and then booted from original CD.  XP didn’t automatically replace Hal.dll with repair but was able to copy it manually, but still hangs on “detecting IDE devices…”

Only have one HD and DVD in that machine and they are on separate IDE cables, but will try unplugging everything tomorrow.  

I did however, have full access of the HD under “repair” so not sure that that is the problem, could an original copy of hal.dll cause conflict if the rest of the machine is running SP2?
Rerun the service pack, or better still use a slipstreamed XP disk with SP2 on...
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markrl

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #7 on: 14 August 2007, 22:24:31 »
It sounds like your hard drive is dying. It’s probably missing many files in addition to hal.dll. If you have any hardware diagnostic software (like "Check It" or a similar manufacturer’s proprietary disc) you could confirm this by running a "Read/write" test on the drive after booting into the program.
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Robin Hood

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #8 on: 14 August 2007, 22:27:14 »
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use a slipstreamed XP disk with SP2 on...
A what?
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TheBoy

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #9 on: 14 August 2007, 22:29:03 »
Quote
Quote
use a slipstreamed XP disk with SP2 on...
A what?
An XP CD that has Service Pack 2 'slipstreamed' over the top.  Using such as disk means all files on it are at SP2 versions, and also building a PC from that CD already has SP2 on it...
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Robin Hood

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #10 on: 14 August 2007, 22:35:11 »
Thanks for the replies - will follow them up in the morning.   :y
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Markjay

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #11 on: 15 August 2007, 00:19:25 »
Quote
Quote
Quote
use a slipstreamed XP disk with SP2 on...
A what?
An XP CD that has Service Pack 2 'slipstreamed' over the top.  Using such as disk means all files on it are at SP2 versions, and also building a PC from that CD already has SP2 on it...

Yes... instead of installing Windows XP, then installing SP2 which will replace many of the original files, you use a CD that already has the SP2 files on it. This is faster, and also takes less space since the later installation of SP2 will create a backup of the replaced files and a restore point.

'slipstreaming' is the process of taking an original installation CD and creating a new one while already replacing the updated files on it so that the software is installed with all the patches and service packs etc.

Microsoft actually provides details on it's website how to 'slipstream' the installation CDs.

As for your problem, yes it does look as if the hard disk drive is on its last leg, but just to make sure I suggest that you try unplugging it and then see if you can access the BIOS setup.




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Robin Hood

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Re: Windows XP will not boot
« Reply #12 on: 15 August 2007, 13:00:22 »
No joy with cables etc though the slipstream disk allowed me to copy the newer hal.dll – now boots as far as the WinXP banner but resorts to rebooting during the scrolling green bar (XP home).

Now going through my parts box for an IDE HDD – have a 300GB SATA but no header on this board.   ::)
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