windows wont start!! - Computer Support Forums

newbiesian · 08-02-2010, 11:34 AM

Hi

I have a problem. i have an Acer aspire one series thats approx 2years old. When i power up it displays a black screen with the message

"windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
windows root\system32\hal.dll.
Please reinstall a copy of the above file"

i have a copy of the file but i dont know how to install it as my computer does not have a cd or dvd drive.

Any suggestions??

Thanks in advance

**maynardvdm** · 08-02-2010, 05:50 PM

Hi

Insert the Windows CD and start the computer and make sure boot from CD is set.
When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press Renter the Recovery Console.
Type a number corresponding to the Windows installation you wish to repair (usually 1) and press Enter.
When prompted, type the administrator password and press Enter (Just press Enter if none is set).
At the command prompt, enter the following commands. (Where C: is your Hard drive)
ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\BOOT.INI
DEL C:\BOOT.INI
BOOTCFG /REBUILD FIXBOOT
Remove the Windows XP CD from the drive and restart the computer.

If this does not resolve the problem:

Repeat the instructions above to boot to the Recovery Console and log on as administrator.
At the command prompt type the following command:
EXPAND D:\I386\HAL.DL_ C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL

muppet rebecca · 09-02-2010, 11:34 AM

Right so we don't have a drive that can read CD's??? So Can you read pen drives instead??? or maybe the floppy drive is accessible??
Your going to have to do what may above me says but using something other than the CD instead....Maybe a copy and paste on another computer would work...or am I wrong in assuming that?

**Match** · 09-02-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

i have an Acer aspire

Quote:

my computer does not have a cd or dvd drive.

OK what model Aspire do you have?

Did your PC ever have a CD/DVD Drive?

Chances are that you have a hidden restore partition on the HDD, but unless you cant tell us the exact model it will be hard to advise you if it has or hasn't and if it has how to use it.

also if your PC had a CD/DVD drive that has stopped working, this would change the whole situation, however if it never had one to start with this would mean you will most likely have a recovery partition.

**Armageddon** · 27-02-2010, 04:11 PM

Most Acers come with Erecovery which holds the recovery partition to launch this at boot press Alt+F10 this should launch Erecovery options and you should be able to recover your OS from there

08-02-2010, 11:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
newbiesian Status: Free PC Help New Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1 Operating System: Windows XP - Home Edition PC Experience: Beginner	windows wont start!! Hi I have a problem. i have an Acer aspire one series thats approx 2years old. When i power up it displays a black screen with the message "windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: windows root\system32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file" i have a copy of the file but i dont know how to install it as my computer does not have a cd or dvd drive. Any suggestions?? Thanks in advance

08-02-2010, 05:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
maynardvdm Status: Administrator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 3,016 Operating System: Windows XP and Windows 7 PC Experience: Always learning	Hi Insert the Windows CD and start the computer and make sure boot from CD is set. When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press Renter the Recovery Console. Type a number corresponding to the Windows installation you wish to repair (usually 1) and press Enter. When prompted, type the administrator password and press Enter (Just press Enter if none is set). At the command prompt, enter the following commands. (Where C: is your Hard drive) ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\BOOT.INI DEL C:\BOOT.INI BOOTCFG /REBUILD FIXBOOT Remove the Windows XP CD from the drive and restart the computer. If this does not resolve the problem: Repeat the instructions above to boot to the Recovery Console and log on as administrator. At the command prompt type the following command: EXPAND D:\I386\HAL.DL_ C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL __________________ We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. RaidMax Smilodon Gaming Case \| Intel E7200 Core 2 Duo @ 3.0GHz with ASUS Arctic Square Cooler \| 2GB RAM \| 9800GT 512MB GDDR3 Register for FREE >>here<< \| If we have helped you, please consider a donation >>here<< SAS \| MBAM \| WinPatrol \| Avira \| ERUNT \| Nvidia Drivers

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09-02-2010, 11:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
muppet rebecca Status: Free PC Help Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 171 Operating System: Windows XP - Home Edition PC Experience: Beginner	Right so we don't have a drive that can read CD's??? So Can you read pen drives instead??? or maybe the floppy drive is accessible?? Your going to have to do what may above me says but using something other than the CD instead....Maybe a copy and paste on another computer would work...or am I wrong in assuming that?

27-02-2010, 04:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Armageddon Status: Free PC Help Tech Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Castleford UK Posts: 157 Operating System: Windows PC Experience: Pc Guru	Most Acers come with Erecovery which holds the recovery partition to launch this at boot press Alt+F10 this should launch Erecovery options and you should be able to recover your OS from there