My other computer won’t work! (emachine, running Windows XP) Windows won’t start, not even in Safe Mode. It give me a message that “a file is missing or corrupt”, specifically <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll
What can I do? I’ve got a system recovery disc that will start up, but it gives me the only option of restoring factory defaults and I wonder if I’m gonna loose everything else. I’ve got all my music in windows media player. Over 10k songs. I’d hate to lose it all.
As you can guess, I know shit about this kind of stuff.
The most likely fix is going to require a windows XP disk of the same version (home/pro/MCE)
Boot to the windows disk and select recovery console.
You should run chkdsk /r again until it finds no errors to correct.
Remove the CD and type ‘exit’ to leave the RC and restart the computer.
You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the CD will not be present.
If you still have the same message after chkdsk /r runs clean, we can use the XP Recovery Console CD to rebuild your boot.ini file, but do run the chkdsk /r commands first.
It should be possible to boot from a live CD (or a live USB stick) and explore the file structure. Doing that, it should be possible to copy the ten thousand songs (and anything else the OP wants or needs) to external media.
If it’s XP your best bet is to do a repair install. You’ll need an XP disc of the same version, but XP is so old now you can actually legally download .iso images of XP discs (they’re CD-ROMs not DVDs) from sites (including Microsoft). Just as long as it doesn’t contain a hacked activation code it’s not illegal (you should still have & will need your code). Boot from the XP disc, DO NOT choose recovery console, just choose regular install, then let it find your existing XP partition and choose that. It will then ask if you want to wipe it and start over or do a repair install. Choose repair. It will seem like it’s wiping your files but its not. Not any of your data anyway. It will reset all of Windows XP’s service packs and security updates so the first thing you’ll need to do is re-install them. It takes a while, but you really won’t lose any of your user data. I’ve done it several times.
In my experience, the sort of error the OP saw is the first sign of a failing hard drive. So I’d recommend first backing up the useful data on the drive (perhaps using the liveCD approach I mentioned), and then testing the hard drive for errors. If any are reported, I’d replace the hard drive rather than trying to repair the Windows installation.
This should fix it as well, my way is just a little quicker and will not offer you the option to reformat your hard drive and does not require any keys to perform.
I have done this fix probably 150 times, I lost track of how many windows reloads I have done over the years… probably in the 2000 range by now.
Well, I’m an idiot. I can’t seem to find the disc (if I ever had one to begin with), and can’t pinpoint what I can download to a thumb drive to get up and going. I found a program that will burn discs, but I’ve got no cd on this tablet thing I’m using.
Can you connect the PC and the tablet via USB cable? Are you able to see the drive on the PC from the tablet? Do you have enough room on the tablet to transfer your music?
Do you know what version of XP you had? Google that (example: download XP Home .iso files) and see what you can find.
Do you know your activation code? If not, that’s a problem.
Another option, find a computer professional near you. There are over the phone options, but be careful, there are also some scams out there, and they come up near the top in the search.
And, there are data recovery services that can get your stuff for you. Online or send the disk in.
Not to add to your misery, but I wanted to make sure you knew that XP is not supported anymore. Even if you get it working again, and the disk is sound (which it might not be) you should upgrade your OS soon.
I know the version and I found the code, so maybe I can get lucky.
I’ve got to admit, I feel like a complete asshole and dweeb about this situation. I know wrenches and screwdrivers. I’ve been broken down in the desert and replaced a distributor drive gear with a nail and a rock, hand timed the fucking machine and driven home. I’ve bypassed a failed fuel pump using the windshield washer pump and lots of fancy switching and made it home. I once drove a POS with a plugged up radiator 400 miles using Coke bottles and rubber hoses. I’ve changed hundreds of flat tires (once without a jack!), driven home on even more flats, fixed motorcycle chains with bits of copper wire (well, alright, that didn’t go so well), limped home with broken clutch cables, seized a two-stroke on the top of a mountain, and was able to bust it free and get home, replaced engines, transmissions, timing belts/chains, all sorts of other minor components…
BUT… you kind people basically give me hand-feed directions to fix this stupid computer and I have little confidence in pulling it off!
Ah, Bullshit! Once I find a disk, I’ll be off to the races! Thanks to you fine people! Need to stop drinkin’ now…
It will be quicker, but wouldn’t also not actually fix any files beyond what chkdsk is able to repair. I believe it’s very possible that. after fixing the MBR. he’ll still wind up having to do a repair install to replace files that couldn’t be fixed.
So that’s what I suggest he do. Follow your advice, then do a repair install if that doesn’t work.
