Windows 7 - hal.dll is missing or corrupt?

I just built my first computer and was happy to turn it on. When I tried to install Windows 7 I received the error in the title. I had Windows XP on the computer before but formatted it all to two 80GB NFTS partitions. When I try to boot up the Windows 7 recovery disc(or XP for that matter), my moniter goes off, saying no signal(The Windows 7 install disc is the only disc that I've tried that actually boots). I am about to try booting the recovery console off of a USB. Is there anything else that might alleviate this problem? Everything is checked and works fine inside the case.

And just to make sure, I have no operating system, so after the BIOS screen the moniter will say no signal anyway, with a disc in or not.

If you have no installed OS the computer will of course not have a driver to power the video and will go to no signal.

I wonder where you downloaded your win 7 image and if it has been used successfully before.

Hal.dll (Hardware Astraction Layer) is a critical component.

If the win 7 dvd is confirmed working (on another computer) have you tried running a repair install from the dvd?

That's the worst of the problem, there is no repair install on the DVD, just a memory management checker(in which the computer passes).

Windows 7 doesn't use and doesn't even have hal.dll. I think the problem lies with your harddrive's master boot record. It's been set to only work with XP.

When the Windows 7 disc boots, can you get to the System Recovery Options menu? If so, open Command Prompt from the menu, type this in then hit enter:

bootsect /nt60 sys

It will overwrite the master boot record on the partition to one that's compatible with Windows 7. It should now say it succesfully updated the boot code. If you get an error, try this command:

bootsect /nt60 all

Then close the Command Prompt and select Restart in the System Recovery Options menu.

Then everything should work the way you want it to again.

EDIT: Suppose if you can get to the Command Prompt without the disc it should work too. I just explained it the way I found the solution.

I suspect the disk you are using isnt an install disk. You said "recovery disk". What recovery disk? Can you tell us where you bought it from and what its label etc. says?

Hm, he did say he also has an install disc that does boot. I suspect he has both.

Turns out Imgburn was on test mode. When I disabled that the disc works fine on my computer. However, it seems to be a repair disc and not a recovery console, because it's asking for system restores. Is there a standalone recovery console? For some reason my Windows 7 installation disc doesn't have a recovery console.

What are you trying to recover? You just said you formatted your disk so it has no OS- if there is no OS what can you repair/recover/restore?

To install Windows 7, you need a regular Windows 7 install disk. Do you have one?

And what are you burning with Img?

Sorry for being so vague. I was trying to burn what I found online as the "Windows 7 recovery console". I do indeed have a regular windows 7 install disk, but when booting it I get the hal.dll message and my only option that works is the memory management.

Could I boot up a Windows XP recovery console, delete the boot.ini file, and install Windows 7 from there(As it will most likely create a new one)?

The disc works fine? But you do still get the same error right? Otherwise leave and install 7 lol...

Anyway, you can find info on & download Windows 7 Recovery Discs here: Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs — The NeoSmart Files