Windows 7 - Dual boot XP with windows 7 already installed

I currently have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit installed on my SATA 1TB HDD. I also have an IDE 250GB HDD onto which I've installed Windows XP Professional 32-bit. Using DualBootPro,I was able to get Windows 7 to boot correctly, however XP now gives me the error:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file."

I have Googled the heck out of this problem and tried a number of fixes that have not worked:

I tried replacing the hal.dll file with the one from the XP install disc.
I tried rebuilding the boot.ini file.
I tried adding Windows XP boot info to the windows 7 bootloader.

My bcdedit output in command prompt can be viewed on the Untitled-1.jpg attached.

I am fairly experienced in dealing with some of this stuff but I'm stumped. Please help!

Hello, welcome!
It is unlikely you are really missing hal.dll. What is most likely happening is that XP is looking at the wrong place to boot from. You were on the right track rebuilding the boot.ini file, but perhaps you need to go farther. The fact that you are getting that message means nothing is wrong with the MBR.
What you need to do it manually edit your boot.ini file. Rembember that the drive/partition numbering starts at 0. I have attached a sample boot.ini file for you to look at. Your problem is probably the drive number.
boot.ini.txt

I think what is confusing me is that:

While logged into Windows 7, my Windows 7 system partition is C:\, the windows 7 'System Reserved' partition is B:\, and my XP system partition is D:\

While I'm logged into XP, my Windows 7 system partition is K:\, the windows 7 'System Reserved' partition is J:\, and my Windows XP system partition is C:\

Which boot file do I need to change and what do I need to change it to?

This can be avoided by installing Windows 7 last as required to correctly configure a dual boot.

If you installed XP last, then it is added best using EasyBCD Add/Remove tab.

Using another method and then trying to edit boot.ini frequently ends up with unfixable problems.

If EasyBCD doesn't show the OS's listed correctly, correct them there using the drive letters relative to the drive you are running. Drive letters are frequently relative in Windows 7 dual boots.

Otherwise, run a Repair Install of Windows 7 which will correctly reconfigure the dual boot as it would have done originally if installed second as required.

Actually, I just noticed SIW2 is here so this will all be solved shortly.

He/we may need a screenshot of the EasyBCD listings panel, using Snipping tool in start menu, attached using paper clip in reply box.

Greg, it sounds as if his 7 MBR is doing its job okay. 7 will not return that error, as it does not look at those files. It sounds like an XP error to me. The machine successfully tries to boot from the right drive, but the boot.ini file is wrong.
Just my theory, of course.

Hi muss,

You would be best having the XP bootfiles, ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot.ini on the system reserved partition.

Make sure boot.ini is pointing at the correct drive and partition, then add the XP entry to bcd , pointing at B.

If you get Easybcd 2.0 - it will do all that for you - let it autoconfigure:

EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

LOL I was uploading Easy beta then look up and notice SIW2 already did! (My teacher!)

Yes, but all of it is solved upfront by installing Windows 7 last (with no other plugged drives to derail the boot) to properly auto-configure the dual boot, or using EasyBCD to easily add XP to dual boot if XP installed last.

Anything done beyond that other than Windows 7 repair install will start bollixing things, unless SIW2 is handy!

alright thanks guys! I'm going to try doing the auto configure with easybcd 2.0 quick and I'll get back to ya.... fingers crossed...

True. Although if they are both installed already...

Click Add/Remove Entries .

Under the Windows Tab, select Windows NT/2K/XP/2K3 in the drop down.

The correct drive letter will already be detected.



Click Add Entry, then Yes to let Easy Autoconfigure.



I did quite a bit of testing on Easy 2.0, which I hope helped Mahmoud in some small way to get up the most recent build.

Still need people dual booting with OSX to test it - any volunteers?