Multi-boot/Dual-Boot Windows XP on Windows 7

[gregrocker]

Installed first part of what?

 

[XboxOmac]

Of XP. Read message, then post here.

 

[gregrocker]

At what exact point in the install does it fail?

What does the error message say in full?

The process is to google the error message and work through it.

Or try again and see if it repeats.

 

[XboxOmac]

I have to replace the hal.dll file. Except I'm trying to get to Windows 7 to replace it. The computer I'm in doesn't have a card slot (Or haven't found one at least)

 

[gregrocker]

Missing Hal.dll - Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error Message in Windows XP - Fix Hal.dll

I'd follow the steps here and as last resort do the repair install which it says can fix it.

In XP the repair install is done from booted installer, but not choosing "R" for repair at first, instead let it discover the installation and when it asks if you want to install there, THEN choose "R" for repair.

 

[XboxOmac]

Missing Hal.dll - Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error Message in Windows XP - Fix Hal.dll

That's my problem. I can't access Windows 7 or Windows XP. It's only half installed, and I would have finished the installation if this computer I'm using had a Multi-Card Reader.

 

[XboxOmac]

Missing Hal.dll - Missing Or Corrupt Hal.dll Error Message in Windows XP - Fix Hal.dll

I'd follow the steps here and as last resort do the repair install which it says can fix it.

In XP the repair install is done from booted installer, but not choosing "R" for repair at first, instead let it discover the installation and when it asks if you want to install there, THEN choose "R" for repair.

I do not understand the last resort part.

 

[gregrocker]

To boot into Win7, you need to access the Win7 Repair console to run Startup Repair repeatedly.

Try tapping F8 to see if there is a Repair my computer choice there.

If not, we will need to make you a bootable repair stick. What OS does your other computer have?

I do not understand the last resort part.

If you read the troubleshooting checklist for that dll error, the last step before reinstall is to run a Repair install. I was telling you how that is done. But you say now that it wasn't installed all the way, so there may be no XP installation found to repair.

 

[XboxOmac]

To boot into Win7, you need to access the Win7 Repair console to run Startup Repair repeatedly.

Try tapping F8 to see if there is a Repair my computer choice there.

If not, we will need to make you a bootable repair stick. What OS does your other computer have?

I do not understand the last resort part.

If you read the troubleshooting checklist for that dll error, the last step before reinstall is to run a Repair install. I was telling you how that is done. But you say now that it wasn't installed all the way, so there may be no XP installation found to repair.

This one is Windows Vista. And my last stick is a U3.

 

[XboxOmac]

I told my dad for us to get a Multi-Card-Reader, then add the hal.dll file.

But if it's possible for me to get into Windows 7 right now just to download the file, let's try it.

 

[gregrocker]

Reboot the computer and look closely for any F-key prompts given for Repair. If not, try tapping F8 to see if they've got a Repair console on there. If not, try last known good configuration.

If there is no Repair console found on the computer, we need to make a Win7 Repair flash stick.

As a last resort we can boot into the Repair console on the XP installer and run bootrec commands to get Win7 started up. While there we can also see if it finds an XP installation to fix.

 

[gregrocker]

If XP has taken over the boot (which is why Win7 can't start up now, it has to be added back using Easy BCD in XP) then it should be reparable from the XP installer. Let's try that.

Boot into the XP installer and navigate through the first screens to see if it finds an installation to repair. Ignore the first "R" for Repair choice and only look for an installation it discovers to repair a few screens later.

 

[XboxOmac]

I made a pen drive right now with a USB mini SD adapter. I don't care about the stuff inside it since it's just for the phone. Can I do something with it?

 

[gregrocker]

Possibly.

Have you attempted to repair any XP installation which might be found booting from the XP installer as I suggested above?

Did you try F8 to see if there is a Win7 repair console?

 

[XboxOmac]

Possibly.

Have you attempted to repair any XP installation which might be found booting from the XP installer as I suggested above?

Did you try F8 to see if there is a Win7 repair console?

Not really because I didn't understand.

 

[gregrocker]

Pay attention:

Boot into the XP installer and proceed as if to install until it discovers the drive installations.

Do you remember when you ran it earlier and it asked you where to install XP and you chose the partition you had made for it?

See if there is now an XP installation there to repair. Highlight that Xp partition.

Then select "R" for repair and see if it can repair that XP installation.

You can call me if you need closer assistance.

 

[XboxOmac]

Pay attention:

Boot into the XP installer and proceed as if to install until it discovers the drive installations.

Do you remember when you ran it earlier and it asked you where to install XP and you chose the partition you had made for it?

See if there is now an XP installation there to repair. Highlight that Xp partition.

Then select "R" for repair and see if it can repair that XP installation.

You can call me if you need closer assistance.

When I highlight the partition, it doesn't have a repair option.

 

[gregrocker]

Try installing again, if you are still in there. Install should still be an option.

Otherwise tell me exactly what happens when you restart the computer.

Wording of Error message?

 

[XboxOmac]

Try installing again, if you are still in there.

Otherwise tell me exactly what happens when you restart the computer. Error message?

I did, it still doesn't have the option.

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check teh Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

 

[gregrocker]

What installations is it showing?

What options does it give on that screen to proceed with?

This is after booting XP installer, proceeding with setup and discovering installations, right?

What installations are there, and what options?