Missing/Corrupted hal.dll file.

Venine · 30 Jul 2010

Howdy all,

I started up my computer around an hour ago and found the following message; "The file system32/hal.dll is missing or corrupt. Please re-install the file."

So, at a loss as I'm not a Tech-person in any yway, I turned to the internet and found, after several XP posts, some to do with Windows 7. I'm on 64-bit, and have tried inserting my installation disk as well as the system repair.

I've looked at this, but seeing as I'm Windows 7 & not XP I can't see why it would work; Error Message: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt

I'm following another Microsoft guide that asked to me run a command in a command prompt, Bootrec.exe which in turn gave me 4 options, only I'm not sure which option to choose. On top of that, if that doesn't work, then I have no idea what to do next...

The 4 options I've got are;

/FixMbr
/FixBoot
/ScanOs
/RebuildBcd

Petey7 · 30 Jul 2010

Based on what I'm reading you need to try the /FixBoot option first.

Can you not boot on to the computer with the problem at all?

Venine · 30 Jul 2010

Unfortunately not. I get the error message before Windows has a chance to start up. I get my Hardware page & then the error message. Trying the Boot option now, will report back if anything changes, or if it doesn't.

'/FixBoot is not recognised as an internal or external command' Was all i got, which seems... odd...

Tried putting it into Safe Mode, but it asked for an operating system, of which I only had Windows XP Professional on the list, not Windows 7. Odd in itself?

Found the file on another computer but i'm waiting for my tech-savvy family member to get home before i try messing with that.

Petey7 · 30 Jul 2010

You can try 'sfc /scannow' which is supposed to repair most, if not all, damaged system files.

If that doesn't work either, write back. I still have a couple other ideas.

Venine · 30 Jul 2010

Well i've been on the phone to the family member while posting and trying several things, and they've said I should just stop messing in case I do more harm than good.

Would it be ok for you to post up your ideas anyway Petey, in case that one doesn't work? I'll leave everything alone for now, but if we could have some references or tips for when he gets in and tries it would be appreciated.

I daresay I'll update this thread in a few hours if nothing else has worked, and thanks for the help. Times like this where I hate being... well, knowing nothing at all about code and the inner workings of computers.

Made some additional edits to my above post while you were replying I think, not sure if that will scupper your additional ideas or not though.

Petey7 · 30 Jul 2010

This is instructions I got off of Microsofts forum site:

Boot to the setup DVD and run the 'repair my computer' option. The Command Prompt will let you run the commands:

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd

There should be an option on the 7 DVD, after you click repair and go through its little thing, to do a start-up repair or something similar, which might work.

Worst case scenario, you could do an upgrade install from the disc. If for some reason it won't let you do an upgrade install while booted from the DVD (I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure if it will or not) a custom install over top of the old one (i.e. don't format first) will move all your files to a windows.old folder on C, so you can have a new installation without losing any of your stuff.