XP startup problem; won't start

[zeotch]

I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:

"Invalid BOOT.INI file
Booting from C:\windows\"


"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
<windows root>system32.hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of above file"


How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but it
would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JS]

Suggested sites:
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_repair_a_missing_or_cor.htm
and: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm
and: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/pcrepair/a/missinghal_dll.htm
and: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184

JS

"zeotch" <zeotch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3E7F1F8A-DC42-4E0F-8A64-59F9A83EFF4F@microsoft.com...
>I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:
>
> "Invalid BOOT.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows\"
>
>
> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> <windows root>system32.hal.dll
> Please reinstall a copy of above file"
>
>
> How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but
> it
> would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You can rebuild the boot.ini file using the BOOTCFG command (using the "/rebuild" parameter). Check here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=bootcfg rebuild xp+site:support.microsoft.com

and

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

More information

BOOTCFG
Use this command for boot configuration and recovery. This command has the following options:
bootcfg /add
bootcfg /rebuild
bootcfg /scan
bootcfg /list
bootcfg /disableredirect
bootcfg /redirect [portbaudrate] | [useBiosSettings]
Examples:
bootcfg /redirect com1 115200
bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings
You can use the following options:
/add : Adds a Windows installation to the boot menu list.
/rebuild : Iterates through all Windows installations so that you can specify which installations to add.
/scan : Scans all disks for Windows installations and displays the results so that you can specify which installations to add.
/default : Sets the default boot entry.
/list : Lists the entries already in the boot menu list.
/disableredirect : Disables redirection in the boot loader.
/redirect : Enables redirection in the boot loader, with the specified configuration.

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058


--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"zeotch" <zeotch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E7F1F8A-DC42-4E0F-8A64-59F9A83EFF4F@microsoft.com...
I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:

"Invalid BOOT.INI file
Booting from C:\windows\"


"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
<windows root>system32.hal.dll
Please reinstall a copy of above file"


How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but it
would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Baja]

"zeotch" wrote:

> I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:
>
> "Invalid BOOT.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows\"
>
>
> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> <windows root>system32.hal.dll
> Please reinstall a copy of above file"
>
>
> How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but it
> would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance.

 

[Durga]

Hi Ramesh,
My XP machine could not recover from an abnormal shutdown.

XP installation on my computer is of Windows XP professional edition (with
SP2). System partition is on NTFS.

Few days back, UPS failed when system was shutting down. An abnormal
shutdown case. From then on, system booting fails with below message:
Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

To recover my system, I searched on NET and found this link.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us

I tried the procedure described in that link. But, I could not complete Part
One itself.

In part one:

1. Booted WinXp installation CD
2. Typed 'R' to get recovery console
3. I don't have dual-boot, I selected c:\windows as the installation to
access from the recovery console
4. Here, I was not asked to enter password for any user. It just gave me
recovery console command prompt.
5. I am able to create tmp directory under c:\windows using "md tmp" command

But, copying "system" file to "tmp" directory failed with the message:
"could not copy file"

Because of this problem I could not compelete the procedure described in the
link.

Why my recovery console is not asking password?
Why I am not able to copy the files into tmp directory, while I was able to
create the directory?

Please help me in recovering my system.

durgarao

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:

> You can rebuild the boot.ini file using the BOOTCFG command (using the "/rebuild" parameter). Check here:
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=bootcfg rebuild xp+site:support.microsoft.com
>
> and
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477
>
> More information
>
> BOOTCFG
> Use this command for boot configuration and recovery. This command has the following options:
> bootcfg /add
> bootcfg /rebuild
> bootcfg /scan
> bootcfg /list
> bootcfg /disableredirect
> bootcfg /redirect [portbaudrate] | [useBiosSettings]
> Examples:
> bootcfg /redirect com1 115200
> bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings
> You can use the following options:
> /add : Adds a Windows installation to the boot menu list.
> /rebuild : Iterates through all Windows installations so that you can specify which installations to add.
> /scan : Scans all disks for Windows installations and displays the results so that you can specify which installations to add.
> /default : Sets the default boot entry.
> /list : Lists the entries already in the boot menu list.
> /disableredirect : Disables redirection in the boot loader.
> /redirect : Enables redirection in the boot loader, with the specified configuration.
>
> Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console:
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
>
>
> --
> Regards,
>
> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
> Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>
>
> "zeotch" <zeotch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E7F1F8A-DC42-4E0F-8A64-59F9A83EFF4F@microsoft.com...
> I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:
>
> "Invalid BOOT.INI file
> Booting from C:\windows\"
>
>
> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
> <windows root>system32.hal.dll
> Please reinstall a copy of above file"
>
>
> How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but it
> would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

 

[SG]

Hi,

You most likely didn't type the commands correctly.
copy c:\windows\system32\config\system c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

Note the spaces in the above line....
After typing Copy press your space bar 1 time
Now type: c:\windows\system32\config\system
Press your space bar 1 time
Now type: c:\windows\tmp\system.bak

--
All the best,
SG
How to Write a Newsgroup Post:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Usenet
Need your OEM Restore Disk?
http://restoredisks.com/


"Durga" <Durga@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5639F0D7-9588-4ABA-8509-63D0107F77E4@microsoft.com...
> Hi Ramesh,
> My XP machine could not recover from an abnormal shutdown.
>
> XP installation on my computer is of Windows XP professional edition (with
> SP2). System partition is on NTFS.
>
> Few days back, UPS failed when system was shutting down. An abnormal
> shutdown case. From then on, system booting fails with below message:
> Windows XP could not start because the following file is missing or
> corrupt:
> \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
>
> To recover my system, I searched on NET and found this link.
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/en-us
>
> I tried the procedure described in that link. But, I could not complete
> Part
> One itself.
>
> In part one:
>
> 1. Booted WinXp installation CD
> 2. Typed 'R' to get recovery console
> 3. I don't have dual-boot, I selected c:\windows as the installation to
> access from the recovery console
> 4. Here, I was not asked to enter password for any user. It just gave me
> recovery console command prompt.
> 5. I am able to create tmp directory under c:\windows using "md tmp"
> command
>
> But, copying "system" file to "tmp" directory failed with the message:
> "could not copy file"
>
> Because of this problem I could not compelete the procedure described in
> the
> link.
>
> Why my recovery console is not asking password?
> Why I am not able to copy the files into tmp directory, while I was able
> to
> create the directory?
>
> Please help me in recovering my system.
>
> durgarao
>
> "Ramesh, MS-MVP" wrote:
>
>> You can rebuild the boot.ini file using the BOOTCFG command (using the
>> "/rebuild" parameter). Check here:
>>
>> http://www.google.com/search?q=bootcfg rebuild xp+site:support.microsoft.com
>>
>> and
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477
>>
>> More information
>>
>> BOOTCFG
>> Use this command for boot configuration and recovery. This command has
>> the following options:
>> bootcfg /add
>> bootcfg /rebuild
>> bootcfg /scan
>> bootcfg /list
>> bootcfg /disableredirect
>> bootcfg /redirect [portbaudrate] | [useBiosSettings]
>> Examples:
>> bootcfg /redirect com1 115200
>> bootcfg /redirect useBiosSettings
>> You can use the following options:
>> /add : Adds a Windows installation to the boot menu list.
>> /rebuild : Iterates through all Windows installations so that you can
>> specify which installations to add.
>> /scan : Scans all disks for Windows installations and displays the
>> results so that you can specify which installations to add.
>> /default : Sets the default boot entry.
>> /list : Lists the entries already in the boot menu list.
>> /disableredirect : Disables redirection in the boot loader.
>> /redirect : Enables redirection in the boot loader, with the specified
>> configuration.
>>
>> Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
>>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>>
>> Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
>> Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
>>
>>
>> "zeotch" <zeotch@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:3E7F1F8A-DC42-4E0F-8A64-59F9A83EFF4F@microsoft.com...
>> I get the following message when I try to boot up my computer:
>>
>> "Invalid BOOT.INI file
>> Booting from C:\windows\"
>>
>>
>> "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
>> <windows root>system32.hal.dll
>> Please reinstall a copy of above file"
>>
>>
>> How do I reinstall a copy of the file? I put my Windows XP disc in, but
>> it
>> would not install. Is this fixable? Let me know.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>