My 2-1/2 year old Dell computer with Windows XP Home Edition will not boot. On boot-up, the black screen (DOS) appears with this message: 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 researched this error and how to correct it from several web sites.

I have a backup of my files, and I have recovered this file from backup and placed it on a CD to reinstall. I need to boot the computer from a CD (it does not have a floppy drive), and I am unable to determine how to create a boot CD. I have a close friend with an identical Dell computer, so I can use his computer to make a boot CD. Microsoft's web site shows how to make a bootable set of floppy disks, but I can't find directions to make a bootable CD.

I would very much appreciate your guidance in how to create a bootable CD for Windows XP Home Edition so that I can recover my home computer. Once I have the operating system functioning again, I will have the hard drive checked for problems, and I will verify that a virus did not cause the error.

hey syd spain and welcome to pchf

unfortunatly i don't know how to create a windows xp boot cd but what i would do is contact dell and get the recovery cds from them i got them free of charge so it's worth a try and also what kind of dell do u have is it a dimension or something else

looking forward to ur reply

genie3251

Yes, it is a Dimension, the 2400, I believe. It's the home desktop low-cost unit with several upgrades (memory, two CDs, and larger hard drive). We primarily bought it for my wife to have email access. I can verify the model tonight when I'm at home, if needed.

Also, I do have a portable floppy Sony drive with a USB port. Could it be used with the Microsoft 6 disk recovery download to reboot? I don't know whether the USB port is active until XP is booted. The Dell diagnostics are still accessible on the computer, but I haven't found a way to access a safe mode in the XP Home Edition as is available on the XP Professional software at the University.

hey syd

what u can do is when you boot up your pc keep pressing ctrl+f11 and it should bring you to the recovery console for dells and from there you can resore your pc and it should solve your problem the only thing about that is that it will return your pc to it's original factory setting it will be the same as it was when you first got it

let me know if that helps

genie3251

Hey Guys,

@Genie, no offense intended, but the bootable CD may really be a better place to take this particular situation. Specifically because of the .dll file that has become corrupted. There is an actual error in his Boot.ini file.

@Sid, my welcome to PCHF. Here is a link for a Bootable XP CD, it is EXTREMELY walkthrough, pictures and everything. It was designed for Easy CD Creator, but should be easy enough to translate if you don't have that program.

Also, if you have your XP OS CD, you can simply boot up with that, and press R for Repair. Here are the exact instructions for doing the repair with the XP CD,
Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.

At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1
Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file
Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it
Take out the CD ROM and type exit

Please don't hesitate to let us know if you need assistance.
Looking forward to your reply,

TTFN

LGW