I have tried to use a boot disk but it gives me this 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.'

This happens when I try to boot with a boot disc. I tried chkdsk /p via the xp repair CD as well - not sure what to do now? HELP!!!

I have tried to use repair console to chkdsk /p and it checks fine. THen I tried to do the bootcfg /rebuild to rebuild the boot.ini and it comes back with errors:
'failed to successfully scan disk.....'
And it asks me to try chkdsk which I have already done several times.
HELP!

I fixed it! Don't ask me how?...
I went through with xp cd to install a new os adn at the second step it could not find the drives or os's so I pressed F3 and canceled everything. Rebooted with the norton ghost cd I have (I have ghost do all my backups to another seperate drive where data is held), AND presto - it booted right to windows and I am back in business!