Ok so turned my PC off fine, went to the gym came back to go on PC and I get 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."

So I had a look online using my laptop which I hardly use and read some posts and got out my Windows XP Installation disk and I fixed it using the recovery console following these steps:

1. Enter Windows XP Recovery Console. The Recovery Console is an advanced diagnostic mode of Windows XP with special tools that will allow you to restore the boot.ini file.
2. When you reach the command line (detailed in Step 6 in the link above), type the following command and then press Enter.

   bootcfg /rebuild

3. The bootcfg utility will scan your hard drives for any Windows XP installations and then display the results. Follow the remaining steps to add your Windows XP installation to the boot.ini file.
4. The first prompt asks Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All).
   Type Y in response to this question and press Enter.
5. The next prompt asks you to Enter Load Identifier:.
   This is the name of the operating system. For example, type Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Home Edition and press Enter.
6. The final prompt asks you to Enter OS Load options:.
   Type /Fastdetect here and press Enter.
7. Take out the Windows XP CD, type exit and then press Enter to restart your PC.

When I restarted my PC voila XP loaded but me being a dozy git I actually knocked the switch on my wall plug and turned the PC off, When I went to boot the PC up again I got the same dreaded 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 then fixed it for a second time using the steps I just posted above and I'm now posting this message from my PC, I'm now scared to switch off my PC so what I would like to ask is if I switch my PC off again will it boot up again next time and if not, Why? and what do I have to do to solve this, Thanks.

Hello Mike! Welcome to PCHF!

We have a fantastic team of techs here as well as a very knowledgeable member community and I am sure we will be able to help you

I will mark your thread as open and someone will be with you as soon as possible, thank you for your patience.

Regards,

Smokeycheech

Thanks

Hi
Go here and take Method 3

Oh by the way: A very warm welcome-what the heck, one more won't hurt you..

That doesn't tell me anything that I didn't know from the first error message I got it just says: Please re-install a copy of the above file.

You mean that you tried this:

1. Start the computer by using your Windows XP CD-ROM. Press any key to boot from the CD.
2. After the setup files are finished loading press R to repair using Recovery Console.
3. When you are in the recovery console, select the installation to log on to (usually number 1), and then press ENTER.
4. Login to the Administrator account by typing the password for this account, and then press ENTER.
5. At the recovery console command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   
   For Uni-Processor systems: expand <cd-drive>:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ <hd-drive>:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
   For Multi-Processor systems: expand <cd-drive>:\i386\ntkrnlmp.ex_ <hd-drive>:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
   Note In these two commands, the <cd-drive> placeholder represents the drive letter of your CD drive, and the <hd-drive> placeholder represents the drive letter of the hard disk on which windows is installed.
6. If you receive a prompt to overwrite the file, press Y.
7. Type exit, and press ENTER at the command prompt.

and still it didn't work?

Yeah it doesn't work