I am installing a recovery disk for an emachines

You have to start your PC with the XP cd-rom install disk, if you have
one.

Then, when you come to the screen with the following option displayed :


To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R.


Then press [R] to start 'Recovery Console'

When confronted by a prompt asking you for Administrator password - just
press [ENTER]

Once in RC has started - type the following command :


expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll


(where [x:] is your cd drive-letter)

*NB If SP3 is installed - then the command you type must be :


copy c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll c:\windows\system32


....instead, as the files are of two different revision levels
(versions).


Then reboot.