When I try to boot up my Compaq Presario model no SR 1420UK, I get the message: “Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \system32\hall.dll. Please re-install a copy of the above file.” I’ve tried running the Recovery utility from the startup, but it just goes back to the page that start “We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start correctly” and has start options (eg Safe mode; Safe mode with networking; Safe mode with command prompt, etc), but none of these work – they just keep looping back to the “We apologize…” page. I’ve also tried using the Recovery CD that I created as recommended when I bought the PC, but this wouldn’t work either. It just keeps bringing up a dialogue box that says “The section IDA_CREATE_USER_DRIVE_U does not contain a valid dialog template” and locks up there, not enabling me to do anything, other than open DOS by holding down ALT and D. But now, I can’t even get the Compaq Recovery utility to open up at all, let alone access DOS. I’m also getting a message sometimes that disappears quickly from the screen, but says something about “Invalid Boot.ini file”. This appears when I try holding down F10 during startup. If I keep holding F10, it just keeps looping back to start again and doesn’t bring up the Recovery utility. I’ve searched the internet for answers, but I can’t get any of the suggestions to work. I don’t have a Windows XP disk to insert, for example. And I can’t get into DOS. I even tried copying the boot.ini and hal.dll files from another computer onto a USB stick, but I can’t find a way to copy it from the stick to my Presario. I’ve now spent hours trying to sort this out and am getting nowhere! Can you help please?

The "Win32 config" system folder and the files within it are crucial to the Windows Operating System's stability. If any of these files become damaged or corrupted, you likely receive error messages. Fortunately, Microsoft puts the files to repair these problems on the installation CD that comes with your operating system. The original install disk offers a quick way to repair the system. Damaged files are replaced in only a few minutes.

Insert your Windows CD into the computer drive. Restart your computer. On startup, look for the message, "Press any key to boot from CD" and press "Enter" on your keyboard. You should see the blue "Welcome to Setup" screen. Click "Enter" on the "Welcome to Setup" screen. Read the "Microsoft Software License Terms," then press "F8." Use your arrow keys, go down and select the Windows installation you want to repair. Press "R" for "Repair." Windows will now start to restore the Win32 System to your computer.

something went wrong with the recovery process. The easiest way to go about this is to just do the installation again.

What OS are you running? For XP and Win2000, get the OS install or upgrade disc for your version of Windows. Boot from the CD. (F12 just after the POST will let you choose the boot location. Try again if you miss the timing.)

Enter the recovery console and try to restore the old registry. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545 for the XP commands involved.

Windows 7 install discs also have some recovery options when you boot from the CD/DVD as a LiveCD. But it is called the System Recovery (you can build your own System Repair disc with a working version) See the following for more information:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html and then System Restore:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html
Vista has something similar but didn't have an option for building a System Repair disc to my knowledge.

You might lose some registry information (depending on how often you had the system backup the critical information). These methods basically roll back to a previous version.

Good luck.

Cindy Wells

If your using a DVD to install the operating system, it could be either dirty (just needs a wipe) or the files on the disk are corrupt.

If you are getting this error while Windows 7 is starting up perhaps you can try doing a "repair". Boot off the DVD do a repair (not from the recovery console) and see if this helps.

Hope this helps.

1. Verify the boot.ini file is found on the computer by using a boot diskette or use your Windows CD to get to the MS-DOS "C:\>" prompt.
2. From this prompt edit the boot.ini, verify that it is pointing to the correct operating system, and that no anomalies are found within the file. Below is a listing of what to verify

• If only one operating system is on the computer verify that the boot.ini only has one operating system listed. In some situations an alternate configuration line may be added for the same operating system, leaving the improper line.
• Verify that the "default=" line as well as the operating system line are the same and that they are pointing to the correct operating system.

Verify that the computer has the hal.dll file

From the MS-DOS "C:\>" prompt quickly determine if your computer has the "hal.dll" file by typing "dir hal.dll /s" at the prompt. If the computer returns a "File not found" message, the hal.dll has been deleted.

To recover this file boot the Windows operating system CD and choose the option to "Restore", "Repair", or "Recover." This option will prompt you for the Windows installation to use, the administrators password and will allow you to restore the proper file. At the MS-DOS prompt type the below command.

expand C:\i386\hal.dl_ D:\windows\system32\

In the above example "D" would be the letter of your CD-ROM drive and "C" the letter of the drive your operating system is installed on. For example, your disc drive may be D: and your hard drive is likely C:.

You should be able to download that file from microsoft, or try googleing "ntoskrnl.exe"
I done it for a missing dll file and found many places to download for free.

sys file from the cd is corrupted...try wd any other disc

Boot with a windows cd and do a repair install. It will reinstall all windows files. Please note, even though it should leave your data in tact, I would make sure you have a backup before doing so. After hitting F8 to agree to the terms and conditions on the windows CD, use R to do a repair install.

although i am not conversant with your model i would suggest that when you try to boot up ,hit what ever key it suggests to recover your pc ...........possibly F11 then follow the onscreen directions,let me know how you go
good luck
Terry

this problem occurs when you try to update drivers in the computer..sometimes windows XP cannot update the driver and that corrupts system.ini file as it has a lot of bad entries..Due to this you will get this error mesage..No its not due to virus.its due to an attempt to change system.ini file

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

That means the System Registry Hive has become corrupted.

There are two ways to get back up and running. The easy way which doesn't always work, and then there is the hard way.

Easy Way --- Note that this doesn't always work.
When you are booting your system, press the F8 key during the start of the bootup sequence, meaning after it does the Power On Self Test.

Once you press the F8 key, you will be taken to a Menu. Select "Boot Using Last Known Good Configuration".

It will now attempt to load Windows XP using a past set of configuration files.

If that doesn't work, there is the next step....the hard way.

Hard Way
Boot your system with the Windows XP Install CD, let the system boot into the Setup. Once in the Setup, choose to run the Recovery Console.

You will now be presented with a screen similar to good old DOS.

First, we will recover the System Hive.

Now, type in the following commands with pressing Enter after each line.

md tmp
copy C:\windows\system32\config\system C:\windows\tmp\system.bak
delete C:\windows\system32\config\system
copy C:\windows\repair\system C:\windows\system32\config\system

Be very careful when you are typing in these commands, one wrong move, and you have, broken Windows XP.

Also, change the C in the commands to whatever your Windows XP drive letter is.

Attempt to boot the system, if it doesn't boot, get back into the Recovery Console and do the following commands.

md tmp
copy C:\windows\system32\config\software C:\windows\tmp\software.bak
delete C:\windows\system32\config\software
copy C:\windows\repair\software C:\windows\system32\config\software