hal.dll file missing or corrupt?

[Crit]

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but I'm having a very similar problem. I'm trying to resinstall XP on a formatted drive and after rebooting after setup, I'm prompted with hal.dll is missing or corrupt. I've copied it from other cab files but can't expand it off my cd directly (access denied). This one file is keeping me from getting anything done, and I'm at a loss. I've been through bootcfg and everything's correct - it's a single-partition and single drive. Any idea what's up?

[Tel]

There's a very simple solution to this (well what I did when it happened to me)

I had the exact same error. hal.dll is missing.

1. I slapped in the WinXP CD and booted from the CD.

2. In the 1st setup menu I pressed ENTER to set up WinXP.

3. On the next screen it should identify your current WinXP installation. I pressed the R at this screen for the Emergency Repair Process.

4. Ran the Emergency repair Process. Rebooted.

5. Hey Presto! Problem solved

*Please note, this is in my experience only. So it might not work for you.

[Crit]

Yeah, it doesn't help me at all. I don't know what else to tell you guys - I'm at a total loss.

[khonjo]

My suggestion to try is as follows:

1) Format the primary partition in FAT32 where you want to install WXP.

2) Boot to W98 Startup FD, and execute the following at A:> prompt:

sys C:

3) Start installing WXP by booting to WXP CDROM.

Note that the file system can be changed to NTFS when an opportunity to do so arrives during the installation, or it can be converted to NTFS after the installation is completed.

Please post if the above does not work.