trouble with hal.dll file

on a friends laptop i was trying to fix i kept getting error that said

"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 barrowed their os boot disc and replaced the file it let me log in and everything but after they shut down the computer "the proper way" and went to restart it the next day it happend again any ideas whats causing this?

i need to fix this problem very soon

tyvm in advance for any and all help

 

haven't seen that error in a while....is the computer updated properly?
some suggestions from microsoft:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314477

 

lol feel like a bit of a novice i forgot to run chkdsk /r that and i completly forgot to check the boot.ini file after wards well ill give another try and report results

 

srry for the double post but following the boot.ini editing guide on the microsoft site it worked perfectly in fact im posting from that laptop

tyvm for the help and great link