Invalid Boot.ini file & Missing/corrupt hal.dll

Hello I am a newbie, but have been to the site on and off for over a year.

I have a Dell 256MB RAM, Pentium 4 2.2GHz with Windows XP OS. I recently downloaded some anti-spyware programs from this site. I was running them in safe mode. I beleive one of the programs deleted something that it should not have, or I should have not let it. I am pretty sure it was a boot.ini file that was deleted causing the trouble I am having. When I re-booted it would not boot up.

1st it reads "Invalid Boot.ini file".
2nd it reads "windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows root>\system32\hal.dll"

I have done a search and found some info but most info says to boot from windows XP CD, I have but I still get the same message. I have also changed the boot sequence to make the CD drive the first boot, and I still get the same messaage. I have no options of selecting R=Repair, or to format a drive, just the same message everytime.

Thank You in advance for your time,
T4Turtle

 

Welcome T4,

I am not sure what happened with the cleaning process but it does sound like the program really did clean your system!

Now seriously, it doesn't matter what boot files were deleted or corrupted on
your Disk but if you configured your BIOS to boot to the CD-ROM drive and if your XP CD was bootable and if you hit the SPACEBAR when it prompted you to do so to boor from 'CDROM' then it would have worked....
Also make sure you can see the CD-ROM Drive's light, either way if none of the above helped, open the case and check the power cable and the data cable (flat gray wire)m make sure they are firmly sitted in their place.

 

Thanks for the welcome.

I do see the drive light turn on when it tries to boot. I have tried a couple different XP CD's. They are Office XP CD's if that matters.

I will check the power and data cable.

Thank You

 

LOL...that is classic...T4, MS Office CD is for Word, Excel, etc., you'd need the Windows XP Pro/HE CD!

PS. You wouldn't want MS office as your OS anyhow! < that was a joke by the way.

 

Thanks for the heads up. Told you I was a NewB. I'll look for the Windows XP PRO, glad I asked.

Thanks Again

 

I just had the wrong XP CD. I now am able to boot, but still have some problems. I'll try to sort through them, and post a new topic if needed.

Thank You

 

Just continue on this post again T4...if I am not able to answer in a timely manners one of the real experts or regulars could fill in as is usually the case for all threads.

Get your info ready, provide all applicable details you can think of and state your problems on your next post on this thread, ok?