prob started w/ hal.dll, now old Windows and IE ..

I need some Major help .. Friday morning I turned on my computer and got a message something like missing or corrupt hal.dll. My computer would not go to desktop .

Went to my daughters house next door and printed up about 22 pages or help, tips etc.

I did something in Recovery console that I found on pages I printed up. Something worked and it went to my desktop ... but mouse wouldn't work.. couldn't do anything. It now Saturday morning ... still no mouse, so I cannot see If I lost all my folders, pictures etc.

Out of frustration I used a cd from Dell that says "Operating Systems Already installed on your computer, Reinstallation DVD, Microsoft windows XP Media Center Version 2005 with update rollup 2".

I choose the last option to Install because of other pages I found about doing a repair install.
NOTE* during the installation there were about 40 files that said something about "could not find or install do you still want to continue with windows installation" and I clicked YES everytime that came up for all of them. When I clicked on "browse" to find the files they were there but when I clicked on them the same message would pop up. When done and restarted computer
something must have worked and my mouse started working. I checked >Folders still there, hundreds of pictures still there, programs still there YA!... I'm all excited "hunny I fixed it" Then I go to see if Internet and e-mail works and e-mail works ..... but IE7 was gone!

so I go top of page Tools>Windows Update> and it goes to here http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us ... click on Express and this page comes up
Error number: 0x8007043B The website has encountered a problem and cannot display the page you are trying to view. The options provided below might help you solve the problem.

All day Sat and All day Sunday I have tried every option I could find to fix this. Here are some I remember, Language, time, registering dll files, starting services.msc for Automatic Updates, Background Intel and about 2 others, put every WU url in the trusted area, yada yada, and about 20 other things I found on the internet...
When I try to start Auto updates from services I get an error 1083 could not start on local computer .. the executable program that this service is config to run does not implement the service.

I'm so frustrated I'm about to have a Panic Attack!:-o The small shop my husband worked at for 20+ years recently went bankrupt, they machined auto parts for Chrysler ... he's on his first week of no job in 20 years :cry.. I've been a stay at home Mom, so $ have always been tight ... 2 of 3 kids gone from home now ... and I wanted to save $$ and try and fix this myself ... maybe I made a BIG mistake. I hate having the old version of windows .. I really liked 7 and I need to do windows updates ...


BELOW are things I have noted in case it helps you help me. I'm not a beginner but def. not even near a mid range or expert. I'm lost as what to do next ... Looking through some folders it looks like I have sp1 and sp2, lost the sp3 ... but just not sure ...
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I'm about ready to crack out the Bacardi and it's only noon.:drink

Start>My Computer> right click Properies it shows
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2002

When I click on Help>About Windows it say Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.050329-1536)

When on the internet click on Help>About Internet Explorer> it shows Version 6.0.2900.2180.xpsp.050329-1536 ; Update Versions; SP1

boot.ini shows this
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Sinc Deb

 

G,day buttonbug

have done some research on the 0x8007043B error.as you have mentioned you have try a few different remedies.i am not sure if you have tried the solution by Marc Liron - Microsoft MVP but if you haven't it is worth a try.
to quote
To resolve this error, use the following method:

Resolution Suggestion One:

# Add WUAUSERV and BITS to the SvcHost process:


1. Click Start
2. Choose Run
3. In the Run box, type REGEDIT
4. Click OK

The Registry Editor opens.


*WARNING*
Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

5. Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion
\SvcHost

6. Double-click to open the netsvcs key
7. Under Value Data
8. Add BITS and WUAUSERV to the list of services
9. Click OK
10. Exit the registry
11. Restart the system

i have read in other forums that this method works and i know that the registry can be pretty daunting so be care full and if not sure don't change any thing,hope this helps good luck.

 

Hi downunder ... thanks for responding but yes I have checked that and thay are both value data's are there.

 

here is an update .. I removed some windows things in Avast .. none of them were set to not allow downloads ... so not sure why that would change anything.. but about an hour later a little wondows update icon popped up and started downloading a bunch of sp1 hotfixs and one sp2 hotfix thing ... updates popped up about 3 times ... did them all except for the Malicious Tool removal. So I go to download IE 7 and it says "This installation does not support your operatings systems current service pack version.

Also the windows update page keeps wanting me to download Windows XP Service Pack 1 but is says Download size (total): 0 KB *
Estimated time at your connection speed: 0 minutes *
(*Downloaded; ready to install)

when I click on Install Updates, I agree to the license thing, it starts to download, says the updates are being installed and after quite some time it says "Ascess Denied"

so the pain in the butt continues ...

 

Hello buttonbug :wave Do you have Automatic Updates turned on? Maybe try this, as it has worked for me for large updates... Go to Security Center, see the Automatic updates is on, well, click on that, and then click turn it off. Click apply, then OK. close that window, and now you will see a warning, that A.U. is turned off... OK, now open that back up, and click "Turn on Automatic Updates", Apply, OK, and close, Now, you will see it turned back on.. What that does, is forces the AU to recycle, and check for updates.. See if that works for ya.. I know on large updates, I have had to do that..

If you continue to have problems with windows update, click the contact us button, and fill out the form.. They are real nice about getting back to you, and I got that fix from them when I was having problems with downloading updates... I am on a dial up network, so large updates are a PAIN for me... Do keep us posted, I think "iwunderdownunder" is taking a snooze! He is in Aussie, and the time difference!! OK, hang in there, if one fix doesn't work, another is not far behind!

 

g'day this may also be a permissions fault with in the registry here is a Microsoft guide to correct this " http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873148 " .
this all seems to be a lot of this happening but the usual cause is a corrupt installation of windows and as you mentioned in post 1 you had to skip a few things though the set up process.i gathered by the requirement to download service pack 1 the disk you have is an old xp installation disk.if you continue to have issues you may be able to perform a repair install just make sure the disc has no deep blemishes on the surface.
good luck i hope this helps.

 

iwunder .....thanks so very, very much! I am up and running like crazy now ... thanks to sending me the link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873148 (Method 1) it reminded me about the "Subinacl.exe" I already had on my computer from 2 years back when I had problems.. so all I had to do was copy and paste save as reset.cmd ran it ... it went for a while and I was fist clenching on chair ... thinking now I have really messed it up ... but NOT, after all done I went on to download sp2, sp3 and IE8

Thanks again for the brain refresh you a def. "my wonder down under" :heart