system 32.hal.dll can someone write a wayto fix it for dummies?

hi. i'm prettysure its been written before but i'm lazy and didnt want to look through all 313 pages of threads for it. my computer wont start it says "cannot start because <windows root>\system 32\hal.dll file missing or corrupt" i tried putting in the xp disk and going to the repair screen, i typed "bootcfg /rebuild" and it says it cant, so i did the chkdsk and it told me there was a problem "no sh*t" i thought. i tried installing xp again but it wouldnt let me "tell it to install previous partitioning" it wouldnt let me keep the previous stuff and i want tokeep the files i had on it. can you help me? i really am an idiot with computers.

 

Might have a look here:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

Hawk

 

dah! i just tried those, it says the file cannot be opened, and then it cant be expanded. any other ideas? or should i just take the L and setup windows xp again and lose all my files?

 

See if this is any help:

http://answers.tveasy.co.uk/m.p.w.basics/hw-rootsystem-3.htm


Hawk