Help!

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

Ok..rook is having a major issue with his machine, it will not boot up at this point, gets a ntldr missing error....any input as to what to do now? I googled a few potential fixes but Im sure you guys can help him out way better. Tell us where to start fellas......

[LA_MERC_T4rg3T]

Go into the bios and make sure that its reading the cdrom and hard drive properly. If it is and you are still getting the error then I would unplug the cdrom (and any other drives like a floppy or additional drives), check the connector on the hard drive and reset the bios to defaults and see what happens.

Good luck

[LA_MERC_Dirge]

Hey it's Target! You running the country with the Cane's founder? Kicked out of any more resturaunts?

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Toby,

Thanks for the reply man. Hey How do I exactly reset bios to defaults?

I am at work now, hence the ability to be on the forums, but I will try at lunch. I may take an extra break and run home also this a.m. sLing had me unplug the hard drive and it booted all the way to "Something 0" - "No Hard drive detected" or something. I shut down plugged back in and restarted to

"NTLDR is Missing"
Press CNTRL + ALT + DEL to restart.

I was dumping some downloaded files while talking on the phone and wonder if I erased something bad. I also have had some weird latency issues with the computer showing some signs of slowness. I went into "msconfig" and went to "Hide all Microsoft" "Disable all" so I could kill all Non critical running programs at restart to see if it helped. I was also on the phone this whole time. I may have disabled something I should not have. I went through all my Dell stuff and cannot find a "recovery disc" of any sort for the OS.

I will try the stuff you mentioned first Toby then get back to you.

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Ready for this?

If I unplug Hard Drive:
"Primary Drive 0 not found
Strike F1 to continue, F2 to go to set up."
F1:
"Strike F1 to retry, F2 to go to set up."

If I unplug the Cd-ROM:
"Secondary Drive 0 not found
Strike F1 to continue, F2 to go to set up."
F1:
"Loading PBR for descriptor 2......done

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart."

The BIOS- v. A02 recognizes the drives okay.

Boot Menu:
1.Primary Master
"Loading PBR for descriptor 2......done

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart."

2.Hard Drive C:
"Loading PBR for descriptor 2......done

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart."

3. IDE cd-rom
"Loading PBR for descriptor 2......done

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.":insane1

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Below are the full error messages that may be seen when the computer is booting.

NTLDR is Missing
Press any key to restart

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR
Please insert another disk



Cause:
Computer is booting from a non-bootable source.
Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.
Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.
Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file.
Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32.
New hard disk drive being added.
Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.
Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.


This should work for me. I think I saw a NTDETECT icon ghosted in the group I highlighted and deleted. I will try tonight.
Windows XP users

Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.
Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password.
Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E". This letter may be different on your computer.

copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\


Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot.

[LA_MERC_LaTech]

Yeah...I was going to say that it's seeing everything, but it seems like something was missing from Windows. Doing a repair should work...and if it doesn't...you should be able to reinstall (you will probably lose everything, though).

Sup rook!!

[LA_MERC_Andyconda]

Whoa, and I just thought I had computer problems.

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Whoa, and I just thought I had computer problems.

Whatever Pop-up boy!...

Hey Tech what is going on?

I am working the SilverStar Bar tonight if you want to have a drink before heading out. I feel safe meeting you there so you do not abduct me and cut me up. *jk* How's the new job going?

Give me a call Scott, 410-1953.

I am waiting for an XP home disc from sLing right now. My piece of sheit Dell did not come with a rebootable or install disc for XP. Any XP home disc should work, right?


Later,

]2ook:supplaya:

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

Did my disc help you out robby? Let me know if your still having issues.

[LA_MERC_T4rg3T]

rook, Did your fix work? What exactly happened right before you started having issues?

This is just to finish what I was saying earlier

Sorry I did not respond sooner. An easy way to reset the bios is to unplug the power cable and then remove the battery on the mobo for 5-10 minutes.

This should reset the bios to defaults then you can go into the bios and use the default configuration.

If this still does not work, you can try repairing the mbr but booting with a windows xp cd and then go into repair mode and fix mbr

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Okay Okay.......I am still not up and running, but possibly closer. I ran the repair and copied the files. That worked, but now it cannot locate the "<WINDOWSROOT>\system32\hal.dll" file and has a messed up boot.ini file which I should be able to repair once I can get windows to boot up. The "hal.dll" file is my problem now. I will try to figure it out today since I am unemployed all day. Atleast until 4:45 pm tonight. Thanks for all the help guys.

Tech, what you doing for lunch?

[LA_MERC_Nutria]

Is this a laptop? Rachel had a similar problem with her laptop. Nothing would work, repairs wouldn't work, it would say couldn't locate this file or that file. Come to find out the hard drive over heated. She left her laptop running on the bed and the comforter blocked the fan.

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

No not the same do0d. I deleted some NO NO NO files by accident and now have to some 1337 file swaps to get it back. I found out what I need and no matter what can slave my drive to sLings and copy the files that way. I got the run down here.

Windows XP Setup - Missing HAL.DLL

Error Message: Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll



Workaround provided by Hiep Luong (12/2/04) - Use as an example:

Many people (including me) have (had) problems with the file hal.dll when installing on a fresh new harddisk. The proposed solutions do not
work in this case because there is a dynamic drive overlay (ddo) installed. The solution is quite simple: remove first the ddo (for
example with Seagate's DiscWizard: http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html) and re-install windows xp.

Generalized information:

This situation occurs when setting up a dual boot situation with Windows 2000 and Windows XP (it may occur with other setups). After Windows XP's install routine has finished copying files, and is ready to boot to the GUI portion of SETUP, you may receive the above error.

One possible fix. So far, this has been traced to an incorrect BOOT.INI file. To gain access to the Boot.ini:

Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig. Then go to the Boot.ini Tab. Or...Right click the My Computer icon/Properties/
Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings/System Startup/Edit.

How to Edit the BOOT.INI File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q289/0/22.asp

This user had 1 hard drive, partitioned into C and D drives. His BOOT.INI file looked like this: (the erroneous lines are in "blue")

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

The 3 in the erroneous lines, above, points to the 3rd partition on the first physical hard disk. Since this user only had 2 partitions, this value was incorrect. Changing the value to 2, in both lines, allowed the user to complete Windows XP's setup.

The corrected BOOT.INI looked like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

HAL - Hardware Abstraction Layer

HAL is Microsoft's abbreviation for the Hardware Abstraction Layer, the technology and drivers that let the Windows NT, 2000, and XP operating systems communicate with your PC's hardware. HAL is one of several features--along with the NT file system (NTFS) that replaced the much less secure MS-DOS--that make NT-based operating systems more secure and reliable than Windows 95, 98, and Me.

HAL prevents applications from directly accessing your PC's system memory, CPU, or hardware devices (such as video and sound cards)--a method that can prevent many device conflicts and crashes. Unfortunately, HAL sometimes also slows or stops DOS games and programs, which need to load their own memory managers or control hardware directly for better performance.

With HAL in the way, developers must rewrite or even abandon their older software in favor of newer, HAL-compatible versions. Microsoft has pressured hardware makers to provide or support technologies such as MMX, DirectX, and 3D graphics language OpenGL, all of which allow fast but indirect access to the advanced high-performance features of video, sound, and CPU hardware. Such access also makes for a better visual experience when using Windows for Web and productivity applications; improved graphics performance is evident all over Windows XP's new user interface.

XP also offers some new compatibility-mode features that let you run programs meant to run under earlier operating systems, but, frankly, most DOS-based and even some Windows-based games simply won't work with the new OS.

Tip: To see which HAL is currently installed, open Device Manager, and expand the Computer branch. The entry that
appears in this branch corresponds to the currently installed HAL.

Situations in Which Windows May Not Start in Safe Mode
How to Troubleshoot Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues
How to Move a Windows XP Installation to Different Hardware
Setup Error Msg: Cannot find file: \Windows\System32\hal.dll

HAL.DLL is Missing - Updated by MVP Alex Nichol

Option 1:

Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console. Then:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

Option 2:

Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

TIP: Recovering Windows XP using the Recovery Console

Update:

Shaun Gray (3/2005) states:

Let me review my experience / problem with hal.DLL with you all:

I Received a computer with win XP home sp2 that after uninstalling IML4, and Installing IML5, and rebooting. (IML being Imesh light)
Computer displayed windows root\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt, please re-install.

NO MODES would boot from advanced boot options
Only bootable option was from CD
Repair console would not EDIT system from OEM XP HOME CD
FixMBR did not solve anything
Bootcfg /list, bootcfg /rebuild did not solve anything
Fixboot did not solve anything

Solution Option 1 wouldn’t work with multi attributes with out “|” in between them. ******
Solution Option 1 didn’t solve anything, except inadvertently adding a second OS to boot.ini
Solution Option 2 was unusable with OEM XP HOME SP2 CD.
Solution Opt 2 with XP PRO SP2 Integrated CD “Functioned”, but was "unable to expand file"

REINSTALLING WINDOWS IS NOT AN OPTION.

Final Solution:

Removed hard drive from system.
Added Hard drive to a 2nd WORKING XP PRO System. As Slave on Cable select.

***(all references to “D:\” are the Slave Hard drive damaged windows)***

Booted system and enabled - Explorer\tools\folder options

Display contents of system folders.
Show Hidden Files and Folders.
UN-check Hide Protected OS Files.

Go to “D:\” open Boot.ini in NOTEPAD, remove the Extra OS’s added with option 1.
Close and Save changes to Boot.ini

Go to “My Computer” Right click on “D:\” select SEARCH “D:\”

Search “All or Part of the File Name” = “hal”

Hal.dll may or may not be found in “D:\WINDOWS\System32” either way it’s no good.
A working copy of hal.dll WILL be found in “C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386”
COPY THAT FILE “D:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll”
And Paste it to “D:\WINDOWS\System32” folder; if it asks to overwrite say YES.

You may now un-do the changes made to Explorer\tools\folder options to RE-Hide files.
Shut Down the computer.

Remove the 2nd Drive and reinstall it to its own tower as Master.

You should Now be able to boot the computer up as if nothing ever happened.

With the exception that it will prompt you to reinstall some drivers, Just say YES and let it auto detect …THEY ARE ALREADY THERE. And will setup fine.

This "FIX" assumes that the computer in question HAS at ther very least service pack1, if not service pack 2.

If these patches have NOT been installed , I dont belive any such Reserve copy of hal.dll will wxist on the drive!

Thanks for reading,
Shaun Gray

Note: This compilation of information are from various sources. All credit due to its authors.
XP Support- 03/16/2005 06:07 AM - Home Page WinXP
&#169; Copyright Kelly Theriot MS-MVP(DTS) 2005. All rights reserved.

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

Here is what I did and it worked!!!!!!!!!!!!

in Repair

bootcfg /rebuild
Added installation to boot list? Yes
Load Identifier: XP home
OS load options: /fastdetect
EXIT

Rebooted and voila.....I am here typing this message.

WOOOOOOOOOO..FREAKING..HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Thank You Toby and all with the help. It took a little public library time since I no longer had access to a comp, but it was worth it. I am buying an external hard drive today to store all my son's pics on.

Peace.

]2ook

[LA_MERC_sLingbLade]

good job robby....up for some gaming 2nite?

[LA_MERC_th33_r00k]

I work 5 pm until 10:30