How do I boot my computer

[Dillon6962]

Hi guys my Windows XP computer crashed recently it was looking for this file that it could not find Windows>\system32\hal.dll The puter will not even boot up to use system restore or even boot in safe mode. Looking for any information on how to fix this and if I have to restore it how and what must I do to save all my pictures. I know I can bring it to BestBuy and they can do it but don't want them seeing any of my pic. Any help on this would be a great help. I am looking at the new puters to but don't like Vista and heard a lot of bad things about it and can't seem to find a local store that has new computers with XP not even an option to the new Vista. Thanks for any help you can give.
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[scottyz]

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/restorehaldll.htm

 

[scottyz]

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm

 

[Dillon6962]

Thanks Scottyz I see if I can do some of those things I am not very good with indepth puter things like this. Thanks

 

[MikeS72]

Hope your HD has not crashed ! See
http://www.justusboys.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3343574#post3343574

This is what happened to me although I got my PC working again thanks to the guys on here I lost all my hot pics! I understand it is possible to get data extracted from a faulty HD it is expensive and could be a bit embarrassing !

 

[Dillon6962]

Thanks a lot for the information you all have given me. I will try doing thoes things this weekend when I have the time

 

[barefootbob]

If I'm not mistaken, when you insert the XP disk and start the computer, once it boot from the CD one of the option is to "FIX' the install. I've never done this or had to (knock wood) so I'm not sure of the process.

 

[bigpimpboy14]

I am not very good with indepth puter things like this.

Everyone should have a linux liveCD

Some of the stuff I'd run through.
Verify hal.dll is truly missing from windows/system32/

Check the boot.ini for errors (hal.dll errors can arise from boot.ini configuration problems)

if boot.ini is in fact correctly configured then I would create a back up of the file onto a USB drive, along with all other files you deem neccasarry and run a diagnostic scan on the drive.

once everything passed and I verify the drive is still in good health, then replace the hal.dll from the windows disk into the /windows/system32/ folder and reboot.

this covers these probabilities.
Boot.ini is altered somehow
hal.dll is corrupt
hal.dll is missing
hard drive is bad.

I thinkt the fact that I put these quotes together for you sums it up, Orion.

Regardless of that, hope this doesn't sound wrong, but can you dumb it down for me? You kinda lost me there at the beginning! Lol.