Hello everyone, this is the story: I have the hal.dll problem when attempting to install windows xp. I had 2 options: windows 98(that worked normally) and install xp. So i was looking for the solution and in other posts it said it was the something about the boot.ini file, well I made the really stupid mistake of deleting the file cause i understood that a new one will appear and now everytime I try to use the pc I receive this message: "invalid boot.ini file" "initialize windows/system." and then the hal.dll error message: Windowsroot>system32\hal.dll and then my pc reboots. I tried booting with F8 but every option sends me to a screen that has the options of start Windows (as predeterminated), i push enter and it reboots. Help me please, anyone What should i do now?

The first thing to do is go to the WinXP forum. They will tell you how to restore the boot.ini file. We are just ignorant win9Xers

Run XP setup and re-install to current version/location. or Run setup and repair current installation (choose R in the setup menu). Run setup via a CD boot (or the newly available setup floppies) - whichever; not from within any installed OS etc. Probably the re-install will be better route - but you 'may be lucky' with the repair options.