Problem: I have lost my XP Pro version on my laptop..... for some reason.... It keeps coming back in standby mode and say "Windows could not start because the flool0owing file is missing or corrupt (Windows root) \system\hal.dll Please re-install a copy of the above file. my laptop keeps going into Standby Mode when i reboot it so i cant get the Laptop to Boot of the XP CD. I am totally knackered with this one... anyone give me a hand.

Reinstall , windows xp, when windows setup starts up , select #2 repair windows, this will replace your system , there is something on your system, which does not agree with xp, or you maybe tweaking xp, try to remember what you where doing if this happens a second time, then repeat another reinstall, with repair xp. XP has a way of locking one out if all isn't right with xp

You have probably already tried formatting and reloading. If you didn't, however you can hit F8 (while booting) and try the menu selection, "Use last known good configuration." I had a program loaded to change the boot picture (not login, before that). It totally fouled the boot and came up with the exact same error message. I used F8, etc. and it fixed the problem!

Ok guys, i got this problem a couple of days ago. "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt (Windows root) \system32\hal.dll Please re-install a copy of the above file. I searched all the forums and finally with a mixture of suggestions got my computer working again. As far as i can figure out, it is a problem with the boot.ini file, which becomes corrupt. Mostly when people have multiple boot but not always. I have Win XP Home edition on a dell dimension desktop. Here are a few options. First, boot up from the Win XP Installation disk, and go into the recovery console. Then type in FIXBOOT (drive letter): (eg FIXBOOT C:) if that doesnt work, then try CHKDSK /R After this my computer began to work! other options! fdisk /mbr OR bootcfg /rebuild Hopefully 1 of these will help! as i said, my computer corrected itself after the second command. Below is a link to a website, detailing all of the commands of Recovery Console http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/default.asp?url=/WI The following website, is another 1 i found which details how 2 repair XP! have a look if need be! http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm I hope this is able to help some of you troubled folk out there!