corrupted hal.dll file

[nan5040]

i have an Intel Mac (OS 10.4.11) with windows XP on a boot camp partition. I also installed Parallels. I was having trouble printing on my wireless printer from Windows, so I (unfortunately) decided to upgrade my version of Parallels, hoping that that might help. (I have no trouble accessing the internet on my wireless network.) Now, whenever I try to boot into Windows, I get a message that says that windows could not start becasue the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows.root>\system32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file. How do I do this if I can't boot into Windows? (and where can I get a copy of this file, if I can reinstall it without booting into windows?)

Someone told me how to correct the file by going into the Repair Console, using my installation disk. Unfortunately, it tells me to enter my administrator password. I believe that we left this blank, but it won't accept a blank. It won't accept any other passwords that we ordinarily use; I do believe that we left it blank.

Can anyone help me? I am very familiar with Macs, but a total beginner at Windows, so I may need pretty specific directions.

Thanks for any help
Nancy

[Paul Komski]

If for some reason you cannot log-on to the Recovery Console then (apart from hacking the passwords and which we do not support or assist on these forums) you might try a repair installation (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm).

[Sylvander]

Missing Windows hal.dll file. (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm)

Before you try anything else:
See if this Windows NT 4.0, 2000, XP or Server 2003 boot floppy disk (http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/ntboot/) will take you into Windows.
You boot this floppy, it substitutes as a system disk, and when it presents you with its menu...
Choose the physical HDD [is there only one?] and partition [the 1st?] that you think holds the "Windows" folder.
If the problem is being caused by faulty boot arrangements, then this will bypass them and successfully find the Windows files [including hal.dll] and load them to take you to Windows.

If this doesn't work then you will know the problem lies with the Windows files, not the earlier boot arrangements.

I ALWAYS keep such a floppy within arms reach of my PC, and it has successfully taken me into Windows under such circumstances on a number of occasions. :)
It's always worth a quick try before trying anything else.

[Paul Komski]

I had steered away from normal bootable windows troubleshooting software because I'm not sure how any of this works on a MAC other than some hotkey key press is used, I believe, to initiate an installation.

It's also just possible that is why the Recovery Console has been misbehaving.

The basic thinking behind Sylvander's thinking is fine and you can grab a ready made XP quick boot CD iso (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1817#wxp) if you want - if only to have immedate access to the ntldr and ntdetect.com files. It is also possible to work around or at least visualise the problem using BiNG (in my sig) and use it to edit boot.ini or to change the partition table order (on a Windows machine for sure).