Error Message: Missing \SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL

Question

Error Message: Missing \SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL

Anyone familiar with this error message when booting into Windows XP on a Macbook?

This problem began when I attempted to setup multiple partitions for Windows, using the disk management utility for Windows XP:

"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"

Before trying to make more partitions, everything ran A-OK.

Please advise if you have run into this.

Thanks,

Mbs

G-5

Posted on Mar 12, 2008 9:16 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 13, 2008 7:34 PM in response to Stuart Baker2

Nobody, eh? Hmmmmmmmmmm. I'm a little surprised, but I guess no one is setting up multiple NTFS partitions.

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Answer 2

JoeCL

Level 1

0 points

Mar 13, 2008 10:53 PM in response to Stuart Baker2

just got the same error
I tried using the windows xp repair console and even tried copying the same dll, but received the same error

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Answer 3

Mar 14, 2008 9:55 AM in response to JoeCL

Yes.... now what? :~) I'm running out of ideas here.

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Answer 4

smooli

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2008 10:56 AM in response to Stuart Baker2

I have the same problem with bootcamp and parallels.
Replacing the dll does not help.

btw: at the moment it seems to bee that xp does not work with bootcamp at all.
After installation I get a drive error. Looking up the support pages it is suggested to format the bootcamp volume before installing xp.
I tried this with the xp-installer (ntfs format) and from parallels using the old DOS format command.
No method worked.
After trying to run the bootcamp-xp in parallels I finally got the dll-error.

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Answer 5

Mar 14, 2008 5:16 PM in response to smooli

I have been successful setting up Bootcamp using a single NTFS partition. You need to run bootcamp, establish a bootcamp partition, and when the windows install disk asks you what you want to do with the partition, choose the reformat as an NTFS partition (the slow method).

Then Windows should do it's thang. After that, reinsert your Leopard disk while running Windows. Leopard will finish the job.

This is the ONLY way I've had success. Every other way screws the pooch.

Mbs

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Answer 6

Apr 2, 2008 1:19 AM in response to Stuart Baker2

The error the original poster mentions is due to an incorrect boot.ini file. Sometimes the easiest way to get this right is boot into OS X again and re-run boot camp. Because Bootcamp sets up the partitions it should then create a partition structure that the Windows installer can follow.

See http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314477 for some more info.

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Answer 7

The hatter

Level 9

60,980 points

Apr 2, 2008 4:36 AM in response to Stuart Baker2

When you change partitions, XP doesn't understand EFI/GUID, and OS X doesn't like the changes.

You are better off using Disk Utility to create partitions and then install Windows to one - the same as you would for triple-boot setup.

Same if you install XP after installing Vista, XP over writes and doesn't understand Vista boot partition.

And BootCamp Assistant doesn't create NTFS so I had to delete/create one where the FAT/MSDOS partition was.

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