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My Dimension E521 won't boot up. <Windows root>\system32\hal.dill file missing

Anonymous
2012-09-28T22:06:04+00:00

My Dimension E521 won't boot up.  I get an error message saying that windows can't start because the following file is missing or corrupt.  <Windows root>\system32\hal.dill  I have tried to reboot with two discs that came with the computer. 1/ Dell Dimension E521 Resource CD (Drivers and Utilities) and 2/ Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Version 2005 with update rollup 2 (Operating System). There is no difference the same message comes up. I have read articles about using the disks to operate in a recovery mode but I'm not even getting that far. I fear the worst for my PC. Any Ideas?  Thanks Eddie

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-09-29T08:47:53+00:00

    It is extremely unlikely that the hal.dll file is really missing or corrupt.

    That error message usually just means that XP can't find the file either because of some corruption in your NT File System (NTFS), or something has buggered your boot.ini file and XP is being told to look for the file in the wrong place.

    Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or improper shutdown? (this includes plug pulling, power buttons and battery removal).

    These can cause corruption in the file system which must be fixed before you do anything else.

    If any of those events have occurred (or even if they have not occurred), you should verify the integrity of your file system before doing anything else (especially "trying" things).

    It makes zero sense to start trying to start trying to edit or copy files around on a hard disk that has a corrupted file system so this must be fixed first using the XP chkdsk program, and running chkdsk on your drives may resolve your issue entirely. 

    I always assume that nobody has any kind of bootable media or whatever they have is not going to work, so it is best to make your own bootable media so you can be sure what you have.

    You need to start by booting into the XP Recovery Console using a CD you can make (no XP media required) and run a chkdsk with error correction enough times until it runs clean and if that doesn't work, you can create a new boot.ini file (it is usually one of those two things).

    Here's how:

    Use the XP Recovery Console to verify the file system on your HDD and correct any problems and then try to boot your system - this may be all you need to do.  Or, you are welcome to just start trying things that might work.

    Boot into the Windows Recovery Console using a bootable XP installation CD.

    If you have no bootable XP media (or are not sure what you have) create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD and be sure what you have (no XP media required).

    This is not the same as any recovery disks that might have come with a store bought system.  

    You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file and burning it to a CD.

    The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

    xp_rec_con.iso 

    Download the ISO file from here:

    http://www.mediafire.com/?ueyyzfymmig

    Use a new CD and this free and easy program to burn your ISO file and create your bootable CD:

    http://www.imgburn.com/

    When installing ImgBurn, DO NOT install the Ask toolbar.

    Here are some instructions for ImgBurn:

    http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

    It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on a computer that is working.

    You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk.  These adjustments are made before Windows tries to load.  If you miss it, you will have to reboot the system again.

    When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

    Press any key to boot from CD...

    The Windows Setup... will proceed.

    Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

    Select the installation you want to access (usually  1: C:\WINDOWS)

    You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

    You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder.  This is the same as the 

    C:\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

    The Recovery Console allows basic file commands like: copy, rename, replace, delete, cd, chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

    For a list of Recovery Console commands, enter help at the prompt or read about the XP Recovery Console here:

    http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/recovery_console_cmds.mspx?mfr=true

    A good idea before starting things is to first verify the integrity of your file system using the chkdsk command.

    From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the afflicted drive.

    Running chkdsk is fine even if it doesn't find any problems.  It will not hurt anything to run it.

    Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

    chkdsk C: /r

    Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find.  

    It may take a long time for chkdsk to complete or it may appear to be 'stuck'.  Be patient.  If the HDD light is still flashing, chkdsk is doing something.  Keep an eye on the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.  It may even appear to go backwards sometimes.

    You should run chkdsk /r again until it finds no errors to correct.

    Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the computer.

    You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the CD will not be present.

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-10-08T12:20:58+00:00

    Hi ElderL,

    Great news, my PC is back working again. I was given a suggestion on the other community support forum that involved using the F12 key instead. At first it didn't work but then I started looking a bit closer. Remembering what you had said earlier I noticed that there was no sign of life from my keyboard. While I had unpluged everything I didn't notice that my mouse and keyboard shared the same USB hub. Once I had pluged them seperately in to the PC the keyboard "Beeped" at the F12 command and I could boot from the disc drive.

    Goes to show it's worth checking over the basics again when the simple logic is not working.

    Thanks again for your assistance.

    Eddie.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T13:13:30+00:00

    Hi ElderL,

    That was a quick response thanks, I’m using a wired keyboard and I’ll keep trying the F2 button. I tried to boot using each disc but it appears that the system is not configured to check the disc drive.

    I’ll put a question up on the Dell community support forum and post any suggestions offered.

    Thank you again for your assistance it is much appreciated.

    Regards,

    Eddie.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T12:49:53+00:00

    Hmmm, I read that F2 is the key - you may try holding it down, but that might also give you a stuck key error.  If you are not using a wired keyboard, you probably should be and a wired PS/2 keyboard is generally the best choice if you can find one.

    Maybe you don't have to press any key as long as the CD is bootable and the system might be configured to try the CD driver first.  Some systems come that way but I always change them to put the HDD first since looking at a CD or floppy drive first can add 1.5 seconds to your boot time if one is not available.

    Dell also has a community support forum and other help resources where you might post about your issue and get some tips from other Dell users that may know the secret to your success:

    http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/contact_technical_support?c=us&l=en&s=gen

    Sometimes actual Dell employees post out there too (or folks claiming to be Dell employees).

    Just like here sometimes...  folks claiming to be Microsoft engaged Support "experts"...

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-10-07T12:27:24+00:00

    Hi ElderL,

    Thank you for replying and your comprehensive answer. I did get two discs with the computer.

    1/ Operating System – reinstallation DVD

    Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Version 2005 with Update Rollup 2

    2/ Driver and Utilities – Dell Dimension E521 Resource CD

    Contents:  Device drivers

         Diagnostics and utilities

    I have had issues with updates the computer tries to install when shutting down. The updates are repeated each time I shutdown, on occasion the computer seems to hang and hasn’t shut down 24 hours later. 

    At the moment I have tried but can’t get to use F2 or F12 functions during the Bios start up, as the computer is too fast and it has completed it task even before the screen shows the progress bar. I left the power lead disconnected overnight and this slowed the initial process but I still didn’t have any success.

    I will certainly try the XP chkdsk program first but I am at a loss as to I can get to a point where I can boot from the disc.

    Do you have any suggestions please?

    Thank you again for your assistance it is much appreciated.

    Regards,

    Eddie.

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