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    Windows XP keeps deleting on me.....

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by Joelsoto, Feb 6, 2008.

  1. Joelsoto

    Joelsoto Newbie

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    About every two months my laptop keeps saying Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
    then it says to please re-install this file, its on a black screen.
    why does it keep doing this to me, is it becasue its a school laptop and has a strict domain. Its from Devry. It also limits me to installing certain programs should I just get an all new hard drive? this means I have no way in getting in any of my files.
     
    Joelsoto, Feb 6, 2008
    #1
  2. hydra

    hydra Breaks Laptops

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    hydra, Feb 6, 2008
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  3. armyofchad

    armyofchad Notebook Enthusiast

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    armyofchad, Feb 6, 2008
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  4. SoonerDave

    SoonerDave Notebook Consultant

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    Just off the top of my head, if the machine works normally for an extended period of time, including several full, normal reboots, then suddenly exhibits this behavior, I'd strongly start suspecting hard drive problems and/or a really nasty virus. If that or another critical system DLL existed at one point, but is suddenly missing, it would scream at least the possibility of defective/dying sectors.

    -David
     
    SoonerDave, Feb 6, 2008
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