The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    whats wrong with my t400

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by free hurricane, Aug 30, 2010.

  1. free hurricane

    free hurricane Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    34
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hi guys. I am having a strange problem with my t400
    When I start the computer, I get the following message.
    "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."

    When I run a windows cd to repair, I get a bsod that says
    "a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer"

    Whats going on? Is it a hard drive problem?
     
    free hurricane, Aug 30, 2010
    #1
  2. halobox

    halobox Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    207
    Messages:
    1,019
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    what OS are you running? windows xp?
     
    halobox, Aug 31, 2010
    #2
  3. Renee

    Renee Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    610
    Messages:
    2,645
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    That's not a strange message and it is an informational one.

    It's important the you do what you need to do to be backed up. Best case this is a very short procedure and worse case it's a night mare. Let's hope that you are one the "best case" side of things.

    Also make sure you have what you need to do a complete installation althought the chances are you wont need it.

    Make sure you have a hal.dll from the same type of OS. If you have Vista, insre that you have a Vista hal.dll.

    Ok. Boot you installation disk. Delete hal.dll from system32 of your OS disk. Reinstal the new copy where you got from.

    Shut the DVD copy of Windows down and cross your fingers and reboot the system. I'm hoping that all you have to do.

    Otherwise...I'd recomend a clean install.

    Good luck,
    Renee
     
    Renee, Aug 31, 2010
    #3