Need some help - Missing Hal.dll

I accidentally ran the recovery tool on hp. When I realized it was actually moving files (10 seconds into it) I quickly shut it off. I try booting up and it says hal.dll is missing.

I've done some research and I think I need to reload the boot.ini. Hopefully I can at least then get the thing started and do a system restore. I do not have an XP installation disc however I have another laptop running XP. I have a usb flash drive but no cds handy. I can go get some cds tomorrow but is there anything I can do tonight.

If I can't fix the boot.ini where can I go to get a SATA 2.5 enclosure (B&M)? I need to fix this computer within the next couple of days. Thanks.

 

Have you tried restoring from last known good configuration?

I know how to make a bootable USB drive, but its not going to be worth jack if you can't access the file system, which is what you need to do. Can you get to a command prompt?

Chances are you're missing ALOT more than HAL.DLL.

 

No I can't and that is what I'm afraid of. I've even tried making an image of the recovery disc and booting from that and it says it can't find pci.sys. I guess my last option is to find a 2.5'' SATA enclosure. I've looked all over the place at local retailers and can't find one.

 

Yep,that would be my guess too.

If you don’t have a XP CD and cant find a SATA enclosure, then boot it with a Linux Live CD. You’ll get USB support and NTFS access. Connect a USB flash/hard drive and backup all the important data. Then complete the recovery process to restore the PC.

EDIT : You can find 2.5 SATA enclosures at from online stores, i.e newegg

 

I say wait till you get the CD. See linky.

If all else fails, attempt this

 

Well like the posts above say you are missing a couple of more files than just hal.dll. If you need to back up any important data, make a linux boot disc, giving an easier interface to work with. Try Slax linux its great and small and can even fit on a USB key. Then back up all you important data on several USB keys or CD's or another hard drive if you have or even a server back up. If you have an HP laptop from within the last 3 years I think you can do a recovery from boot up by pressing either alt+F10, alt+F11 or just F10 or F11. Do some research to find out the correct key combo. That way you don't get a screwy system even if you are able to boot into the OS.

 

Important lesson here: Never interrupt recovery tools or anything else that manipulates system files while it's working...

 

The person ran it by accident. There system would have been completely turned upside down had they not stopped the recovery tool.

 

It looks to me like it already is.