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    Missing HAL File

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by scriccs, Jun 23, 2007.

  1. scriccs

    scriccs Notebook Consultant

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    My fathers laptop gave him the missing HAL file upon startup the other day. There is no way to get into windows. After doing some research and following Microsofts instructions I was unable to find, create, or replace the key startup file on his IBM with XP Pro. He talked to a couple of his IT guys at work and they recommended formatting with a fresh install, he can get Vista free from work.

    Problem is I want to save all of his data on his HD now. Im pretty sure it would be possible to back it all up onto another HD; I plan on buying him a USB HD to back the files up to. How would I do this without being able to get into windows? Can I do this in DOS? Anyone know of any sites or guides I can follow?

    Thanks.
     
    scriccs, Jun 23, 2007
    #1
  2. Wingsbr

    Wingsbr NBR Decepticon NBR Reviewer

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    This is actually pretty easy but you need an external hard drive enclosure that matches the specs of your Dad's hard drive size, ie 2.5 or 3.5 and then hook it up to another computer. When you do this, the hard drive will look like any disc that has folders in it. Example, you burn a dvd-rom with a bunch of documents, pictures and music. You put it in and you see all of those folders, same process here. You may have to have a password to get to some of the folders but the process is the same.
     
    Wingsbr, Jun 23, 2007
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  3. WackyT

    WackyT Notebook Deity

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    Ghost

    .....
     
    WackyT, Jun 23, 2007
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  4. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    Did your dad recently swap out the hard drive? The reason I ask is because when a drive is changed and the partitions are not exactly the same, you will get the HAL error message. This is fixed by editing boot.ini and changing the boot loader:

    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

    If the original was partition(2) and the new one is partition(1), you just change the 2 to a 1.

    Since you can't boot up Windows, you have to edit this by a) removing the drive and slaving it into another computer, or b) booting via a tool like BartPE. boot.ini is located in the root of the boot partition (usually the C drive).

    Hope this helps.
     
    kegobeer, Jun 23, 2007
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  5. nquach

    nquach Notebook Consultant

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    There are tools for you to read NTFS from DOS (NTFSDOS from SysInternals) but as others have suggested, using a external USB enclosure is easiest.
     
    nquach, Jun 23, 2007
    #5