Computer not booting

My computer won't boot - it has a message which reads c:\windows\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupted - what do I do?

An essential operating file has been lost or corrupted so immediately I would suspect a problem with your hard disk drive or possibly a malicious virus. In either case your PC is not bootable so your focus is getting it to boot, then see if the cause of the failure reveals itself.

If your don’t have a backup, your backup is too old, you have critical or important data on the disk or you are unsure of your PC skills – get expert help and do nothing. Don’t even read past this point!

You then have a number of options including:

1. Booting off the operating system install CD and using its repair option if available.
2. Booting off the operating system install CD and reinstalling the operating system, all your programs, re-configuring it all.
3. Booting off the operating system install CD and installing a second copy of the operating system, boot using this second copy and use this to repair the original operating system.
4. Physically taking the hard disk out of your PC and adding it as an additional drive to a working PC. Use the working PC to either repair the damage to the failed hard disk if possible or simply to copy all your data off it.
5. Similar to 4 – purchase and install a new hard disk in the broken PC, add your old hard disk as an additional drive and attempt to repair/recover data.

The options have not been explained in detail – they all have pros and cons and provisos – if you don’t know what they are or are unsure of the approach - you should stop and ask for expert help. This is an area where a high level of skill and even the most experienced professional will take great care. Consider also how much effort you are going to put into this recovery and if you suspect the hard disk - perhaps this is a sensible time to invest in a new hard disk?