| Forum Home | ||||
| Press F1 | ||||
| Thread ID: 87679 | 2008-02-29 22:42:00 | PC not starting - missing system file | Grimy (3041) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 645135 | 2008-02-29 22:42:00 | Hi, a friend has given me his PC to look at because it won't start. When switched on it goes straight to the screen with the options of starting in safe mode, last known good configuration, etc. You can try any of these and hit enter and it flicks back to the same screen. At the bottom of this screen it says- "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file" The PC is an HP Pavilion 5109, system no. P6373A running XP Home. What is the best way to fix this (preferably without losing what is on the PC)? Do I do a repair install, or can I just load the missing file? I have asked him to try and find his XP disc, but if he can't (it's his daughters PC and she has been living in the UK now for over a year)can I use my XP disc for a repair? The PC has the COA sticker on it. I don't know if it is set to boot from CD/floppy first, can anyone tell me on an HP which is the usual F key to get into the BIOS on start up in case I need to change the order? Any help appreciated. |
Grimy (3041) | ||
| 645136 | 2008-02-29 22:44:00 | As long as your XP disc is the same (home with home, pro with pro) it will be sweet. I'd go into the recovery console first, do a chkdsk /r and sfc /scannow Do a HDD diagnostic if you can, if it still isn't booting, do a repair reinstall. |
wratterus (105) | ||
| 645137 | 2008-02-29 22:50:00 | Try some of the suggestions here (www.kellys-korner-xp.com) | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 645138 | 2008-02-29 23:17:00 | I assume you meant that the machine is an HP Pavilion 510a Desktop (thats whats matches your product number), this should help answer your query (dont format the harddrive, you've got (or should have ) a recovery partition (hidden) on it :) ) h10025.www1.hp.com Think its either F2 or F12 to get into the bios (usually says on logo screen when booting) |
feersumendjinn (64) | ||
| 645139 | 2008-03-01 04:20:00 | Thanks everyone, I will try the suggestions next week when I see the PC again. The product label on the back of the PC says HP Pavilion 500. On the front beneath the HP logo it says HP Pavilion 5109 in fairly large, orange letters/numbers. At least it looks like a 9 more than an A to me. However, I could be wrong, I have been putting off a trip to the optometrist! |
Grimy (3041) | ||
| 645140 | 2008-03-01 08:44:00 | Time for that optometrist appointment perhaps? :D | bevy121 (117) | ||
| 645141 | 2008-03-01 22:34:00 | Looks like it! Still, I can read the newspaper in lower light levels than my wife, so that's something! Okay, she need a return visit too........ |
Grimy (3041) | ||
| 645142 | 2008-03-02 02:19:00 | Have you tried KB330184 on the MS known error database? HTH |
jinja_thom (4306) | ||
| 645143 | 2008-03-03 05:56:00 | I assume you meant that the machine is an HP Pavilion 510a Desktop (thats whats matches your product number), this should help answer your query (dont format the harddrive, you've got (or should have ) a recovery partition (hidden) on it :) ) h10025.www1.hp.com Think its either F2 or F12 to get into the bios (usually says on logo screen when booting) Spot on the money. Many thanks for that. It did have a recovery partition and it worked. Now just have to get rid of all the nasties they have on the PC. And yes, I do need glasses! Cheers, Graham. |
Grimy (3041) | ||
| 645144 | 2008-03-03 10:57:00 | Cool, glad to help. | feersumendjinn (64) | ||
| 1 2 | |||||