I have a corrupted system file on windows XP and I cant boot into it

[techflame23]

I can't boot into windows.
My BIOS screen comes on but it wont actually boot windows from my hard-drive.
I understand that a file is corrupted - a file in my root directory that assists with the bootup of windows.

The meesage that comes up says the following- word-for-word:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll


So it is and application extension somewhere in my root directory that is corrupted.




My question is the following:

How do i fix this so i can boot into windows again?

I was going to format my drive in a few days time but i need to get some files off the computer before i do. It is essential that i get these files back as it will be hard to get hold of them again.




My BIOS details are

AMIBIOS K7S5A Release- Made By American Megatrends

My OS is windows Xp home edition.


Hope someone here can help me with this!



Thanks.

 

[kimsland]

Try CheckDisk from your Windows CD

Boot from Windows CD
R
1
Enter
(no password on Administrator account usually)

On the Recovery Console enter:

chkdsk c: /f

 

[techflame23]

All right i will have a go at that and get back to you in half an hour.

Thanks

 

[techflame23]

Hmm ok i just tried to enter that command and it was invalid- just typing chkdsk works but that exact command is invalid- Did you mistype, or was it supposed to do that?


Thanks for your help


-EDIT- The exact command it comes up with on the recovery console is-

The parameter is not valid. Please type /? for help

 

[kimsland]

Then type that

chkdsk c:/?

or

chkdsk /?

I'd like to know what the command is

 

[techflame23]

Ok i'll get back to you with the command in a sec

OK the parameter commands and what they do are as follows:

[drive:] - Specifies the drive to check

/p - check even if the drive is not flagged dirty

/r - locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /p)



Thanks

 

[kimsland]

oh

chkdsk c: /r

 

[techflame23]

Ok thanks ill try that

Thanks Kimsland- It worked!

I left chkdsk running overnight, got up in the morning, restarted the computer and it booted!


Problem Resolved

Thanks

 

[kimsland]

Great news, thanks for the update :grinthumb