hal dll missing bootini fix rescuecd linux bootcfg windowsxp cd

Bad PBR or "hal.dll is missing or corrupted" the answer: http://www.sysresccd.org, from http://www.sysresccd.org/Download or WinXP Boot CD with SATA floppy drivers

//if necessary press f2 (or f1 or f10) on boot to get to the bios, change the settings to ensure that cd boots before hd

ctr-alt-del rescuecd docache

//I prefer to work from RAM as my cpu had 2GB RAM and docache only requires 256MB //Remember that SATA loads as a sda // the directory should already exist by default /mnt/windows, otherwise mkdir /mnt/directoryname //unfortunately I have a legacy useless partition that is sda1 so my example uses sda2

ntfs-3g /dev/sda2 /mnt/windows

cd /mnt/windows

vim boot.ini

i

//Insert text mode, use the arrow keys to navigate on the screen, changed the partition number from 1 to 2. I guess deleting //extra partitions caused a problem. Don't forget to change both the default & the menu option - (see how easy it is to have a //"multi-boot" menu if you only change the [operating systems] menu option you'll see 2 different choices on reboot...

[boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

:w

//save the current changes

:q

//quit vim

restart //on reboot (minus rescue cd) windows will either boot right away (default) or gives the options for Windows XP & "default" //choose the windows xp (more importantly, choose the one with the right partition)

//THE "WINDOWS WAY", make sure if you have a SATA drive that you download the drivers (e.g. support.dell.com) //and have them on a floppy, make sure that the computer can access the floppy (usb floppy drive?) //Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD drive and restart the computer. //At the Press any key to boot from CD prompt, press the to display the Windows Setup screen //You may have to watch closely for your opportunity to press F6 to add your SCSI/SATA drivers (from floppy) //After waiting for it to load several files. Press the key for the Recovery Console

//If the Windows XP CD cannot find any hard disks you either don't have the right SCSI/SATA drivers loaded or a serious problem.

//If prompted, select the number corresponding to the Windows installation you want to log into (usually C:\WINDOWS). //Enter the Administrator password, if any, and press the key on the keyboard to display the C:\WINDOWS> prompt.

c:\windows>cd\

//takes you to the root folder

c:>bootcfg /list //shows you what is in the current MBR boot list

OR YOU can type in fixmbr and then fixboot and restart

c:>bootcfg /rebuild //Scans all disks for Windows installations and returns the number of found Windows Installations

Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All) appears. (type y or yes or all) Type in a name for your found installation (WindowsXP) Enter OS Load Options appears. Type /NoExecute=OptIn /fastdetect and press the key. //The C:> prompt returns. Remove the Windows XP CD from the CD drive. Type Exit, and press the key. The system boots into Windows XP.

//The other Windows way (hack). Find a hal.dll file from a matching hardware configured computer with windows. //Do the above steps for booting using the WindowsXP cd and recovery console. Then, with your trusty floppy //(via usb?) and your "good hal.dll" file

//The ridiculous windows way. Use a WindowsXP cd and reinstall windows, (hopefully you've created more than //one partition, put the second, fresh installation on the "DATA" or D, or E partition (do not overwrite your //original c: partition!). You will then be able to boot using your fresh install and make any boot.ini, //hal.dll copy/renaming or other fixes required.