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PonchoV8 · 11-04-2012, 01:53 PM

I have a computer that I uninstalled some program that I shouldn't have and now it won't boot and the monitor won't operate. I don't have a boot disc.

The machine uses XP Professional, and I have other machines that are Windows 7. How can I get this machine to boot in safe mode if the monitor won't function now? The goal is to get it functional again.

RR67GTO · 11-04-2012, 03:59 PM

Turn the computer off. When you start it up, try holding down the F8 key and see if that helps. I ran XP until two years ago on a system with 256 MB memory and an 8 gig HD. So, it was like driving a car from the junk yard. Each day, it required something just use it. The F8 key was one of my best friends. And? If that wont work, get back to me because I will give you my phone number. I have a version of XP that I might be willing to send you. It's legitimate version with the key code to install it. But try F8 first. One more thing. Because I don't like making a lot of changes I kept my old system and XP way to long. Once I went to Win 7 it was great. I also feared moving everything from one system to the new one, but Win 7 makes it very, very easy. OK let me know. Mike in Oregon

PonchoV8 · 06:21 PM

EDIT: I'm in. I hooked another monitor up to the video out I wasn't using. I'm looking at the CMOS setup utility.

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I don't have a recovery disc.

Old message---Thanks Mike. I've tried (and just tried again) but this was my fault. I uninstalled something I shouldn't have and the screen went dark. I had no other issues before and am running 2 or 4 gig of Crucial memory and probably 60 gig hd. I thought it was a pirating program that I was deleting.

Lightfoot · 11-04-2012, 07:42 PM

When I log into my Gmail, there is an advisory at the top that says:

You are using a version of Internet Explorer which will soon be unsupported. Some features may not work correctly. Upgrade to a {modern browser}, such as {Google Chrome}.
{Dismiss}

What are the pros & cons of this?
My laptop is using Windows XP. It tends to be draggy alot of the time even right after I defrag and scan. Might Google Chrome speed it up?

Thanks

fyrffytr1 · 11-04-2012, 11:38 PM

Try Mozilla Firefox. It's free and doesn't have all the junk running in the background that IE has.

Lightfoot · 11-05-2012, 12:11 AM

Does Google Chrome have to be used in conjunction with IE?

I'd give Firefox a try if I knew it would let my internet run faster.
I remember Clark Howard giving it a good review about 7 years ago.

RR67GTO · 11-05-2012, 03:51 AM

Heck, I get the same message from web pages yet I have the latest version of Explorer. I've read a few places that said this is a glitch in some of the web pages, and to not worry about it. However, if you are running Explorer 8, it may not be supported for many web pages. One of the other browsers may help but keep in mind that some wont support as much as Explorers latest version does. Chrome is very good as well. Mike

fyrffytr1 · 11-05-2012, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

Does Google Chrome have to be used in conjunction with IE?

I'd give Firefox a try if I knew it would let my internet run faster.
I remember Clark Howard giving it a good review about 7 years ago.

I installed Firefox along with IE8. Try it, if you don't like it you can always uninstall it.
Another thing, what anti-virus program are you using? I had Norton for years but switched to Microsoft Security Essentials and that also increased my computer's speed.

GT182 · 11-05-2012, 09:51 AM

Someone could send you the HAL.dll for Pro. All they have to do is copy it and put it in a zipfile to send to you. Should work as I've done this before with a system32.dll file. Just make sure you know where your HAL.dll located.

Maybe their whole system32 folder would be better to overwrite yours. Make a back up of yours first tho and then copy/paste theirs to yours.

I don't know if my system32 folder would work seeing I'm running XP Home.

PonchoV8 · 11-05-2012, 09:58 AM

I believe it'll have to be the recovery CD because I can't get in on safe mode or to C: or anything. If I can't boot up....I'm sunk.

John V. · 11-05-2012, 10:14 AM

Can you boot into Safe Mode?

If so, I think you can do a System Restore in Safe Mode back to an earlier date prior to the changes you made that might get you back to where you need to be.

This is a Restore, not a Recovery. So I'm not sure it will necessarily fix your issue. The good part is you don't lose data.

What about data files, are they backed up or would you be okay reinstalling XP and losing data?

If it is an HP machine, it may have a "Recovery Console" that also might be accessible in Safe Mode. Had HP machines that had that, but never used it, but it is supposed to allow you to return to the original configuration of XP as installed when you bought the machine.

John V. · 11-05-2012, 10:19 AM

Oops, guess you already answered my question about Safe Mode.

You might try contacting the manufacturer. Several years ago I was able to purchase the specific XP disc from HP for a machine that got totally corrupted. They charged me less than $20 for it. It put the machine back to how it was the day I bought it so everything had to be reinstalled. Luckily, I had been able to save all data files before it became totally useless. Was good to go after reinstalling my programs and data files.

GT182 · 11-05-2012, 10:22 AM

Is this a store bought pc? If it is there should be recovery discs or an XP Pro disc that came with it for just this sort of problem. Pro does have a recovery option that will fix your problem. And seeing you have a monitor working it should work.

If not, it sounds like yer sunk. And stay away from Windows 8. IMO, from what I've seen from playing with it at our MS store in the Mall, it sucks big time. They couldn't answer any questions I threw at them. LOL Now I know why they said MS is already working on Windows 9, and 8 is so cheap.

PonchoV8 · 11-05-2012, 10:29 AM

It was a surplus from work I bought when we upgraded machines. If it had one it's at the home office out of town.
I'll have to have a disc to get it to boot from. I can alter the boot order and the setup but that's it.
I have a recovery disc lined up that's out of town and hopefully can get shipped in for temp use. I'm also asking around here to see if someone has one. I have one other source locally, but it's doubtful.

GT182 · 11-05-2012, 10:40 AM

Doug, check on eBay or Amazon and see if someone has an OEM disc for sale. Should be pretty cheap if they do. Good luck, I hope you get it running again. If yer like me, I couldn't bear to lose my XP. Best I've ever used.... so far.

Tho 7 will be my next OS one of these days. I've found the OEM of 139.99 at CompUSA but no support with it.... same price for separate disc versions of both 32 and 64 bit.

RR67GTO · 11-05-2012, 10:51 AM

PonchoV8 I sent you a PM to email me your address. I'll mail you my XP Pro kit. After your done you can just mail it back. It's a legitimate OS, and for as many users as I want. I purchased it to use for my company. Mike

PonchoV8 · 11-05-2012, 01:30 PM

Thanks, Mike. You're my of town source I'm going to email my info tonight.
I might have another option. Our IT guy just sent me an .iso file that I burned to a CD. Is that what I'm looking for? I was expecting I'd need a key too. Maybe not, or I'll give mine on the side of my machine a shot? There's a 20 character code on the side of the box.

PonchoV8 · 07:31 PM

So far, no good. I burned the disc, installed it in the drive, commanded it to boot from the CD, it tried and I get the same message that Windows can't start due to hal.dll file.
I wonder why it didn't work? I guess because it has to be done once I'm in safe mode, which I can't get to.

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