hal.dll file missing

[MakeYourslf2012]

Hey all--

Im running Vista Basic. I left Michigan State University last week with my entire system shut down (Asus M2N-E, AMD X2 6000+, 2GB DDR2), and I went back a few days later to get some CAD files off the HD for a co-worker of mine.

I walked in the room with this messege on the screen:

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 tried restarting hopeing it would be a fluke - no luck. I inserted the Vista disk and tried to "Repair Startup" - it read that all was well and no problems were found, which was false because I still had the same problem. Then I did a system restore to a week earlier and that did not work either. I was running short on time so I had to leave. I'm on break between semesters now and I return Jan. 7th.

Anybody know how to resolve this problem? Would I be able to put the hal.dll file on a floppy and copy it into the system32 folder through DOS?

Thanks, I'm open to any suggestions
MakeYourslf2012

[MakeYourslf2012]

anyone?

[Panama Red]

One of serveral Google options:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/missinghaldll.htm