XP not starting!

[Chrisk]

For some reason when I start my pc I get an error message saying windows cannot find hal.dll and it won't start. I have my drive partitioned and installed a fresh xp on the other partition so I can see my other install and the file is in system32 folder. I have tried to do a fix in the install but no luck. I want to keep this because all my info is on it, any way to get it back?

[rightcoast]

Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would be:
expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll.
Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

If that doesn't work try this:

Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console, selecting the OS you need to fix, then:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
copy c:\boot.ini c:\boot2.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

Don't try that second option until someone who knows a little more than me can help....will the OS try to boot boot2.ini anyone?
Does this user even need to copy a backup...I just figured better safe than sorry.

[Chrisk]

I did try to copy hal.dll from one install to the other but still had the same problem.