8 replies to this topic

[haxorphreak]

I just reinstalled Red Hat9 like I've done many times before, no sweat. Then when I tried to boot Windows XP I get an error saying that the file <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll was either not found or corrupt and to replace it.
The only way I can think of now is to put it on a floppy and use Knoppix to place it in system32. That or get my RH9 (kernel 2.4.1) to recognize and write to NTFS partitions.
Does anyone know what this "hal.dll" is or where to get it?
Many thanks in advance.

[haxorphreak]

I just remember that this time around I didn't have a seperate /boot partition, but I'm not sure that that would have any effect.
Also I've seen the solution as editing the boot.ini file, but I don't have access to it. Doesn't the latest kernel allow writing to NTFS file systems?

[Reedbeta]

If you've got a Windows Setup CD lying around, you can use it to boot and enter the recovery console (hit 'R' at the first screen during setup). Then you can repair the problem using the instructions here: http://support.micro...b/314477/EN-US/

[haxorphreak]

Unfortunately I forgot to mention that my computer did not come with a CD. Either that or I accidently threw it away when I got it like 4 years ago.
I have an HP but I'm assuming that a Dell CD or any XP (Home or Pro) CD is usable. Also I'm trying to find the NTFS rpms but the download leads page not found. Reformatting my partition is also not an option, if that's what the CD requires.

Thanks for the idea though, I may be able to try that. (Well if the person I know with the CD isn't expelled.

[Reedbeta]

If all else fails, I'm sure an XP CD image can be found online. (Hey, it wouldn't be pirating, you already own a copy of the OS... )

[haxorphreak]

I considered that, so I'm trying to see if anyone at school has one.
Think there's a legal difference between Home and Pro? :-D

[haxorphreak]

Many of the forums that I see online suggest a problem in the change of partitions, which I was also guilty of doing.
My old setup (pre-RH9 install) was:
/dev/hda1(I think) : /boot
/dev/hda2 : Windows XP
/dev/hda3 : RH9
/dev/hda4 : swap
I think XP was trying to boot from /boot, which now only exists on /dev/hda3
True, I think it was suggested that a seperate /boot would be better for dual-booting, which was probably why I had it like that at the time.

[roel]

I never used it, but there exists something called NTFSDos, that allows you to access NTFS drives from DOS. Maybe you can put it on an old-fashioned dos bootdisk (you can find them on the web, at least, I ever did) and use that to access the disk. On the other hand, making linux able to read NTFS disks isn't a bad at all, I guess. I think anyway that you should alter your boot.ini to make it match the new magic partition stuff you made.

[haxorphreak]

Finally got it fixed (good timing too). What was wrong was that I needed my /boot which I had deleted and I guess windows was trying to boot from.
Thanks for the help guys :yes: