Question

Compaq Armada 7800 will not boot

Asked by: elf_ky

I have inherited a Compaq Armada 7800 6266/T/8000/D/M/1.  When you turn it on it goes to a black screen with the message "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."  Can this problem be fixed or is it a lost cause? Thanks!

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Asked On
2004-12-03 at 16:16:28ID21229963
Tags

armada

,

7800

,

compaq

,

boot

Topic

General Laptop

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
12

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Answers

 

by: gdewrellPosted on 2004-12-03 at 16:19:55ID: 12741589

Hi elf_ky,

This is usually caused by a corrupted boot.ini file or the hal.dll is actually missing.
You can use your xp cd to boot into recovery console and then run fixboot. This may fix a corrupted boot.ini but will not help you if your hal.dll is missing.

God Bless

 

by: elf_kyPosted on 2004-12-03 at 16:30:10ID: 12741620

I have tried booting from the xp cd and it still gives me the missing or corrupted hal.dll.  

 

by: BeeshoringPosted on 2004-12-04 at 03:07:50ID: 12743543

See if any of these links will help. What OS do you have??


More information about boot.ini is available on http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000492.htm, and steps for resolving this problem are provided on http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000490.htm. Microsoft has information and suggested fixes as well for WindowsXP on http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184 and for Windows2000 on http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812450.

 

by: elf_kyPosted on 2004-12-04 at 05:54:27ID: 12744112

Well, I think that is the problem.  From what I understand it had Windows 98 and an attempt to upgrade to xp is what caused this problem.  I've asked around and apparently the laptop cannot handle xp. So I would be happy if I could get Windows 98 on it but I can't find a way to do that because I keep getting this hal.dll error.  Thanks for the links.  I'll check those out.

 

by: gdewrellPosted on 2004-12-04 at 06:20:52ID: 12744210

With that information, Im afraid the best solution is to reinstall win98. Sorry :(

 

by: elf_kyPosted on 2004-12-04 at 07:33:46ID: 12744444

I've tried that but I can't seem to get the laptop to read from the cd drive. I'm not very familiar with win98 or laptops -- do I need to hit a key to boot from cd or will I be prompted?

 

by: elf_kyPosted on 2004-12-04 at 07:53:02ID: 12744516

Also, when I am able to get into the advance startup menu, the only operating system listed is xp.

 

by: BeeshoringPosted on 2004-12-04 at 10:24:05ID: 12744928

You won´t be able to boot from a windows 98 cd.  Don you have a floppy drive?? If you do, then start fron the floppy, type "format c:" and when format is complete, type"d:\setup.exe" , where d is your cd drive. This will then install win 98.

If you dont have a floppy drive,  Create a bootable cd with Nero, copy all files from the windows 98 CDRom and windows 98 boot disk on it, and then boot from your cd.  When files are loaded, type "format c:" then "setup.exe" and it will install win98.

Hopes this help

 

by: elf_kyPosted on 2004-12-04 at 15:28:26ID: 12746009

Ok -- that worked!!  My laptop is now up and running!! Thanks so much for all your help!!

 

by: BeeshoringPosted on 2004-12-09 at 13:02:48ID: 12787356

Glad I could Help! =)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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