Hal.dll missing or corrupted - Solution

[Dr.pter]

If you can not enter under windows because of the following error: "hal.dll missing or corrupt" please know that the problem is not the DLL but BOOT.INI (most often).

The solution is simple:
Leave the computer on a boot disk (if you do you can have a material effect www.bootdisk.com) and access the command prompt.

Enter the following commands:
C:
edit boot.ini

You reach BOOT.INI, by default it looks like:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XPProfessional"/fastdetect

The error comes in most cases the number of the partition that is indicated (it often occurs after installation of a 2nd operating system). Change partition (1) partition (2), and if it still does not work, change still figure until you are dropped on it. If you do not want to repeat several times Boot.ini, copy the line after [operating systems] and change the number in each, you just have to try different options available to you at the next startup.

Another tip:
copy yet complete line after the [operating systems] and add after/fastdetect:/safeboot:minimal/sos/bootlog
Change the name of the option for "safe mode"
You now have an option from the menu that lets you access the Safe Mode without having to wait F8 during boot.

[Kishan]

Thank you for your solution, you just saved me a reinstall XP and all my programs ...