I have windows xp home edition upgrade on my computer. i previously had windows ME. i cannot get windows to boot up. i get the error message: windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. windows root/system32/hal.dll. i have tried the recovery console and followed steps to resolve this but when i type in bootcfg/list, it says there are currently no boot entries available to display. when i type in bootcfg/rebuild it says error: failed to successfully scan disks for windows installations. this error may be caused by a corrupt file system which would prevent bootcfg from successfully scanning. also, at the c: prompt it doesn't say windows. i then tried to repair using my xp upgrade cd but the screen says set up could not read the cd you inserted or the cd is not a valid windows cd. i bought this xp upgrade at best buy myself. i then tried my Windows Me cd i got with my gateway computer and it couldn't read that either. i have 3 cds that came with my computer. system restoration kits disc's 1, 2, and 3. i tried all of them and none worked. when i put the xp cd in it also said it could not detect any earlier windows installations. i checked my BIOS to see it my cd drive was first and it was. i don't know what else to do. my computer is 7 years old, should i even bother tring to fix it? any suggestions would be really appreciated. thanks in advance for your help.
How-To Geek Forums » Windows XP
Windows Xp Home Edition boot problem, please help
(4 posts)
kimd,
Unfortunately you are in a (Catch 22 Situation). If you call MS, they will tell you to call Gateway. If you call Gateway, they will tell you that your product is out of date and they don't provide support for it any longer. If you ask Best Buy to refund your money for the XP software, they will tell you that the package has been opened so they won't.
Possible solutions:
1. Do you, by chance, have a (Complete) copy of Win98 OR do you have a friend that has a (Complete) copy of (ANY) MS Operating System which you can borrow excluding Vista ??
2. Do you have access to another PC which has a CD/DVD burner on it ?? If so, you could download Ubuntu Linux and burn an installation CD and then load the Gateway with that Operating System.
There are a few more tricks but I am going to have to research MS Upgrade as I have not done that in many years.
Also, I will not comment on the age of the Gateway system as I do not know your personal situation.
Post Back !
Regards,
Rick P.
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