WHEN I BOOT UP MY CPU IT PROMPTS FOR A PASSWORD…BUT I DONT HAVE ONE. I AM PRETTY SURE IT IS A CMOS THING. OR IT COULD BE A WINDOWS THING. PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION….CAN U TELL ME DETAILS ON BOTH THE CMOS WAY AND THE WINDOWS WAY PLEASE? =[ I AM VERY SAD ANOUT MY CPU
Many people (including me) have (had) problems with the file hal.dll when installing on a fresh new hard disk. The proposed solutions do not work in this case because there is a dynamic drive overlay (ddo) installed. The solution is quite simple: remove first the ddo (for example with Seagate’s DiscWizard: and re-install windows xp.
Generalized information of miss hal.dll error
This situation occurs when setting up a dual boot situation with Windows 2000 and Windows XP (it may occur with other setups). After Windows XP’s install routine has finished copying files, and is ready to boot to the GUI portion of SETUP, you may receive the above error.
One possible fix. So far, this has been traced to an incorrect BOOT.INI file. To gain access to the Boot.ini:
Go to Start/Run and type in: msconfig. Then go to the Boot.ini Tab. Or…Right click the My Computer icon/Properties/
Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings/System Startup/Edit.
How to Edit the BOOT.INI File in Windows XP
This user had 1 hard drive, partitioned into C and D drives. His BOOT.INI file looked like this: (the erroneous lines are in “blue”)
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=”Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional” /fastdetect
The 3 in the erroneous lines, above, points to the 3rd partition on the first physical hard disk. Since this user only had 2 partitions, this value was incorrect. Changing the value to 2, in both lines, allowed the user to complete Windows XP’s setup.
The corrected BOOT.INI looked like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=”Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional” /fastdetect
HAL – Hardware Abstraction Layer
HAL is Microsoft’s abbreviation for the Hardware Abstraction Layer, the technology and drivers that let the Windows NT, 2000, and XP operating systems communicate with your PC’s hardware. HAL is one of several features–along with the NT file system (NTFS) that replaced the much less secure MS-DOS–that make NT-based operating systems more secure and reliable than Windows 95, 98, and Me.
HAL prevents applications from directly accessing your PC’s system memory, CPU, or hardware devices (such as video and sound cards)–a method that can prevent many device conflicts and crashes. Unfortunately, HAL sometimes also slows or stops DOS games and programs, which need to load their own memory managers or control hardware directly for better performance.
With HAL in the way, developers must rewrite or even abandon their older software in favor of newer, HAL-compatible versions. Microsoft has pressured hardware makers to provide or support technologies such as MMX, DirectX, and 3D graphics language OpenGL, all of which allow fast but indirect access to the advanced high-performance features of video, sound, and CPU hardware. Such access also makes for a better visual experience when using Windows for Web and productivity applications; improved graphics performance is evident all over Windows XP’s new user interface.
XP also offers some new compatibility-mode features that let you run programs meant to run under earlier operating systems, but, frankly, most DOS-based and even some Windows-based games simply won’t work with the new OS.
Tip: To see which HAL is currently installed, open Device Manager, and expand the Computer branch. The entry that
appears in this branch corresponds to the currently installed HAL.
HAL.DLL is Missing – Updated by MVP Alex Nichol
Option 1:
Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console. Then:
Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot
Option 2:
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.
Update:
Shaun Gray (3/2005) states:
Let me review my experience / problem with hal.DLL with you all:
I Received a computer with win XP home sp2 that after uninstalling IML4, and Installing IML5, and rebooting. (IML being Imesh light)
Computer displayed windows root\system32\hal.dll is missing or corrupt, please re-install.
NO MODES would boot from advanced boot options
Only bootable option was from CD
Repair console would not EDIT system from OEM XP HOME CD
FixMBR did not solve anything
Bootcfg /list, bootcfg /rebuild did not solve anything
Fixboot did not solve anything
Solution Option 1 wouldn’t work with multi attributes with out “|” in between them. ******
Solution Option 1 didn’t solve anything, except inadvertently adding a second OS to boot.ini
Solution Option 2 was unusable with OEM XP HOME SP2 CD.
Solution Opt 2 with XP PRO SP2 Integrated CD “Functioned”, but was “unable to expand file”
REINSTALLING WINDOWS IS NOT AN OPTION.
Final Solution:
Removed hard drive from system.
Added Hard drive to a 2nd WORKING XP PRO System. As Slave on Cable select.
***(all references to “D:\” are the Slave Hard drive damaged windows)***
Booted system and enabled – Explorer\tools\folder options
Display contents of system folders.
Show Hidden Files and Folders.
UN-check Hide Protected OS Files.
Go to “D:\” open Boot.ini in NOTEPAD, remove the Extra OS’s added with option 1.
Close and Save changes to Boot.ini
Go to “My Computer” Right click on “D:\” select SEARCH “D:\”
Search “All or Part of the File Name” = “hal”
Hal.dll may or may not be found in “D:\WINDOWS\System32″ either way it’s no good.
A working copy of hal.dll WILL be found in “C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386″
COPY THAT FILE “D:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\hal.dll”
And Paste it to “D:\WINDOWS\System32″ folder; if it asks to overwrite say YES.
You may now un-do the changes made to Explorer\tools\folder options to RE-Hide files.
Shut Down the computer.
Remove the 2nd Drive and reinstall it to its own tower as Master.
You should Now be able to boot the computer up as if nothing ever happened.
With the exception that it will prompt you to reinstall some drivers, Just say YES and let it auto detect …THEY ARE ALREADY THERE. And will setup fine.
This “FIX” assumes that the computer in question HAS at ther very least service pack1, if not service pack 2.
If these patches have NOT been installed , I don’t believe any such Reserve copy of hal.dll will exist on the drive!
Thanks for reading,
ivy zhang
I was given a to find out the password since my friend forgot it, and needs to acess files on the computer. The password isn’t for the Windows 98, but to just boot the OS. I can’t find a program to figure this out, so if you guys suggest a program, please give many details about how to run this program.
Additional info:
Intel Inside Pentium
97′ computer
No USB/Ethernet cable, only CD-ROM, Parallel Port, and Floppy Disk
Its an hp pc with windows xp 2003 home edition. i forgot the password to get into setup like when you press f1 when computer reboots.
I somehow enabled ‘users’ option in Windows 98, and now, every time I start my PC, a window pops up asking for my password. It closes when I hit ‘Enter’ button. I find it quite annoying. How do I get rid of this?
Troubleshooting Slow PC and Frozen Screen: Scan for Spyware/Virus
Slow computers and intermittent freezing can be the result of a virus or spyware infection. Each one of these uses up valuable resources and if you don’t get rid of them, they can cause your computer to freeze or run slowly. If you have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application, check for updates and then scan your computer with a full scan. If you don’t have an anti-spyware/anti-virus application, try this one- Anti-VirusPLUS.
Troubleshooting Slow PC and Frozen Screen: Cleaning up the PC
complete each one of the following tasks to clean up the computer and free up some valuable resources. Once you do, your computer should stop freezing up if a lack of computer resources is the problem.
Troubleshooting Slow PC and Frozen Screen: Use System Restore
If none of the above strategies have worked to restore your computer back to normal, use the “System Restore” utility to turn time back and set your computer to an earlier date before this problem started to happen. To do so:
Click Start→ Click All Programs→ Click Accessories→ Click System Tools→ Click System Restore. Click “Restore my computer to an earlier time” and select a date that you think will be good. It should be an earlier date before the problems started to happen. Now, follow the prompts as they occur. Your computer should reboot and run smoothly now.
My computer has been slow to open even though my antivirus is updated. What can I do?
Other Causes of Slow Computers
Updating the virus protection software and scanning your system regularly are excellent first steps in dealing with a slow computer. Once your system is clean, and you are reasonably sure that it is virus and spyware free, then it’s time to move on to more advanced steps such as restricting startup programs and adjusting your BIOS settings. For example, BIOS runs a bunch of tests before allowing Windows to load. It may even have a pre-determined “timeout” setting that is set for an excessively long time. Once Windows loads, Windows may take a while to fully load because of all the programs it has been instructed to open at each boot up. We can change these settings. Don’t worry, it’s not too complicated.
BIOS Quick Boot Option
Check your computer’s BIOS to see if a “quick boot” option is available to fix a slow start up. BIOS is the system that first runs before the operating system loads. It tests the hardware and lets Windows know what the computer has onboard and how to communicate with all of its components. Some of the options, such as loading a splash screen, can take a long time. When booting your computer, look for onscreen instructions telling you how to enter BIOS
Say Hello to MSCONFIG to get a quick start up
Let’s start in the System Configuration utility known as MSCONFIG. Go to Start > Run and type in: msconfig. Click the Enter button. If you have Windows Vista, click Start and enter msconfig in the Search box. Click the icon once it appears. The System Configuration utility will launch. You’ll see several tabs. We’ll start with the Boot tab first.
Fix start up by Changing the Boot Timeout Length
By default, BIOS looks for new hardware and software at each boot up, waiting a full 30 seconds before moving to the next step. Change this setting to a lower number such as 5 or 10 seconds and you will speed up the boot sequence accordingly.
Adjusting Startup Programs
Now, click the Startup tab. You’ll see a list of programs that Windows loads each time it starts, regardless of whether you want to use these programs or not. This is good for some programs, such as antivirus software that must run constantly. But it’s terrible for performance and startup times, especially when rarely used programs are loaded such as QuickTime or Adobe Reader. Removing unnecessary programs from this list won’t remove the program; it will simply stop the program for launching with each start. You can still use the programs on an as-needed basis.
Turning off Indexing
While you’re at it, you can disable indexing. Indexing speeds up searches on your computer but at a cost in performance. If your computer is slow overall, disabling this service will free up resources. Click the MSCONFIG’s Services tab and find the Indexing Service in the list. Double-click the service, find the Startup type, select Manual, and select Stop. In Windows Vista, you can adjust indexing by going to Start and entering Indexing Options in the Search bar. Click the icon and remove the locations that you do not want indexed, or even the entire hard drive if so desired.
Hopefully some of these tips will speed up your computer’s start time. Another option is to disable user passwords if your computer requires a password each time. Of course, you would need to balance your security situation with your need for speed. Let us know if you want help disabling this function.