Fix "missing or corrupt system32\hal.dll"

Problem:
When you start your computer, you receive an error message similar to one of the following:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:\System32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

windows_root\System32\hal.dll missing or corrupt:
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot disk.
Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

NTLDR Missing (NTLDR Problem)

Cause:
This error may occur because the file hal.dll is missing or corrupt, or because the system configuration has changed and Windows is looking in the wrong place for it.

Solution:
The Windows 2000 and Windows XP CDs supplied by Microsoft have a tool called the Recovery Console which can be used to repair errors that prevent Windows XP from starting using the command line. OEM versions of Windows XP, including computers that were supplied with Windows XP preinstalled, may not have this utility, so the following steps may not work:

1: Insert the Windows CD and start the computer.
2: When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R.
3: Type a number corresponding to the Windows installation you wish to repair (usually 1) and press Enter.
4: When prompted, type the administrator password and press Enter.
5: At the command prompt, enter the following commands. (The example commands assume that C: is your Windows drive. Change the drive letter if appropriate.)

ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\BOOT.INI
DEL C:\BOOT.INI
BOOTCFG /REBUILD FIXBOOT

6: Remove the Windows XP CD from the drive and restart the computer.

7: If this does not resolve the problem:
Repeat the instructions above to boot to the recovery console and log on as administrator.
At the command prompt type the following command:

EXPAND D:\I386\HAL.DL_ C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\HAL.DLL