AboutLenny Expertise NB:I do not accept PRIVATE QUESTIONS
I can answer most questions based on the Windows XP environment.Issues connected with troubleshooting,basic to advanced installation, networking, security,hard-drive maintenance i.e. formatting, mapping, data recovery and upgrading.I am ready to assist Windows XP newbies integrate in the XP environment.
Again...I prefer to strictly respond to Windows XP questions and NOT any related to gadgets.
Experience I can answer most questions based on the Windows XP environment.Issues connected with troubleshooting,basic to advanced installation, networking, security,hard-drive maintenance i.e. formatting, mapping, data recovery and upgrading.I am ready to assist Windows XP newbies integrate in the XP environment.
Question Upon start up my Dell dimension 8400 with windows XP professional gave me an error message that hal.dll. was missing or corrupted. I tried to boot up using the CD and use recovery to fix the problem. But, I end up with a message that windows setup is examining 238418 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on iastor.....I have to manually shut down to get out. I ran the hard disk diagnostics - I have a Maxtor hard drive - and it failed with a return code 5. Is tere anything I can do to boot up? Is my hard drive dead? Thanks for any help.
Clare
Answer Hello Clare,
Most likely, the hard-drive could be having internal damage or is NOT damaged at all. But the strange behaviour seems hard to determine the root cause of the problem unless a special manufacturer's diagnostic program is run on it. The program will do a bunch of test-rides as it says in the link below; http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/SeaToolsDOSguide.pdf
After entering your details, you are greeted by a list of download options.Under "SeaTools for DOS Version" far right to it you see this label called "ISO CD-ROM Image". Please click on the language version that suits you. "EN" is English.Once download is complete, please proceed below.
Then follow instructions to burn seatools.iso file you downloaded:
1.Insert a blank CD in your CDROM drive.
2.Find the .iso file that you have downloaded onto your computer, for example, onto your Desktop.
3.Right-click on the .iso file.
4.You will see a Copy Image to CD option on the dropdown menu. Select it.
5.The CD Recording Wizard should appear. Simply choose Next and Finish.The CD will eject when completed.
Once CD has been created you will be required to boot up the machine with it and run the tests. LONG TEST is most technical and reliable. It'd take hours though. Then afterwards ZERO ALL by running ERASE DRIVE
