How To Repair Missing Hal.dll Error

What is hal.dll?

HAL stands for Hardware Abstraction Layer. In a Windows computer HAL is used as an operating system programming layer that allows the operating system to operate with any hardware device, without the need of knowing the specific protocol of that particular device.

Hall.dll is a core process of HAL and its main duty is to implement the functionality of HAL.

Error Messages

Listed below are examples of hal.dll error messages that you may receive when you boot your system. These error messages appear before your Windows operating system gets fully loaded.

  • Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <windows_root>\System32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the above file.
  • windows_root\System32\hal.dll missing or corrupt: Please re-install a copy of the above file.
  • Windows is unable to start due to a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
  • Windows is unable to read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please refer to the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for further guidance.

Causes of Hal.dll Error Messages

Listed below are the reasons behind the hal.dll error:

  • Hal.dll file is missing or corrupt.
  • Hal.dll file is moved from its correct location.
  • Boot.ini file is missing or damaged.
  • System configuration sequence is tampered, as a result Windows is looking in wrong place while booting.
  • Outdated device drivers.

Resolution Steps

Follow the instructions given below in the sequence they appear to correct this error.

  1. Restart your PC. Although this activity seems inconsequential, at times it does the trick and you may find error missing on reboot.
  2. Verify the boot device order in BIOS. The steps listed below guide you on how to check the boot device order:
    1. Restart your PC and keep pressing the delete key on your keyboard, until the BIOS screen appears.
    2. Now, go to Boot menu and verify whether the hard disk on which Windows is installed is on the top of the boot sequence list or not.
      3. It is important to verify the boot sequence when you have more than one hard disk. Hal.dll error occurs when your boot sequence is incorrect. The hard disk that contains Windows Installation needs to be on top. If this is not the case, then use the arrow keys to restore the correct order.
  3. Replace the hal.dll from Windows XP Boot disk. If the above steps fail to correct the error, you will need to replace the hal.dll file from the Windows XP Boot disk. To achieve this follow the steps listed below:

    1. Boot your computer using Windows XP Boot disk and select the repair setup.
    2. Open the command prompt window and type the following command:
      expand  x:\i386\hal.dl_  y:\windows\system32\hal.dll
      Note: X denotes the drive letter of your CD-ROM and Y stands for the drive on which Windows is installed
  4. Run a repair setup of Windows XP. If the error still persists after step 3, then you will need to run a repair setup of Windows XP to correct the error.
  5. Replace the hard drive. If everything mentioned above fails, then hal.dll error could be due to hardware issue with your hard drive and you will need to get it replaced.
  6. Update your device driver. Outdated device drivers can cause several computer issues including hal.dll errors. To fix these issues, you need to keep your drivers up-to-date with the latest releases. An automatic, efficient and simple way of doing this task is by using a good driver scanner tool, such as Driver Finder.

DLL errors may also occur if your PC is infected with a malware or suffers from registry problems. To combat malware infections you need to use efficient antimalware tools, such as STOPzilla Antivirus and Spyware Cease to scan and clean your PC. To fix registry errors, you may need to clean your registry with the help of a reliable and efficient registry tool, such as RegServe.