Pelican Parts Forums - missing hal.dll file....windows xpp sp2

Pelican Parts Forums (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/)

- Off Topic Discussions (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/)

- - missing hal.dll file....windows xpp sp2 (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/222592-missing-hal-dll-file-windows-xpp-sp2.html)

missing hal.dll file....windows xpp sp2

I tried to boot my system the other day and after the post and PnP initalization, I got the message, "your hal.dll is missing or corrupted. Reinstall hal.dll and restart your computer." Something of those sorts. I tired recovering the dll by using the recovery feature of the XP cd, but after a few attempts and being told that folder does not exist, I did some digging....my entire c:\windows folder is missing!!!! How on earth did this happen? I have seen two suggestions, reinstalling the OS or putting my corrupt os drive as a slave and coping the file over from a working machine. Does anyone have a suggestion that does not require me swapping disk or re-installing the os?

Aleady tired that one. I could not get the i386 folder to expand on my c:\. I think I am going to make it a slave and copy the entire folder. Thanks though.