Hal.dll missing or corrupt.

If you get an error regarding a missing or corrupt hal.dll file, it might simply be the BOOT.INI file on the root of the C: drive that is misconfigured 

1.Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD. 

2.At the first R=Repair option, press the R key 

3.Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
Typically this will be #1 

4.Type bootcfg /list to show the current entries in the BOOT.INI file 

5.Type bootcfg /rebuild to repair it 

6 Take out the CD ROM and type exit 

OR 

Better solution: This seems to always work

expand x:\i386\hal.dl_ y:\windows\system32\ X= cd rom drive letter