Electricity Outage Caused Windows Error (won't Reboot)

On Sun, 8 Nov 2009 23:18:31 -0000, "DL" <notvalid.TakeThisOut@spoofaddress.co.uk> wrote:

>There isnt an Outlook 2006 so you are stating the impossible
>XP Pro & Xp Home, why an earth, complete waste of time, get rid of XpHome
>As previously said buy a UPS and configure it correctly that way it will
>shutdown the PC if you are away, and if you cannot save any data prior to
>going out, then what can anyone say.
>
>"jviren" <jviren.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>news:7C399078-408E-4B98-8ECE-409BCB8BFB7E@microsoft.com...
>> An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
>> problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
>> error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
>> Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got
>> another
>> error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is
>> missing
>> or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of
>> the
>> above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
>> recovery disks, but I have some questions.
>>
>> My questions:
>> 1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
>> computer guy did it. Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
>> disk I use. However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?
>> 2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this, instead of
>> recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page, even though I have
>> pressed
>> F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it
>> won't
>> work.
>> 3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking
>> things
>> on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine. Last time it
>> happened,
>> Outlook reverted to 2006. I have the computer on a surge protector, which
>> obviously was of no use in this case. I also have it hooked up to a UBS
>> but
>> that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes
>> out.
>> And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
>> leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod and
>> a
>> standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?
>>
>> Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
>> this computer working without reformatting the hard drive, since I have
>> too
>> many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.
>>
>> Thank you for your help!
>>
>
You cannot always depend on a UPS - Was in the bathroom the other day when we
had a split second brown out - as a normal thing all clocks had to be reset but
the computer had rebooted and was awaiting password - strange as I have a UPS.

So I input the password and the computer was running like normal - thought -
what is going on the computer should have stayed up - experiment - removed the
power input to the UPS and the computer was still running with a few beeps -
left it running for 30 seconds - no trouble - reconnected mains input. I am
still puzzled at the way the computer behaved for a 1/10 second brown out - any
ideas

It has to be good - I was a TV tech before I retired so I thought I knew a thing
or two about power and electricity

Børge in sunny Perth, Australia

On Nov 8, 5:01 pm, jviren <jvi....TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
> problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
> error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
> Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got another
> error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is missing
> or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of the
> above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
> recovery disks, but I have some questions.
>
> My questions:
> 1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
> computer guy did it. Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
> disk I use. However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?
> 2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this, instead of
> recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page, even though I have pressed
> F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it won't
> work.
> 3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking things
> on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine. Last time it happened,
> Outlook reverted to 2006. I have the computer on a surge protector, which
> obviously was of no use in this case. I also have it hooked up to a UBS but
> that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes out.
> And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
> leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod and a
> standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?
>
> Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
> this computer working without reformatting the hard drive, since I have too
> many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.
>
> Thank you for your help!

Strating in Safe Mode will not help - you cannot even get into Safe
Mode, right?

After a power interruption, the integiry of your file system is
probably compromised and the chances of hal.dll really being missing
or corrupt are slim. XP just can't find it. Doing any file
manipulation with a compromised file system does not make sense, so
you need to fix that first.

You need to boot the XP Recovery Console from your XP installation CD
or if you don't have one make your own bootable XP Recovery Console
CD, fix your compromised file system first, then troubleshoot any
remaining issues. Most store bought systems do not come with either.

You should first boot your PC into the XP Recovery Console using a
bootable XP installation CD or a bootable CD with the XP Recovery
Console on it.

Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or
improper shutdown? (Yes.)

These can cause corruption in the file system which must be fixed
before you do anything else.

If any of those events have occurred, you should boot into the Windows
Recovery Console using a bootable XP installation CD, or create on a
bootable XP Recovery Console CD. This is not the same as any recovery
disks that might have come a store bought system.

For each of your hard disks, you should then run:

chkdsk c: /r

And the same for d: if you have a D drive.

You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file
and burning it to a CD.

The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

xp_rec_con.iso

Download the ISO file from here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ueyyzfymmig

Use this free and easy program to create your bootable CD:

http://www.imgburn.com/

It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on the computer that
is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM
drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. These
adjustments are made before Windows tries to load. If you miss it,
you will have to reboot the system again.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually 1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder.

This is the same as the C:\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

RC allows basic file commands - copy, rename, replace, delete, cd,
chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive
where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the
afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine to run even if it doesn't find any problems.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. It may take
a long time to complete or appear to be 'stuck'. Be patient. If the
HDD light is still flashing, it is doing something. Keep an eye on
the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the
computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the
CD will not be present.

"jviren" <jviren.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:7C399078-408E-4B98-8ECE-409BCB8BFB7E@microsoft.com...
> An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
> problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
> error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
> Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work. Then I got
> another
> error message: "Windows could not start because the following file is
> missing
> or corrupt: Windows root.\system 32\hal.dll. Please reinstall a copy of
> the
> above file." I found some articles on how to reinsal the file with the XP
> recovery disks, but I have some questions.
>
> My questions:
> 1) I have 2 OSs installed (XP Pro and XP Home) because that's how my
> computer guy did it.

Why?

> Since XP Pro is the default, I'm assuming that is the
> disk I use.

Why?

> However, I don't think I have those disks, so what can I do?

Why on earth do you not have the reinstall disks for the OS?

If this is how your "computer guy did it", get the disks from him.

> 2) Is it possible that starting in Safe Mode will fix this,

This specific problem can be related to a boot.ini issue, and that can be
fixed without the specific install disks. If you can get into Safe Mode,
you have already fixed the problem.

For example,
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_haldll_missing.htm

> instead of
> recovery disks? I can't seem to get to that page,

Then you can't get to Safe Mode.

> even though I have pressed
> F8 when I was able to get to the boot loader page or BIOS page, but it
> won't
> work.
> 3) I have had many issues with the electricity going out and wrecking
> things
> on my computer, not to mention killing my fax machine.

You need UPS protection. Expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars for
solid UPS units.

> Last time it happened, Outlook reverted to 2006.

There is no Outlook 2006.

> I have the computer on a surge protector, which
> obviously was of no use in this case.

Surge protecters are of very limited help.

> I also have it hooked up to a UBS

Do you mean a UPS? If so, you need a bigger one.

> but
> that doesn't really help me when I am not home when the electricity goes
> out.
> And I don't want to turn my computer off, mid-project, just because I'm
> leaving my home office for a couple of hours. Besides a lightning rod and
> a
> standby generator, is there a solution to this so this won't happen again?
>
> Fortunately, my files are backed up by Carbonite, but I would rather get
> this computer working without reformatting the hard drive,

Which you can't do without the install disks you say you don't have.

> since I have too
> many projects to take the time to install everything again right now.
>
> Thank you for your help!

You need a more rational and practical approach to your PC setup, use, and
maintenance.

-pk

On Nov 8, 5:01 pm, jviren <jvi... DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> An electric outage yesterday caused my Compaq Presario desktop to have
> problems. It booted REALLLLLLLY slowly and so I rebooted it, but I got an
> error message: "Disk read error recurred on Start Up. Press Ctl + Alt +
> Delete..." So I did that over and over and it didn't work.

Do we fix something rather than first learn what is wrong? Error
message tells you which direction to start an analysis. Trying to fix
it may create additional problems - exponentially complicate this
problem.

It says data from the disk is intermittent. So get and execute the
disk drive manufacturer's diagnostics to learn of disk drive
hardware. An analysis not complicated by Windows, the filesystem,
malware, or disk data. A diagnostic that executes without Windows
means the analysis is simpler using only their software and but a few
hardware components of your system.

Curing symptoms (ie UPS) is posting wild speculation. Power down by
any means is not hardware destructive (assuming the hardware meets
minimal hardware requirements). Many custom systems are assembled
without even basic electrical knowledge. Then to fix their bean
counter solution (it saved $25), they recommend a $100 UPS. If power
down caused hardware damage, an effective solution starts with the
reason for that failure - the computer assembler.

Meanwhile, you have no useful replies without hard information from
diagnostics and other analysis information. Only then can the actual
problem be identified and the informed reply. Later, that problem is
fixed. IOW how to solve a problem the first time, with less money -
and faster. First identify the failure. Then fix it.