OK, I got a new OS disk, but I'm not sure how to start it. Everytime I try to start anything, it appears goes to a black screen asking how I want to start (safe mode, etc.) Regardless of what I choose I get this response: "Couldn't start because this was missing or corrupt: windows root/system32/hal.dll." Any ideas on what that means and how I can fix it, or just how I can get the new OS disk to start running?
That is what I am trying to do. I just don't know the steps, obviously. I'm not an IT person. Believe me, I've tried to figure it out on my own and, so far, I've failed miserably. I owe MB dinner. Anyone who can show me how to install a new xp gets a drink on the house in midtown. And I have an xp installer already. I just don't have the knowledge to get it running.
It appears to me that the system is not booting from the CD and is still trying to boot from the hard drive. You mentioned you got into the BIOS before. Get back in there and check the boot order. My guess is that it is set to try the hard drive then CD. Change it so that it tries to boot from the CD first. EDIT: I also assume the Windows CD you got is bootable.
Already tried that. I even placed it before and after the "removeable" port. It still goes to the black screen saying it can't boot up due to aforementioned problem. Of course, I'm not exactly savvy in BIOS. I just went to the startup and changed the order with the original defaults still in place.
When it is starting up, do you know if it is attempting to access the CD-drive? Does it do anysort of boot or give you the option to reinstall/repair or does it go relatively quickly to the missing hal.dll file? Try googling "hal.dll". There are a number of things to try. I had the same error, but it was when I was setting up a dual boot system and my boot.ini file was screwed up so the situations appear different.
I'll try and google it. You can hear the disk boot up, but then it goes to the black screen before anything actually happens. EDIT: Looked it up, and unless there is a way to get to the C:/ prompt in BIOS, I don't know where I'm going.
It sounds like it is not trying to boot from the CD. This generally means one of two things: 1. The BIOS is not recognizing the fact that you changed the boot up options to boot from the CD drive first. I am not sure how the Thinkpad's BIOS works, but in the computers I am familiar with, not only do you have to change something, you also have to save your changes. 2. The Windows CD you have is not bootable. If you have another computer, you can try it there. With the trouble you are having, the only way to get to the C: prompt is to boot from an alternate device (CD, Floppy).
Bobrek, I truly appreciate your input, and I'm going with someone on here who is much more savvy than myself. But I truly thank you for trying to help this idiot, as I know you do. I got the first beer if you ever want to come into 610. Thanks for your help!
