Help with PC

when I start up the computer, before the windows logo appears, I get white text on a black BG that reads :

“Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<windows root/system32/hal.dll.
please reinstall a copy of the file above”

If you cant help… ok… I will just have to reformat my computer… which I just finished doing about an hour ago… its just a hassle to do it again… thanx