# Help with PC

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-with-pc/149476>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [May 29, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-with-pc/149476 "2005-05-29T20:26:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![psychtaygar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@psychtaygar](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/psychtaygar)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/help-with-pc/149476/1 "2005-05-29T20:26:43Z")

</div>

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