Quick ? from a complete beginner

[gasnmyveins]

A file (Isass something or other) got corrupted a few weeks ago, stopping windows from booting. Just to fool around, I've been torturing myself with Ubuntu, but it requires more knowledge than I possess, so I've decided to repair windows. I can't find the disk I had a few years ago, so I'm planning to get the XP upgrade and use the repaiur option.. Will it work if I don't have the key from the old XP disk? Thanks.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

There are various programs that can find the Windows XP key on your installed system. However, if you don't have the install CD, how will you perform the repair install?

But before you even start thinking of a reinstall or repair install, make sure that your system is free of malware. You mentioned 'Isass' - this could actually be a virus. Do you have an updated anti-virus program on your system?

You may need to boot into Safe Mode in order to run a virus scan, and if necessary remove any malware. (See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222 how to boot into Safe Mode)

[gasnmyveins]

I was just planning to buy another cd. Hate to waste $100, but what else can I do, you know? I can't boot at all, safe mode or not. I had the exact error message written down and googled it. The hits all said that sam something or other was messed up and needed to be reinstalled from a disc. I could reinstall the HD in question and get the message again, but that won't be happening tonight.

I had Mcafee installed and updated.

Welcome to the Windows Forum.

There are various programs that can find the Windows XP key on your installed system. However, if you don't have the install CD, how will you perform the repair install?

But before you even start thinking of a reinstall or repair install, make sure that your system is free of malware. You mentioned 'Isass' - this could actually be a virus. Do you have an updated anti-virus program on your system?

You may need to boot into Safe Mode in order to run a virus scan, and if necessary remove any malware. (See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222 how to boot into Safe Mode)

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

One more thing you can try - if it's just a missing or corrupt system file. In the same menu as going into Safe Mode, there is another option to 'Boot into Last Known Good Configuration'. This may actually save you from reinstalling.

[Seshomaru Samma]

You can borrow an XP cd from someone else, boot from it and choose the 'repair' option ( R)

You will be asked which Windows installation you wish to access. Choose the appropriate number.

You don't need the keys for repairing a Windows installation.

Make sure to get the exact same edition (home, pro , SP2 etc...)

You will need to know the adminstrator password

If you can post the exact error here it would be helpful , some errors do not require a reinstallation , for example if there is a problem with the boot section it can be easily fixed with a single command.

[gasnmyveins]

Thanks, I'll give those things a try later today, after my daughter's birthday party.

[gasnmyveins]

Wonderful. I tried to start it up and got a new error message. <windows root>\system32\hal.dll. It goes through the screen that lets me enter the bios setup, and then immediately gives me this message. No chance to use the last known good configuration.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Seshomaru Samma]

is the error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.

Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

?

If so you will need to copy the file hal.dll from a windows XP cd

boot from the CD

choose Recovery Console ( the R option)

when you get a command prompt run this command:

d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll.

(substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD)

if you don't have a Windows CD then it can still be done but it's rather complex

you will need to burn a copy of Knoppix , copy a dal.dl file from someone else's computer and use knoppix to replace the corrupt hal.dl . If your file system is FAT32 (unlikely) it should be fairly easy. If your file system is NTFS then it can be quite messy....I can give you more detailed instructions if you are interested.

Maybe somebody else has a better solution....

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Have a look at this article

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

it may hold the solution for the current problem.

[Coreper]

......But before you even start thinking of a reinstall or repair install, make sure that your system is free of malware. You mentioned 'Isass' - this could actually be a virus.......

isass.exe actually is a virus:

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory?files=isass

it is from the Optix.Pro virus

but [maybe you typed it wrong], issass.exe isnt a virus [atleast, not known]:

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory?files=issass

[gasnmyveins]

Believe it or not, it is FAT32. So I'm fortunate in that respect. HOwever, I don't know anyone who can burn the .dll file for me. Is the any way I can get it from the net? Without getting any little additional gifts packaged with it, that is. I'm also wondering what the likelihood is of this being the only problem I'll run into before I get back to the original problem. I mean, if this cropped up, what's to stop a million other things from cropping up also? If I can get a copy of the .dll file, I'll definitely try to replace it. I just hope it isn't going to be the neverending story of window-washing.

is the error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.

Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

?

If so you will need to copy the file hal.dll from a windows XP cd

boot from the CD

choose Recovery Console ( the R option)

when you get a command prompt run this command:

d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll.

(substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD)

if you don't have a Windows CD then it can still be done but it's rather complex

you will need to burn a copy of Knoppix , copy a dal.dl file from someone else's computer and use knoppix to replace the corrupt hal.dl . If your file system is FAT32 (unlikely) it should be fairly easy. If your file system is NTFS then it can be quite messy....I can give you more detailed instructions if you are interested.

Maybe somebody else has a better solution....

[gasnmyveins]

He wrote about using a second drive as a primary and using the damaged drive as a slave, the using the good drive to fix the damaged one. I may end up doing that if I can borrow one from somebody. My question is, if I do in fact have a virus, will it infect the good drive?

Have a look at this article

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

it may hold the solution for the current problem.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Believe it or not, it is FAT32. So I'm fortunate in that respect. HOwever, I don't know anyone who can burn the .dll file for me. Is the any way I can get it from the net? ...

Most DLL files are downloadable somewhere on the Internet. Google "download hal.dll" and you will find plenty of downloads. However, make sure that you get the Windows XP (SP2) version, which is 5.1.2600.2180 .

[gasnmyveins]

Why didn't I think of that? Thanks.

[gasnmyveins]

With the help of an upgrade cd (which I needed for another disc anyhow), I finally got it to go as far as the original error. Here it is. Isass has 1 s, like the virus, it's not a typo. Joy, Joy.

Isass.exe-System Error.

Security Accounts Manager initilization failed becaue of the following error. The handle is invalid. Error status 0xc0000008. Please click OK to shutdown this system and reboot into safe mode, check the event log for more detailed information.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.