Windows has a missing file on first boot. Please Help!

[RamseyC]

I just installed windows xp home on a brand new hdd. I first ran the manufactureres software to set up the hdd.. Seagate 200GB. then I ran the OS disk and it installed. after it was done it rebooted and automatically said " Windows could not start beacuse the following file is missing or corrupt : <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
please reinstall a copy of the above file" If is there any way to install just this file and not have to format the drive completely over? or am i doomed.

[Atomic Rooster]

Try booting to the CD, enter the XP recovery console and type in sfc /scannow and hit enter. That will scan the installation and replace any corrupt or missing files.

[RamseyC]

nope didnt work.. said it was an unrecognized command

[Atomic Rooster]

Huh...

I just found this How do I repair a missing or damaged hal.dll error message?.

[RamseyC]

thanks for the help but i found what the error was.... the hard drive i was using expressly showed a caution label sayng that you needed to run their disk wizard in order to use it as a windows boot drive.... but i called their tech support and they said that it caused problems with windows.... one of which was the missing hal.dll file... so i ran their zero fill utility and tried again without their utility and it worked fine.