I installed a new video card which somehow corrupted a hal.dll file making it
impossible to boot (even with System Restore). I re-installed Windows and
have two questions:

1.Is it possible to force Windows to recognize the 100+ programs already
installed or must I re-install and re-update every one of them?

Is the original Windows a lost cause, or can I update the new one with SP2
(to match the old one) and replace the corrupted hal.dll with the new one? It
would be nice to be able to save all my settings.

"ghlbtsk" wrote

>I installed a new video card which somehow corrupted a hal.dll file making
>it
> impossible to boot (even with System Restore). I re-installed Windows and
> have two questions:
>
> 1.Is it possible to force Windows to recognize the 100+ programs already
> installed or must I re-install and re-update every one of them?
>
> Is the original Windows a lost cause, or can I update the new one with
> SP2
> (to match the old one) and replace the corrupted hal.dll with the new one?
> It
> would be nice to be able to save all my settings.

When you state you "re-installed Windows" did you do a clean install or a
repair install? Normally a repair install will maintain installed programs
and data. A clean install will not, so if you did the former then the
programs should run, if the latter they will not and you can't migrate most
of them to the new installation.

You second paragraph is unclear. There's information you're not providing.
Where is the original install of XP? Where did your reinstall XP, and how
did you do it?

--
Rock [MVP - User/Shell]

ghlbtsk wrote:
> I installed a new video card which somehow corrupted a hal.dll file making it
> impossible to boot (even with System Restore). I re-installed Windows and
> have two questions:
>
> 1.Is it possible to force Windows to recognize the 100+ programs already
> installed ......

Only if you performed a repair installation, a.k.a. an in-place upgrade.

If you performed a separate, parallell installation of Windows, or a
clean installation (formatted the hard drive), then the applications
would have to be reinstalled.


> Is the original Windows a lost cause, ....


Without knowing exactly what went wrong, and exactly what you've done
since then, it's impossible to say. The odds are, however, that by not
initially performing a proper repair installation, you've irretrievably
messed things up. At this point, the best course of action would be to
format the hard drive and start fresh.


> or can I update the new one with SP2
> (to match the old one) ....

Yes.

> .... and replace the corrupted hal.dll with the new one?


Probably not.

> It
> would be nice to be able to save all my settings.
>

Understood, but it's most likely too late for that, now. I certainly
would bother trying.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

ghlbtsk wrote:
> I installed a new video card which somehow corrupted a hal.dll file making it
> impossible to boot (even with System Restore). I re-installed Windows and
> have two questions:
>
> 1.Is it possible to force Windows to recognize the 100+ programs already
> installed ......

Only if you performed a repair installation, a.k.a. an in-place upgrade.

If you performed a separate, parallell installation of Windows, or a
clean installation (formatted the hard drive), then the applications
would have to be reinstalled.


> Is the original Windows a lost cause, ....


Without knowing exactly what went wrong, and exactly what you've done
since then, it's impossible to say. The odds are, however, that by not
initially performing a proper repair installation, you've irretrievably
messed things up. At this point, the best course of action would be to
format the hard drive and start fresh.


> or can I update the new one with SP2
> (to match the old one) ....

Yes.

> .... and replace the corrupted hal.dll with the new one?


Probably not.

> It
> would be nice to be able to save all my settings.
>

Understood, but it's most likely too late for that, now. I certainly
would bother trying.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

I tried a repair installation. No go.
Tried a System Restore. Same.
Wouldn't even let me boot up in Safe Mode.

I accidentally re-installed to the same partition (different folder) as the
original Windows, and I think that screwed me.

Argh! Hard to believe a little 137KB file could cause so much havoc.

I tried a repair installation. No go.
Tried a System Restore. Same.
Wouldn't even let me boot up in Safe Mode.

I accidentally re-installed to the same partition (different folder) as the
original Windows, and I think that screwed me.

Argh! Hard to believe a little 137KB file could cause so much havoc.