[RESOLVED] missing or corrupted hal.dll

[SpywareDr]

Wow, what an ordeal.

In the long run, a fresh install --without Goback-- should give you a more solid foundation to build on.

However, keep in mind that there will NOT be any more updates from Microsoft for XP, Security or otherwise, after April 8th, 2014, (less than 9 months).

[terryZ]

format complete.
install complete.
anti-virus installed and updated.
windows update in process.

this post being done from the "fixed" pc. YAY.

i want to thank all of you for the help you have given me. it's too bad that whatever was wrong with this machine wasn't fixable. and, no, i am NOT reinstalling go-back on it.

<3 to virtualdr and you all.

[terryZ]

... keep in mind that there will NOT be any more updates from Microsoft for XP, Security or otherwise, after April 8th, 2014, (less than 9 months).

nice to know.

the reason we haven't updated past XP (all the PCs here came with windows 7 but i also requested XP be installed) is that there are a few critical legacy systems written in qbasic. i have vista at home and i've tried but vista doesn't play well with qbasic. so i'm sure 7 won't.

[SpywareDr]

You're welcome.

[terryZ]

the reason we haven't updated past XP ... is that there are a few critical legacy systems written in qbasic. i have vista at home and i've tried but vista doesn't play well with qbasic. so i'm sure 7 won't.

i will have to try upgrading to 7 before next spring, but i'll give you all a breather first.

[Train]

the reason we haven't updated past XP (all the PCs here came with windows 7 but i also requested XP be installed) is that there are a few critical legacy systems written in qbasic. i have vista at home and i've tried but vista doesn't play well with qbasic. so i'm sure 7 won't.

VMware with XP installed on a Win 7 rig maybe the answer. Just a thought.

[terryZ]

finished installing peripherals.

however, can't get the monitor "installed" correctly.

[don't know if i should start a new thread or continue this one ... please advise]

i have the "monitor driver" cd that came with this system. the monitor is a dell e2010h. i'm staring at the "E2010H.inf" file on it. however, i can't install it.

if i go to control panel > display > settings > advanced > monitor ... it shows a default monitor with the "properties" grayed out.

if i go to device manager, and try to update the video controllers (there are two ... ) it says there are not at that location.

any ideas?

[Train]

Try this one. . .
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/...driverid=J4V0F

[Midknyte]

Ah well. Probably better to start fresh at this point anyway.

So you're trying to add the monitor drivers from device manager? That's fine, but it would be the video adapter drivers that control resolution.

What video card do you have? There were several different options offered on the 380.
https://www.dell.com/support/drivers...t/optiplex-380

[terryZ]

ah. thanks both. the page train directed me to has the same drivers i have on CD.

i guess i don't know what to do to change the video adapter. i thought it was in display or some such thing.

as to video card, i have NO idea. it's not listed on the packing slip. doesn't go into that much detail.

[Midknyte]

Is it onboard video or a card in a slot? If it's onboard, then I'd say it's the Intel GMA video.

Are all the devices installed properly in Device Manager or are there still yellow question marks?
You need to install the correct video drivers in order to change the resolution. Monitor drivers won't help.

[terryZ]

oh it's onboard.

i still have the yellow question marks for the following:

audio device
sm bus contoller
video controller
video controller (vga compatible)

all the rest i've been able to fix so far.

as i said, train's link points to the same INF file i have on the monitor driver cd. i just don't know what "setting" to feed that file to.

[Midknyte]

audio device
sm bus contoller
video controller
video controller (vga compatible)

You definitely didn't install the video card drivers, which would cause problems with resolution. Start with the Intel GMA and see if that works. If that doesn't work, try the other Intel video driver.

smbus is part of the chipset, so you need to install the chipset drivers. only one driver listed for that.

audio is the audio card. only one driver listed for that too.

Don't bother with the monitor drivers until you install the video drivers.

[terryZ]

sorry, mostly greek to me.

how do i install the "intel gma"?

when i try to upgrate the sm & audio drivers it says can't find necessary software.

[Midknyte]

So you're going to the link I posted for drivers, then choosing Windows XP, right? This is the same link:
https://www.dell.com/support/drivers...t/optiplex-380

It says Intel GMA in the video drivers section:
Intel GMA 4500HD/4500MHD Graphics Driver

The other drivers are:
Intel Chipset Driver
Realtek ALC269 High Definition Audio Driver