I have Windows XP Home Edition on a computer, without the CD (didn't come with one) It relies on Windows System Restore stored on a partition of the harddrive. I made a copy from another XP disk, but when I try to repair it or reinstall it, a blue screen comes up with an error in the registry...There was a problem with hal.dll in the system32 file, but I replaced it. Something is still wrong, and it let me logon to the MiniNT portion of the CD which lets me view the contents of the Harddrive...but I'm at a loss from here. I cannot repair, restore or reinstall windows, I need some SERIOUS help.first you say this>I have Windows XP Home Edition on a computer, without the CD (didn't come with one then you say this >, but I replaced it.....what with? you need the proper cdinstall disk...or do you have  a ebd floppy disk...can you  obtain safe mode....you may have to edit the boot init file..>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q289/0/22.asp&NoWebContent=1I can't get into safemode, it won't even let me log into the Windows on my HD. The drive that I logged onto is the HP_RECOVERY, but I've scanned around on that drive, and can't find how to boot from the drive or how to recover. I don't have a boot floppy either.jake> you will have to excuse the last post..it seems you learn something new every day...hp have a different way to restore their systems>http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/oem/hppavilion/hp_pavilion_xppc.htm   and good luck...i would make a emergency boot disk and keep it safe you never noOkay, now I'm more confused then before. There is no menu that pops up, I can only access the recovery drive if I go through the WinXP install CD and use the repair option and logon to the recovery drive (it has windows NT) When I do this, though, I can only do a few things as it is not full DOS and will not run applications, only expand and change a few things. I'm fully lost now.Cross that last post, I have good news. I've figured the bad boy out, now maybe I can get it running. Wish me luck...hopefully I won't delete all of the files on it. go for jake what the *censored*...if you have FUN with hal...you can also do this ...if need to edit the boot ini file
attrib-h-r-s-c:\boot ini
del c:\boot ini
bootcfg/rebuild
fixboot


this will FIX hal.....error...info on hal>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q237556  i bet msoft pinched the name from 2001 space odessy...I tried to edit it, but it wouldn't let me. Anyway, I got the thing up and going again, so all should be good.