hal.dll missing and now ntldr missing problem

[wiggdywags]

Greetings everyone.  This is my first time posting and I'm not too computer savvy, but I have a problem with my wife's laptop.
dell inspirion running on windows xp
Problem started with the following error message:
*
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
Windows root>system32/hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file
*
I tried booting in safe mode, but no luck.
Doing some research online, I may have made the problem worse.
I entered system recovery mode?  got to c: windows>
I believe used something along the lines of:
expand d:\i386\hal.dl_

I think I then typed c:\windows\system32\hal.dll
was asked to overwrite and I said yes.

New problem now occurs.
*
NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
*
I hit F12 and chose to boot from xp disc.
I receive message, "hit any key"
I do this, computer then says "checking setup", screen goes blank and then nothing happens.

Your assistance with these problems is greatly appreciated.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

So you can't boot from the CD?

Is it possible you can try another one?

[patio]

If you can get back into the Recovery Console type in fixboot and hit Enter...
Remove any CD's and re-boot.
Hope this helps.

You may need a MS XP CD to get there...the laptop restore CD might not do it.

[wiggdywags]

Correct, I cannot boot from the cd.  The only cd that appears to work is a dell diagnostic cd.  My xp cd is fine, because it works on my other computer.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Can you try another Windows CD?

Is this a legal version of the CD?

[wiggdywags]

I don't have another windows cd, but this one is a legal version.  It came with my dell.  My other laptop recognizes it.
It seems that I can't get any cd to boot...except for the dell diagnostic cd.  When I run the dell diagnostic it says that everything passes.

Can you try another Windows CD?

Is this a legal version of the CD?

[wiggdywags]

I can't get back to the recovery console.  My MS XP CD doesn't want to boot.  I think the cd is good though, because is works on my other laptop.

If you can get back into the Recovery Console type in fixboot and hit Enter...
Remove any CD's and re-boot.
Hope this helps.

You may need a MS XP CD to get there...the laptop restore CD might not do it.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

It won't boot? Just that?

Nothing else you can tell us? 

[wiggdywags]

when I try to boot from the xp cd I get "press any key" I do that and then get "checking your computer's hardware configuration" and then the computer just freezes.

It won't boot? Just that?

Nothing else you can tell us? 

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Try removing the CMOS Battery for about 10 minutes and then putting it back in, and trying again.

[wiggdywags]

Is the CMOS battery just the regular battery? 

Try removing the CMOS Battery for about 10 minutes and then putting it back in, and trying again.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

The button battery.

http://images.google.com.hk/images?hl=en&q=cmos%20battery&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi