big problem with computer

[ng12345]

Today i was messing around with my pc, and downloaded some files and all of the sudden, my pc started going crazy and restarting over and over again.

I tried to scan it with my avg to see if i got a virus and it stopped working. When i tried to do the same with my anti spyware, it did the same and stopped working.

I deleted the files i downloaded and the problem wouldn't go away. I tried to do a system recovery and thats when my pc got messed up. During the system recovery, they noticed i missed a few files, so it restarted my pc and got a black screen saying i was missing a file or the file was corrupt.

It said:

"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."

The problem is that i don't have any back up files, or the windows xp file, or anything that could help me out.
It won't even let me go in safe mode. All i can do is go to boot menu, system recovery, and setup.

I am currently on another pc so can someone help me out?

[contrex]

Didn't you get a recovery disk when the PC was bought?

[Michael]

Have you tried to copy the hal.dll file from another computer and put it in your C:\Windows\System32 folder?

[ale52]

Try what Michael suggested.  If not, you'll need the CD that Contrex suggested. 
When you find it do a restore from it.

Alan <>< 

[patio]

The Long Method

This will require a WinXP CD that matches your installed version...

[CBMatt]

If you don't mind me asking...what exactly did you download?

[FilluX]

I think i had a similar problem once, that there was some file missing and it could not start, so when the pc was booting, i clicked on i think it was f10 or something, to xp or pc recovery, or something like that, so the pc pretty much reinstalled xp so it was like when i bought it, all music and videos were still there but alot of programs were gone, but i though it was worth it.
Thats how i would do it...