--- In [email protected], "Sheri" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Could happen legitimately if the system is trying to boot the wrong > device, e.g. from a CD. Or if the boot drive's boot.ini file has been > altered or damaged. > > http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555304 > http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/a/missinghaldll.htm > http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/repairbootini.htm
ntdetect.com and ntldr where actually missing on the C:\ drive. They should have been there and weren't. _Something_ removed them. I replaced them from install CD in recovery console, hal.dll was present but reported corrupt. Wiped partition and started again. I never inspected boot.ini, but missing ntdetect.com and ntldr seemed to indicate somethng nastier in the woodpile.
