ERROR MESSAGE: Load Needed DLLs for HAL

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, you encounter the following error message:

   Load needed DLLs for HAL

CAUSE

This error can be caused if you uninstall Diskeeper for Windows NT 3.5x after you upgrade Windows NT 3.5x to Windows NT 4.0.

RESOLUTION

If you install Windows NT on a FAT partition, start in MS-DOS mode and then replace the affected files (Ntdll.dll, Ntoskrnl.exe, Fastfat.sys, and Ntfs.sys) with the files from the Windows NT CD, or from the service pack, as applicable.

If you installed Windows NT on an NTFS partition, replace the files in one of the following two ways:

1. Use the Windows NT 4.0 Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) for this system to repair the system files.

   WARNING: Ensure that you have a good backup of your system before using the ERD. Any services, applications, service packs, and so on, that you added after you created the ERD may be affected by using the ERD.

1. Install Windows NT 4.0 into a separate directory. Start your computer with the temporary version of Windows NT 4.0. Replace the affected files (Ntdll.dll, Ntoskrnl.exe, Fastfat.sys, and Ntfs.sys) in the original installation with the correct version from the Windows NT 4.0 CD or the service pack, if you applied one. After you replace the files and start the computer without incident with the original version of Windows NT 4.0, it is safe to remove the temporary version of Windows NT 4.0.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install Diskeeper for Windows NT 3.51, it replaces the following files: Ntdll.dll, Ntoskrnl.exe, Fastfat.sys, and Ntfs.sys. The original files are renamed with an .org file extension. When you use the uninstall option in Diskeeper, the original files are renamed, replacing the Diskeeper version of these files. When you uninstall Diskeeper for Windows NT 3.51 after you install Windows NT 4.0, the Windows 4.0 version of these files are replaced by the Windows 3.51 version.

To prevent this problem, uninstall Diskeeper before installing Windows NT 4.0.

Executive Software has announced an updated version of Diskeeper for Windows NT 4.0. For additional information, please contact Executive Software.

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or other- wise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.