Error Message: Load Needed DLLs for Kernel

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows NT, you may receive the following error message:

   Windows NT could not start because of an error in the software.
   Please report this problem as :
   load needed DLLs for kernel.
   Please contact your support person to report this problem.

CAUSE

The Hal.dll and Ntoskrnl.exe files are mismatched.

RESOLUTION

Use the ERD disk and repair the installation. Choose to replace all files, and then replace only the Hal.dll and Ntoskrnl.exe files.

If you can start another installation of Windows NT on the same computer, you can expand the correct Hal.dll and Ntoskrnl.exe files from the Windows NT CD-ROM. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Boot to the working version of Windows NT.

2. Start a command prompt.

3. Change to the CD-ROM drive.

4. Change to the appropriate folder on the CD-ROM (for example, I386 for Intel-based computers).

5. Type "expand hal.dl_ <systemroot>\system32" (without quotation marks) where <systemroot> is the path of the non-functioning Windows NT folder.

6. Type "expand ntoskrnl.ex_ <systemroot>\system32" (without quotation marks).

7. Restart the computer into the other Windows NT installation.