Solution:
The first thing the reader should do is ensure that the partition on which he has installed Win2000 has a capacity of more than 7.8GB. Win2000 is unlikely to function properly if it's installed on a partition smaller than that. If necessary, the reader can use his partitioning software to re-create the Win2000 partition and reinstall the OS.
Having said that, we think the error message is most likely the result of a missing or corrupted Hal.dll file, which is a file that Win2000 uses to communicate with various hardware components inside the PC. This file has a tendency to get mangled when users attempt to install another OS—in this case, WinXP—after previously installing Win2000. Fortunately, the reader should be able to rectify the problem by repairing the Win2000 installation. To do so, he can insert the Win2000 installation disc or 3.5-inch diskette in the computer and reboot the machine. A Welcome To Setup screen should appear; the reader can press the R key at this point to access the Windows 2000 Repair Options screen. He should press the R key again to activate the emergency repair process. He then should press the F key to perform a full repair of the installation and replace the damaged Hal.dll file. After the repair is complete, the reader can reboot his PC. He should be able to access Win2000 without any difficulties now.
If that doesn't work, the situation requires a much more complicated solution that varies depending on the type and configuration of the processor involved. We advise the reader to contact his computer manufacturer for further assistance. |