What the heck? "Windows could not start because of an error in the software..."

[vfxraven19]

I don't know why problems keep happening after my bro takes his PC to LAN parties at his friend's place. This is way messed up, and I hate it how he leaves me with the problem in the morning. Well, this is what it says at boot up:

Windows could not start because of an error in the software.

Please report this problem as:
Load needed DLLs for HAL.

Please contact your support person to report this problem.


What the heck does this problem mean? Could the Hard Drive be going bad? It gives no error codes (like that of the BSOD errors). Any ides? He is running:

AthlonXP 1500
Iwill KK266 v1.2
256MB PC133 Hynix
I/O Magic 3DMX (gf2MX) w/ Det's v23.12
Seagate 30GB ATA100 5400rpm
Afreey 50x CD-ROM
Windows XP Professional

Please help! 🙁

 

[DaiShan]

try installing the os again over top of the current install, run scandisk before hand tho (throurough check not surface scan)

 

[vfxraven19]

I am doing that now, so far, I have reformatted 2 times, ran chkdsk, and installing the OS...