JSI Tip 1566. HAL: No MPS Table Found during startup.

If you have a multiprocessor installation, and one processor fails, you may receive the subject, or similar, error message.

The HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) can't find the APIC table, which is enabled by the firmware/BIOS during Power-On Self Test.

Until the hardware is repaired, you must use the uniprocessor kernel and HAL files. See tip 0466.

NOTE: Use the latest files from your Service Pack.

There are various methods to make your system bootable, but I prefer the following:

1. Using the technique in tip 0181, replace the multiprocessor HAL and kernel, with the uniprocessor versions. Example:

WINNTsystem32toskrnl.exe = "ntoskrnl.exe","99999","","TIP 0181,"ntoskrnl.exe"
WINNTsystem32hal.dll = "hal.dll","99999","","TIP 0181","hal.dll"

Boot the three Setup disks and choose R for repair. Select Verify Windows NT system files.

After the kernel and HAL files have been replaced, press F3 to quit the repair process, preventing otherfiles from being replaced.

When you boot your computer, the uniprocessor kernel and HAL should enable you to logon.

Add an additional entry to your boot.ini, so that next time a processor fails, you can easily restart:

Copy %SystemRoot%System32toskrnl.exe Copy %SystemRoot%System32tkrnlsp.exe
Copy %SystemRoot%System32hal.dll Copy %SystemRoot%System32halsp.dll

NOTE: This copies the uniprocessor files to a new sp name.

Add to boot.ini:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINNT="Windows NT [Uni-processor]" /hal=halsp.dll /kernel=ntkrnlsp.exe

NOTE: Per tip 0055, use the appropriate rdisk and partition.

After you repair the hardware, use tip 0466 to copy the correct HAL and kernelfrom your latest Service Pack.

NOTE: The next time a processor fails, you need only select the Windows NT [Uni-processor] boot menu option.

NOTE: You can prepare for this failure by copying the uniprocessor files to the sp names and adding the boot.ini entry now.