How can I determine which hardware abstraction layer (HAL) is running on my computer?
A.
To check which HAL is running on a computer, use one of the following methods:
- Option 1. Start Explorer and navigate to the C:\Windows\system32 folder (%systemroot%\system32). Right-click hal.dll and select Properties. Click the Version tab and select the "Original File name" item. This option displays the original name of the hal.dll. The sample that the figure shows, is from an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) multiprocessor system because it's using what was halmacpi.dll).
- Option 2. When Windows is installed, a setup.log file is created in the repair folder of the installation target (e.g., C:\Windows\repair). Open this file and search for hal.dll. You should see an entry detailing which file was used, as the following example shows:
\WINDOWS\system32\hal.dll = "halmacpi.dll","293a1"
Option 3. If you open Device Manager (Start - Programs - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - System Tools - Device Manager) and expand the Computer leaf, it will show the type of PC the computer is, which directly relates to the HALs listed in the FAQ "What is the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)?" . The figureshows that this is an ACPI multiprocessor system.
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