My computer froze whilst playing a computer game, even with ctrl alt delete, it didnt budge, so I got fed up and turned it off using the off button on the computer tower (I have done it other times and it has been fine).
The following evening, I tried to start the computer as usual, but a black screen comes up saying "<Windows Root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe missing or corrupt"
I've talked to a couple of friends who are good with computers, and they said it's something to do with the hard drive (the big memory thing?) if I remember rightly.
I've read on various pages on the web that inserting an XP disk will repair it, but I don't have one as it used to be Win 98, and then got updated to XP.
Yet, I do have a disk that came with the XP computer I am currently using.
Would it be ok to use that CD? I also have a boot floppy disk for Windows 98. I don't mind losing data or even wiping the memory completely (if there is any way of doing that without actually taking the hard drive out) as I have everything on this computer anyway. I just need a solution to get it back working, before my parents find out! (they would not be happy!)

Thanks in advance

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 11:34 AM

Hello cofuffle !

Insert your XP disk into the CD drive, choose the boot from command prompt option and type in the following: copy d:\I386\Driver.cab c:\system32\ntoskrnl.exe /v, where d is the letter of your cd drive, press enter, take the cd out restart your computer.

Regards,



This post has been edited by mirjel: Jul 6 2008, 12:33 PM

I've read something on a booklet/leaflet which is with the XP cd in the packet, and it says something about
"certain reinstallations of the software product or reconfigurations of the PC may be completed by internet or telephone"
Is this something that needs to be completed by telephone?! Also, are there any risks of it going wrong?
Is it ok to use an XP disk that came with this computer to use it on my other XP computer? And, do all computers have d as the letter of their CD drive?
I'm just worried about making things worse!
I'll be so grateful of any more help.

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 08:52 AM

running a repair or doing as mirjel requested
will not cause you to lose data

heres a great tutorial on how repair windows

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

scroll down to XP Repair install

once you repair windows you will need to update windows

http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftu...t.aspx?ln=en-us

I don't have access to the internet on that computer, so is a windows update neccesary, or just.. how can I put it... 'cosmetic'..? as I will be getting a laptop soon anyway, I just don't want my parents to find out I've broken my computer! All I want my computer is to work, and get access to pictures, I don't mind it being the very basic version of XP. Is it still really neccesary for an update? But if so, is there any way of burning an update onto a CD and downloading it onto my other computer?

But thank you for the repair windows tutorial, I'll print that off.

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 09:47 AM

so this computer is never connected to the internet
you can still run repair
all your data will still be there
then you can back up your pictures and important stuff

have you tried tapping F8 when you turn on your computer
and when safemode options opens
choose safemode
then do a system restore from there

click on start/run/msconfig /click ok
then launch system restore
choose a restore point and restore to that point in time computer was good

Okay, so I don't need to use the cd, just go straight to pressing F8 then go onto safemode?
Or do I do all this after I've done the cd proceedure?
And no, I just use that computer to play games and store a few pics, so I haven't connected it to internet in years!

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 10:27 AM

try safemode first
without cd
it may work it may not
if safemode doesnt show
or you got boot up problem
you will need to use cd and repair windows

Ok, I'll try that now, and let you know how I get on!

Okay, I haven't used the XP cd, but I tried the safemode, pressed enter, and then a short while after a black screen comes up saying at the very top of the screen:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\ntoskrnl.exe

and then below that, it gives the original error message of

"<Windows Root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
missing or corrupt" etc

There were no options for a system restore.
Also, I've learnt that the computer is XP Professional, and the XP cd I could use is Home Edition.
Will it make any difference when I need to get that new ntoskrnl file (not sure what its called) from the cd?

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 11:12 AM

you need the upgrade cd you installed windows
if its windows xp pro then you need xp pro
xp home is windows xp but different version

Argh.. I don't have the upgrade CD as it wasn't me who did it, it was some guy a family member knew, and I have no idea who he is. Is there no chance that the Home edition could work just to install that file?
Otherwise, is there anywhere I could get an XP Pro cd from, do regular computer shops sell them?
If so, do you have any ideas on prices?

This post has been edited by cofuffle: Jul 6 2008, 11:20 AM

windows xp is no longer available
as of june 30 2008

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080630/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_xp

What do I do?!

a repair shop can do the repairs
microsoft has not stop them
read more here

http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?showtopic=158377

one last thing you could try is this

disconnect computer from its power supply
or unplug it from wall
press power button
removes static
open side panel
remove ram from slots
unplug harddrive
wait 5 minutes
reconnect everything and power back up
see if it boots up that way