Folks, pls bear with me and I hope I am in the right forum but my desktop will not boot and Iam getting the error msg Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. windows root systems 32 ntoskrnl.exe pls re-install a copy of the above file. Any help would be greatly appreciated but pls bear in mind that I would not be that well up on the workings of a p.c. tia breslb.
I would do a chkdsk c: /f first. When the computer boots up press f8 and then choose load with the command prompt, from there just type the chkdsk c: /f command. If you had an abnormal shutdown, that could have corrupted your startup files, a chkdsk will usually fix this. If the ntoskrnl.exe is actually missing then download the following bootcd (freeware). This bootcd will bypass your windows startup files and use the "startup" files on the cd. Once you have windows started you can just copy the files on the cd to your c:drive fixntldr download this file "CD-R fixntldriso.zip" http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm
somebody doesn't understand what ntoskrnl is and what it actually does.. It's actually built during an install.. it's the monolithic windoze kernel.. the core of the operating system.. simply "replacing" it from an installer won't work because it holds all the module lists for ALL the hardware and the hal version information. The only way to just "replace" the file in the way noobingtons (chkdsk fixes everything bloke) suggests is to do a basic full clean install then copy the file over.. often a message "missing or corrupt" means a rootkit or virus has messed with the boot files.. sometimes as simple as changing the creation date of the file.. but as it's security checked during boot even replacing it just bumps the problem to the next file.. and the next.. and so on.. do a clean install, it's easier.
If the chkdsk doesn't fix it and you don't have a backup where you can get the file then you can do a "clean install" but you would lose all your data. That's why a quick chkdsk c: /f is always your first repair. I would even attempt using testdisk next before I tried a "clean install".
Good call jony,Paula sounds like a Linux user....... poor thing. Missing or corrupt ntoskrnl.exe file If the ntoskrnl.exe file is corrupt or missing, you will need a Microsoft Windows XP CD to restore this file follow the below steps. 1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD. Note: If you have a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your issue. 2. Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you see this message press any key. 3. In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to enter the recovery console. 4. Select the operating system you wish to fix, and then enter the administrator password. 5. Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32 (assuming your CD drive is d 6. You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file type Y and press enter to overwrite the file. 7. Type exit to reboot the computer. 2oG
