"Windows could not start..."

[aReformedPatriot]

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Can someone give me a step-by-step tutorial of how to do what that quote says?

 

[Livinloud316]

the first thing to try is if you have a windows install CD just stick that in there, restart, and then select the option to repair the windows installation. Also, based on my googling I'm getting that this is windows 2000? Did you just recently make any changes to anything? new software just installed, windows updates, anything like that?

might also check Microsoft's support article on it, though it looks a little sparse. Or possible This site, looks like some people having similar problems. good luck

 

[Sketcher]

It could be 2000 or XP. First of all, is the hard drive old? If it is, and this happened all of a sudden, it may be beginning to die - especially if you hear it making sounds it never did before. If this is the case, you need to hook it up as a slave drive and get your data copied off of there ASAP.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

It is XP and I am using the restore fix option. it takes me to:

C:\Windows or whatever.

How do I get this file from the CD to my laptops harddrive?

 

[Sketcher]

Are you in the Recovery Console? You should be if you hit R during setup and it took you to a command line.

Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32 (if d:\ is your CD/DVD drive). Tell it you do want to overwrite.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Are you in the Recovery Console? You should be if you hit R during setup and it took you to a command line.

Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32 (if d:\ is your CD/DVD drive). Tell it you do want to overwrite.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm

I don't think that code is correct. I did it over and over again and could not get it to allow me to select yes or no. It just told me "The system cannot find the file or directory specified"

 

[Sketcher]

I don't think that code is correct. I did it over and over again and could not get it to allow me to select yes or no. It just told me "The system cannot find the file or directory specified"

The path is correct. Can you change to the System32 directory? Type cd system32 and see if it gets you in there. If that folder is disappearing, you're in trouble.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

The path is correct. Can you change to the System32 directory? Type cd system32 and see if it gets you in there. If that folder is disappearing, you're in trouble.

I think my hard drive is shot

Ran chkdsk /r and it would not get past 51%

It said something along the lines of "1 or more critical files is corrupted and unrecoverable"

When I type C: dir I can see all my stuff. I just dont know how to get it off there.

Its a laptop harddrive. Can I plug it into my desktop?

 

[Sketcher]

Not if Windows isn't booting and you don't have a certain adapter. Take it into the shop.

 

[pgp_protector]

I think my hard drive is shot

Ran chkdsk /r and it would not get past 51%

It said something along the lines of "1 or more critical files is corrupted and unrecoverable"

When I type C: dir I can see all my stuff. I just dont know how to get it off there.

Its a laptop harddrive. Can I plug it into my desktop?

Yes you can plug it into your desktop.

You can go two directions, Simple & Hard.

1) Simple
Get a USB Case for Laptop Harddrives (Should run about $10-$20), now your desktop may still have problems with it, but you may still be able to recover your data.

2) Get an IDE Adaptor (it's a small device that connects between your IDE Cable & the Laptop drive)

I'd go with the USB Case
Something Like this
http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...0_Aluminum_Enclosure_For_2_5_inch_Hard_Drives

 

[FenderElctrc]

Do you have a floppy disk inside your computer? My computer said something like that, but then I took out the floppy disk and everything went wonderfully.