ntoskrnl.exe is missing

[Stupot]

I removed a drive containing data not associated with the Win XP OS. Windows
won't start any more. even though I replaced the Sata drive that I removed.
I get the message that the Windowsroot system32\ntoskrnl.exe is corrupt or
missing. I tried to find this file to replace it but the one I found isn't
an exe file. Please help.
Stuart.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I removed a drive containing data not associated with the Win XP OS.
Windows won't start any more. even though I replaced the Sata drive that I
removed. I get the message that the Windowsroot system32\ntoskrnl.exe is
corrupt or missing. I tried to find this file to replace it but the one I
found isn't an exe file. Please help.
Stuart.

What happens when you put the removed drive back again?

 

[Stupot]

The same message appears and refuses to boot.
By the way this is a dual boot system and the 64 bit Windows XP was
unaffected by this problem.
The trouble is everything of importance is within the 32 bit OS which isn't
booting including the email.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Start playing with "x" and "y" in the line
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS
located in the hidden file c:\boot.ini.
x must be 0 or greater, y must be 1 or greater. To
speed up the process, create several lines and test
them one after the other:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(3)\WINDOWS
etc.

 

[Stupot]

Before I attempt this(You will have to tell me how to do as instructed I'm
afraid) I went into MSCONFIG on the 64 bit windows and found this puzzle.
"multi(0)rdisk(2)Partition(1)"windows=Microsoft windows XP professional"
/fastdetect/NoExecute+optin
I did a "Check on all boot paths" and got the result that the above line
does not refer to a valid operating system and gave the option (Not taken)
to delete it.
Any more help would be appreciated.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Mhm - I wasn't aware of this option in msconfig. Learnt something new!
Try this:
- Click Start / Run / notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- Type these commands:
attrib -h -r -s c:\boot.ini{Enter}
copy c:\boot.ini c:\boot.org{Enter}
notepad c:\boot.ini{Enter}
- Now copy the last line a number of times and vary x and y
as per my previous post.
Save & close
- Run msconfig.exe
- Get it to check all boot paths and allow it to remove the invalid lines.

Do you get an extra line, one that refers to Windows XP?

 

[Stupot]

Thanks for being patient and helping me but before I try your possible
solution can you confirm that although the 64bit OS which boots OK is on C:\
and the 32 bit is on H:\ I must make the changes to C:\?
And is it possible to save a backup of the boot ini before I make any
changes? Just in case the 64 bit doesn't boot afterwards.
Thanks once again for your time.

Regards.... Stuart.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

Thanks for being patient and helping me but before I try your possible
solution can you confirm that although the 64bit OS which boots OK is on
C:\ and the 32 bit is on H:\ I must make the changes to C:\?

With the Windows boot loader, all boot files reside on one
and the same drive. Things get different ***after*** you
have made your OS selection, not ***before***!

And is it possible to save a backup of the boot ini before I make any
changes? Just in case the 64 bit doesn't boot afterwards.

I already gave you an instruction for this.

 

[Stupot]

Hoorah!
Thanks. You are the man.
Oh Wow!
I have my 32 bit Windows back..... Thank you. Thank you. thank you.

Please could you give me a possible reason why the problem occurred. It
would help me to understand and perhaps prevent the problem from recurring.

Best regards. Stuart.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It appears that removing/reconnecting disks changed the
disk numbers as perceived by Windows. Without knowing
the inner workings of Windows, I cannot tell. However, if
you're aware of the mechanism used by boot.ini then the
problem is fairly easily resolved.

 

[Stupot]

Well you have just increased my knowledge base for which I am everso
grateful.

Just one last question...... What does MVP stand for?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

MVP stands for Microsoft's "Most Valued Professional". It is
a recognition of voluntary contributions to the computing community.
Have a look at the link below for more details. Note that MVPs
are not Microsoft employees, are not paid by Microsoft and are
free to voice their own opionon, whether it agrees with MS or not.

http://www.aspnetpro.com/opinion/2006/03/asp200603jg_o/asp200603jg_o.asp