NTOSKRNL.exe message, then blackout since then...

[Robert]

I have a dual boot system (Win XP and Win98) which has
runned perfectly (both options) for over 2 years.

Recently, after some routine cleaning and defragmenting
tasks, XP started to act strangely, so I tried (as I've
done some times in the past with no problem) to restore
the system to an earlier time. Butthis time, I received
a message, which I translate freely to English from the
French version, so please bare with me if the wording is
not exact:

"Windows XP cannot start: the following file is missing
or damaged: < ROOT WINDOWS \ SYSTEM-32 \ NTOSKRNL.EXE .
Please reinstall a copy of the file. multi < 0 >r disk <
0 > partition < 2 > windows system < 2 > windows \
système 32 \ ntoskrnl.exe .
NTOSKRNL.EXE is not aligned correctly. Alignment is
inferior to 0X1000. Repair the error then recreate the
link."

Since then, if I try to select Windows XP at dual-boot
start-up, I get nothing but a blackout screen. I can
however start on Windows 98 without problem.

Now, the $300 question : what-do-I-do ?

(Please, I'm just an average user, so the more details
you can provide, the better

Thanks,

Rob

 

[D.R.]

Now, the $300 question : what-do-I-do ?

Just a few options:
1). Keep Windows 98 (I presume it's SE) and format the XP partition and use it
to store mp3's. ;-)
2). Dual boot 98 and Linux
3). Or the most likely, boot from an XP cd and try a "repair install".

 

[Jeff]

Hi,

All you need to do if get a copy of that file and place it
in the windows/system32 folder. I had that problem on a
notebook I repaired, I just slaved the drive to another XP
computer and copied that file over to the slaved drive.
Since you have dual boot, 98SE boot disk won`t let you
access the NTFS drive of XP, I know there is a program
that you can add to the boot disk to allow you access to
the NTFS. So just copy that file from another XP machine
from its system32 folder and paste in the XP system32
folder.

Jeff

 

[OShah]

1. Start the computer by using your Windows XP CD.
2. Press any key to boot from the CD.
3. Wait. Press R to repair using Recovery Console.
4. Select the installation to log on to (usually number 1).
5. Type the password for the Administrator account. (Try a blank
password if you don't know it).

6. Locate a good ntoskrnl.exe (if your XPCD has a service pack
integrated, you can use the one at E:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_, otherwise check
out dllcache in system32, or servicepackfiles)

If your good ntoskrnl is named ntoskrnl.ex_, type this command:

expand ntoskrnl.ex_ D:\Windows\System32\ntoskrnl.exe

otherwise:

copy ntoskrnl.exe D:\windows\System32

(Assuming you installed XP to D:\windows)

IMPORTANT: you must make sure the ntoskrnl matches the version of
windows you are using.

7. Reboot.


--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
oshah
Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Error Reporting -> Choose
Programs
-> Do not report errors for these programs:

Acrobat.exe
waol.exe

------------------------------------------------------------------------