Boot Problem & HD too?

[Guest]

I am running a 4 yr old Dell... Pentium 1.4MHz, 384MB RAM, WinXP Home and a 3
mo. old 160MB Western Digital HD. I was trying to be a good parent and
downloaded a parental control program called ContentWatch, which was
recommeded by some site called "Top10Downloads" or something like that. I
paid for it, downloaded it and it prompted to reboot. Everything went
normally until the machine started to come back. I got the initial POST
screen and messages, and then I get a message that the HD 0 is "operating
outside of normal parameters" or something close to that, and it suggests
that I backup my data right away. I am given two choices: 1) proceed, 2) run
(BIOS) setup.

Everything in the BIOS set up appears normal. Exiting out and selecting
proceed gives me a black screen for about 5-10 minutes, then I get a message
that Windows could not start because a "file is missing or corrupted:
ntoskrnl.exe". Clicking any key just restarts the process with the same
results. I've tried booting into Safe Mode, but it never happens

On one attempt I made it to the Recovery Console (I think) and opted to
build a new boot record. No dice. Somehow on one attempt my son was able to
get the machine to boot with my WinXP Home CD Upgrade Disk, and attempted to
reinstall WinXP, but since it's an upgrade disk and it can't find a previous
installation, it prompts for the previous version's disk. No can do... the
previous version's disk literally cracked in half. I think when I first
installed this upgrade I borrowed someone else's installation disk just to
get past that, but now I can't.

1) Can my HD be toast after 3 mos? Or is this the result of that damn
ContentWatch?
2) Any ideas for restoring the system when you can't get to System Restore?
3) How do I re-install "ntoskrnl.exe" as instructed, or even attempt to
uninstall this damn ContentWatch when I can't boot into safe mode?
4) How do I get past the WinXP upgrade re-install when I don't have a
previous version's install disk? Why doesn't it just prompt for the Key
(which I have!)??

Thanks for any help on any of these issues...

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I am running a 4 yr old Dell... Pentium 1.4MHz, 384MB RAM, WinXP Home and a
3
mo. old 160MB Western Digital HD. I was trying to be a good parent and
downloaded a parental control program called ContentWatch, which was
recommeded by some site called "Top10Downloads" or something like that. I
paid for it, downloaded it and it prompted to reboot. Everything went
normally until the machine started to come back. I got the initial POST
screen and messages, and then I get a message that the HD 0 is "operating
outside of normal parameters" or something close to that, and it suggests
that I backup my data right away. I am given two choices: 1) proceed, 2)
run
(BIOS) setup.

Everything in the BIOS set up appears normal. Exiting out and selecting
proceed gives me a black screen for about 5-10 minutes, then I get a
message
that Windows could not start because a "file is missing or corrupted:
ntoskrnl.exe". Clicking any key just restarts the process with the same
results. I've tried booting into Safe Mode, but it never happens

On one attempt I made it to the Recovery Console (I think) and opted to
build a new boot record. No dice. Somehow on one attempt my son was able
to
get the machine to boot with my WinXP Home CD Upgrade Disk, and attempted
to
reinstall WinXP, but since it's an upgrade disk and it can't find a
previous
installation, it prompts for the previous version's disk. No can do... the
previous version's disk literally cracked in half. I think when I first
installed this upgrade I borrowed someone else's installation disk just to
get past that, but now I can't.

1) Can my HD be toast after 3 mos? Or is this the result of that damn
ContentWatch?
2) Any ideas for restoring the system when you can't get to System
Restore?
3) How do I re-install "ntoskrnl.exe" as instructed, or even attempt to
uninstall this damn ContentWatch when I can't boot into safe mode?
4) How do I get past the WinXP upgrade re-install when I don't have a
previous version's install disk? Why doesn't it just prompt for the Key
(which I have!)??

Thanks for any help on any of these issues..

Don't do a reinstall, boot from the CD and do a *repair* install.

If that does not install the ntoskrnl.exe file, boot again and this time go
to the recovery console.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I am running a 4 yr old Dell... Pentium 1.4MHz, 384MB RAM, WinXP Home and a
3
mo. old 160MB Western Digital HD. I was trying to be a good parent and
downloaded a parental control program called ContentWatch, which was
recommeded by some site called "Top10Downloads" or something like that. I
paid for it, downloaded it and it prompted to reboot. Everything went
normally until the machine started to come back. I got the initial POST
screen and messages, and then I get a message that the HD 0 is "operating
outside of normal parameters" or something close to that, and it suggests
that I backup my data right away. I am given two choices: 1) proceed, 2)
run
(BIOS) setup.

Everything in the BIOS set up appears normal. Exiting out and selecting
proceed gives me a black screen for about 5-10 minutes, then I get a
message
that Windows could not start because a "file is missing or corrupted:
ntoskrnl.exe". Clicking any key just restarts the process with the same
results. I've tried booting into Safe Mode, but it never happens

On one attempt I made it to the Recovery Console (I think) and opted to
build a new boot record. No dice. Somehow on one attempt my son was able
to
get the machine to boot with my WinXP Home CD Upgrade Disk, and attempted
to
reinstall WinXP, but since it's an upgrade disk and it can't find a
previous
installation, it prompts for the previous version's disk. No can do... the
previous version's disk literally cracked in half. I think when I first
installed this upgrade I borrowed someone else's installation disk just to
get past that, but now I can't.

1) Can my HD be toast after 3 mos? Or is this the result of that damn
ContentWatch?
2) Any ideas for restoring the system when you can't get to System
Restore?
3) How do I re-install "ntoskrnl.exe" as instructed, or even attempt to
uninstall this damn ContentWatch when I can't boot into safe mode?
4) How do I get past the WinXP upgrade re-install when I don't have a
previous version's install disk? Why doesn't it just prompt for the Key
(which I have!)??

Thanks for any help on any of these issues...

Don't do a reinstall, boot from the CD and do a *repair* install.

If that does not install the ntoskrnl.exe file, boot again and this time go
to the recovery console.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314058

Use this to expand the file from the \i386 folder on the CD, or anywhere on
the hard disk, to its proper location in the windows\system32 folder.

As to the upgrade install asking for the qualifying media - yes, you'll need
to find one. You only need it for a minute or two. The repair install
should not ask for this.

And yes, it's possible for drives to fail early - it's probably more likely
that they will fail early if they are going to. If you see SMART errors,
consider having the drive serviced or replaced under warranty.

HTH
-pk

 

[AJR]

The following quote from your post "my son was able to get the machine to
boot with my WinXP Home CD Upgrade Disk, and attempted to reinstall WinXP,
but since it's an upgrade disk AND IT CAN'T FIND A PREVIOUS INSTALLATION
(my emphasis), it prompts for the previous version's disk." As mentioned
in previous posts, a common reason for an error indication of a corrupt or
missing ntoskrnl.exe file (and often hal.dll) is caused by the system unable
to locate the Windows installation.
Major option would be "repair" - however this option is not presented if the
XP setup does not detect a XP installation. Using the XP CD would present
two repair options 1. Recovery console (first offer) and 2. Offer to repair
windows installation which will be presented for selection - if Setup
detected the installation.
Recovery console can be "run" from the CD as follows:
1.. Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If
prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD. Note: You may
have to access BIOS to make CD first boot device.
2.. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose
the repair or recover option by pressing R.
3.. At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a
list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.
4.. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit.
At step #2 - not selecting the repair option would normally have
setup proceed and hopefully detect the XP installation
- if it does not !!!
Use of the recovery console is not for the faint hearted - if you do so
please review the function of each command.