Help! Windows XP won't start

[Debbie N]

My dads computer won't start. Norton deleted an infected
file, he can't remember what virus it was either. The
boot screen runs, then just a blank black screen and this
message: Windows could not start because the following
file is missing or corrupt <<windows root\system32
\ntoskrnl.exe>> Please reinstall a copy of the above
file. We tried to reinstall XP upgrade but it can't find
a previous version, tried repair but there was nothing
listed to choose from. What does he do?
Thanks!!!!

 

[Rory]

GSV says:

start, run, sfc /scannow .. have your CD available.

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

GSV says:

start, run, sfc /scannow .. have your CD available.

That won't work if the system won't even run - it's used to repair
systems that (may) have bits missing or corrupt. Missing NTOSKRNL.EXE
=usually= means that NTLDR is looking in the wrong place ... load the
repair console from CD and 'bootcfg /rebuild'. While you have the repair
console running, you can also look and see if NTOSKRNL.EXE is actually
there (under c:\windows\system32, with copies under
c:\windows\lastgood\system32, and probably c:\windows\drivercache\i386
as well).

You could also try booting 'last good' but if boot.ini is damaged and
the loader is looking in the wrong place, then that won't work either.
If repair can't find a system on the disk to repair, then something
could be seriously sick with that disk.

 

[Debbie N]

Well, that would be great if he could see a start button.
Windows won't load.... any other ideas?

 

[Debbie N.]

When he goes to repair there isn't an option for last
good boot. Also he said he got the email from Microsoft
for the update. He opened it, but didn't do anything
with it. I've seen the posting here about the email, is
there a fix for it? and if so, what is it called? Could
I download it and take it to his computer?

 

[S.Sengupta]

Hi Debbie!
Try this one:-

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

or if it fails you have to go for a "clean" install.

regards/
ssg/pronetworks.org