Kernel64.exe missing

[Phrank]

Hello,

My son bought a laptop with Windows 2000 as the operating system. As
kids will do, he started just playing around the internet, downloading
whatever he wanted, and executing whatever files seemed neat to open.
By the time he had me look at it, there was much he could no longer do
because he had caught several viruses and had a ton of spyware. I
installed Norton to have it run a virus scan, and in the process it
took care of all the viruses, but it also took care and eliminated the
kernel64.exe file. When we reboot the laptop, it still boots up and
loads Windows 2000 (although with an error message stating the
kernel64.exe file was missing), but there does seem to be some
problems in loading other programs and getting them to operate
properly. I'm not sure if it has to do with this missing file, a
virus still lurking around, or both. He didn't get a reload disk with
the laptop, so I personally don't know of anything that can be done.
Does anyone else have any ideas? Let me know if I need to provide you
with any other information. Thanks.

Frank

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hello,

My son bought a laptop with Windows 2000 as the operating system. As
kids will do, he started just playing around the internet, downloading
whatever he wanted, and executing whatever files seemed neat to open.
By the time he had me look at it, there was much he could no longer do
because he had caught several viruses and had a ton of spyware. I
installed Norton to have it run a virus scan, and in the process it
took care of all the viruses, but it also took care and eliminated the
kernel64.exe file. When we reboot the laptop, it still boots up and
loads Windows 2000 (although with an error message stating the
kernel64.exe file was missing), but there does seem to be some
problems in loading other programs and getting them to operate
properly. I'm not sure if it has to do with this missing file, a
virus still lurking around, or both. He didn't get a reload disk with
the laptop, so I personally don't know of anything that can be done.
Does anyone else have any ideas? Let me know if I need to provide you
with any other information. Thanks.

Frank

Virus cleaners can do only so and so much. Your system appears
to be so badly affected that I recommend a clean re-installation of
Windows. You must then install a virus scanner ***before***
connecting to the Internet, not after the machine is damaged. You
must also install a firewall.