Missing System File, Won't start comp

[Rob]

I have had what seems to be a virus for a couple weeks now.
This isn't my question, but i will just quickly elaborate
on the virus:
Every two or three hours, my computer instantly restarts.
just CLICK, and it reboots. Not only does it reboot, but
it boots to the CD drive, even when there is no CD.
The only virus i know of that does the reboot was the
MSBlaster, but it is not that, and after doing a
trendmicro housecall scan thing, it didn't detect anything.

My basic solution has been to just turn off the computer,
and then restart manually, then it works fine for a few
more hours.

BUT BESIDES THAT....

It rebooted yesterday, only this time after I turn it off
and back on, at the point in the startup that is right
before the bootscreen comes up (with the XP logo and a bar
at the bottom), i get an error message.
The message says that it can't load because it is missing
the file:
<windows>system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Please reinstal the above file (or something like that).

I gave my XP Pro disk to my brother, so I don't have it
with me, however I do have my XP Home disk here.
I ran that. I am currently in the menu where you can
reinstall windows, or repair windows.

The "repair" option doesn't work for me, cuz i don't know
how to use it. After selecting the system and doing the
admin password, it just brings me to "C:\windows>"
that sure helped a lot.
Anyway, now i am in the reinstall section. I think i will
just write over the old C:\windows folder and see how that
works.

but if anyone happens to know how I can reinstall certain
windows system files, let me know.

thanks

 

[davetest]

I have had what seems to be a virus for a couple weeks now.
This isn't my question, but i will just quickly elaborate
on the virus:
Every two or three hours, my computer instantly restarts.
just CLICK, and it reboots. Not only does it reboot, but
it boots to the CD drive, even when there is no CD.
The only virus i know of that does the reboot was the
MSBlaster, but it is not that, and after doing a
trendmicro housecall scan thing, it didn't detect anything.

My basic solution has been to just turn off the computer,
and then restart manually, then it works fine for a few
more hours.

BUT BESIDES THAT....

It rebooted yesterday, only this time after I turn it off
and back on, at the point in the startup that is right
before the bootscreen comes up (with the XP logo and a bar
at the bottom), i get an error message.
The message says that it can't load because it is missing
the file:
<windows>system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Please reinstal the above file (or something like that).

I gave my XP Pro disk to my brother, so I don't have it
with me, however I do have my XP Home disk here.
I ran that. I am currently in the menu where you can
reinstall windows, or repair windows.

The "repair" option doesn't work for me, cuz i don't know
how to use it. After selecting the system and doing the
admin password, it just brings me to "C:\windows>"
that sure helped a lot.
Anyway, now i am in the reinstall section. I think i will
just write over the old C:\windows folder and see how that
works.

but if anyone happens to know how I can reinstall certain
windows system files, let me know.

thanks

Here's info about the recovery console.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307654

From the RC try running chkdsk c: /r
It may fix things. If it doesn't there may be a backup of the
missing file in the DLLCACHE folder.

Dave