Can you get into normal windows mode, or are you trying safe mode, because
regular windows failed to boot?
Assuming the latter, realize that: (1) safe mode is not DOS, since XP does
not do true DOS. (2) Safe mode is best described as a scaled-down verison
of XP, which loads minimal services, default drivers, and no user programs.
(3) But, safe mode uses many of the same files as full windows mode, so if a
key file is corrupt, safe mode will not work either. (4) The primary use
of safe mode is to fix driver problems, which is why it loads its own
default drivers.
I checked my own XP SP3 installation, and have no such file. Thus, I
conclude that it is probably not essential to the operation of XP itself.
A quick web search shows that this file is related to bluetooth. See
http://www.file.net/process/btkrnl.sys.html.
http://www.runscanner.net/filelibrary/btkrnl.sys.html
You might try replacing the file, using the XP recovery console or a LINUX
recovery CD. I am not sure where one gets this file, possibly on an
installtion CD for some bluetooth device? In any event, a websearch might
also reveal that.
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy33.htm (near bottom)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_rec.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
You might also try renaming this file to btkrnl.sys.old to deactivate it,
assuming that you have not required bluetooth devices (e.g., mouse and
keyboard).
If you built this PC using a retail XP CD, you could try a repair
installaion of XP, which refreshes system files. But, be warned, if the
repair fails for any reason, you might be forced to do a clean install.
Thus, backup personal files before trying this. The LINUX CD mentioned
above can boot your PC and copy files to an external hard drive. However,
fixing XP files may not halp, if the bluetooth driver is not an XP file, but
a third-party file.
If you bought this PC with XP pre-installed, you could try using the
manufacturer's restore procedure. That would set everything back to day
one, including third-party drivers that came pre-installed. But, it will
likely erase all personal files and user-installe dprograms and settings.
