XP won't start, reporting Windows file errors

[omp]

I have Windows XP Home Editon, service pack 3 which was running without any
problems. One day on start up it wouldn't start, with the following actions:
1. gave me the message "Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe is unusable or
missing". I copied this file from another computer and copy it into the same
directory.
2. It still wouldn't start but the message changed to "Windows\system
32\config\system file is unusable or missing" I copied it from another xp sp3
computer but now it gets me to the "Start-Up option" selection page (text).
XP won't start on any of these options. It shows briefly a blue screen
showing the ftdisk.sys file and the hex address where it stop execution. I
stop copying files from the other computer because since it haves a different
configuration it might be causing these possible more problems.
I want to fix my files with my original OS disk but this is a SP1 version
and with time I have updated up to SP3 so it will not load the older files
over the newer version. What can I do?

Regards

 

[David B.]

Before you waste any more time replacing files that aren't necessarily
missing I would suggest you run the hard drive mfg's diagnostic utility to
determine if your hard drive is failing, this can be downloaded from the
mfg's support sire.

 

[omp]

Just did what you suggested, it found disk errors and fixed them but the
computer is behaving as before. I didn't think the disk had any problems
since I placed it in a external disk adapter and could see, write and access
all file from another computer. Also I run the Windows error-checking utility
and it did not found any problems. I tried your suggestion anyway just in
case.
Thank you very much for your interest.

Regards

 

[David B.]

Did you run the mfg's tool, creating a bootable CD to do so, or Windows
chkdsk? IF you ran the mfg's tool, then boot from your XP cd to a recovery
console and run chkdsk /r

 

[Gerry]

Missing or corrupt ntoskrnl.exe file
If the ntoskrnl.exe file is corrupt or missing this can also generate
the error. To restore this file follow the below steps.
Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD. Note: If you have a recovery CD or a
restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP CD it is likely the below
steps will not resolve your issue.
Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should see a
message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you see this message
press any key.
In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to enter the
recovery console.
Select the operating system you wish to fix, and then enter the
administrator password.
Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32
You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file type Y and
press enter to overwrite the file.
Type exit to reboot the computer
Source: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[omp]

Sorry I didn't came back to you before but by some means unknown to me the
password to access the recovery control changed from non to something else. I
am suspecting of the Seagate utility when it repair the possible errors in
the disk, because that was the only thing different that happened to the
machine since last access. If by any instance you suggest me what to do, I
will appreciate it.

Regards

 

[omp]

Sorry I didn't came back to you before but by some means unknown to me the
password to access the recovery control changed from non to something else. I
am suspecting of the Seagate utility when it repair the possible errors in
the disk, because that was the only thing different that happened to the
machine since last access. If by any instance you suggest me what to do, I
will appreciate it.

Regards

 

[omp]

I solve the password problem and tried your suggestion but it didn't fix the
problem.

Thanks anyhow for your interest

 

[omp]

I solve the password problem and tried your suggestion. It improved by going
further into the loading of the systems files but gave me problems while
loading system32\drivers\ntfs.sys. Tried to do the same thing but the
recovery console would not expand it. Afterwards went to another computer and
copy from it to the laptop disk (using the external disk adaptor) but still
having the same results. I think the problem might be that I am trying to fix
the sp3 upgrade in my computer with the original sp1a disk that came with it.
If you can spill some light on this I will appreciate it very much. If you
can't I thank you very much anyhow for your interest and previous suggestions.

Regards