ntoskrnl.exe is corrupted. windows wont open

March 19th, 2007, 5:57 pm

I'm having this same problem:


"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."

I am running windows xp pro- not sure why it has an "nt"oskrnl

I started to use the Automated System Recovery from the windows CD but it was loading a lot of files and I was concerned about loosing data- I have a ton of files I NEED to save

Anybody know if using this Automated System Recovery will overwrite my files as in a re-install of Windows?

Also, it is a CD from my HP, can't find the CD for my IBM laptop, this shouldn't matter should it?

March 19th, 2007, 6:36 pm

Actually, I don't think I made it to Automated System Recovery as I didn't press F2 fast enough and SETUP began loading files. Is the "recovery Console" part of the Automated System Recovery?

Hoping I didn't start overwriting the drive........

April 9th, 2007, 4:22 am

Hi all !
I have the problem :
When I turn on my computer I have a message :

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
Please re-install a copy of above file.

Try to do by stpes:
1) I have the problem:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.
Please re-install a copy of above file.

2) I put my cd ( Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition ) in cd-rom
3) then restart my computer and see something like this :
Press any key to boot from CD....
I press any button let it be A
4) then I see :
Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration
5) I am waitting some 5 minutes and see next:
Windows Xp Home Edition setup
Welcome to setup
I see 3 choses :
To set up Windows Xp press Enter
To repair a Windows Xp installation using Recovery Console press R
to quit setup with out installation Windows XP pres F3

I press R

Now I am in Recovery Console ! and see something like this :

Microsoft Windows XP<TM> Recovery Console.
The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\Windows

Wich Windows installation would you like to log onto
<To cancel, press ENTER>?

I write 1 and press enter

And see next :

type the Administrator password:
I type a password and press Enter

now I see :

C:\Windows>

Can someone tell my what I need to write next ? ( I have 10 mb very important files on my computer and I do not wnat to format because I will lose them ( I know how to format it easy

thanks !

April 9th, 2007, 6:59 am

The command to use is:
expand Cd drive:\i386\Ntoskrnl.EX_ C:\windows\system32
So for example if your CD ROM Drive is normally D:
you would use:
expand D:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ C:\windows\system32

If it fails because it says the destination is read only you will need to use this command and then try the expanding again:
attrib -R C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

April 9th, 2007, 8:59 am

Hi all currently seeking help regarding this same problem with the ntoskrnl.exe.

I am running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and our system took a power hit which I believe led to the hard drives getting corrupted krnl file.
First problem was the NTDETECT Failure, I've fixed that with a start up disk with my other server I have copied the files directly to a diskette and have gotten it now to choose an OS. 2 Options being Windows 2000 Server, or 2000 Recovery Console, either option leads me to the same error, cannot load ntoskrnl.exe.

My system is currently setup as a SCSI Raid 5 configuration. I've tried to place my windows cd and repair it manually, however when I attempt to access the hard disk drives it gives me an error stating "Cannot detect any hard disk drive ect ect" I'm basically stuck at this point. I do not know how to load my ntoskrnl.exe back to normal. I've tried entering DOS mode and copying from my system32/cache/ntoskrl.exe however its telling me that the directory does not exists, and when I type DIR in dos from C:\ it doesn't even look as if an operating system is even there, however it still shows up at the OS menu when I boot the computer.

Any help is grately appreciated. I currently have over 85 people with no email who are hating me right now. lol.

Thanks all.
-Tony

[grinch2171]

April 9th, 2007, 9:24 am

Do you have any backups?

April 9th, 2007, 10:26 am

Yes, I do have backups, but not a full system backup. Its more of a system state / microsoft exchange mailboxes backup. However backups are 10 days behind or so, but I'd say thats better than nothing =x

Would you possibly know why Im unable to restore from a Win2000 CD? I'm not too saavy with scsi/raid configurations so Im just learning as I go.

[grinch2171]

April 9th, 2007, 10:33 am

Probably because you need the SCSI drivers in order to install. When you boot off the install disk at the bottom it should say something like Press F6 to load SCSI/RAID drivers. You would press F6 and then insert your floppy disk containing the RAID drivers. This enables Windows to properly install onto an Array.

April 9th, 2007, 12:47 pm

The command to use is:
expand Cd drive:\i386\Ntoskrnl.EX_ C:\windows\system32
So for example if your CD ROM Drive is normally D:
you would use:
expand D:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ C:\windows\system32

If it fails because it says the destination is read only you will need to use this command and then try the expanding again:
attrib -R C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe


Whwn I write the comand :

expand D:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ C:\windows\system32

Then I see :

The system cannot find the file or directory specified.



I do not know maybe I write something wrong can you tell me ?

April 9th, 2007, 2:03 pm

And else How to know my CD letter ?

April 9th, 2007, 2:49 pm

YEEEEEEE Thanks I have done it

My letter is E it works I have get my documents back and know I can format windows

April 13th, 2007, 8:41 pm

Hi.
I'm having the same problem with the ntoskrnl.exe

It's actually happened twice in one day - I fixed it once (or thought I did), and it happened later on the same night (tonight).

But, my problem is that my keyboard locks up/freezes, preventing me from accessing any of the menues (boot menu/bios; system recovery; etc).

So. D: Yeah.

April 14th, 2007, 12:49 am

I would suggest you do a thorough check of your hardware Nox_Noctis. Start with your RAM and do a chkdsk. If those both pass then might be a good idea to check the power supply and the motherboard. Have you tried a different keyboard by the way?
RAM: http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
Hard Drive: In Recovery Console(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058) after logging in type chkdsk C: /p /r

April 16th, 2007, 8:46 am

hiya! im having a problem too!

when i start my computer it doesnt start up and it says the
<windows root>/system32/ntoskrnl.exe
is mssing or corrupted.

i havent kept any of my installation disc and i dont know what to do please help!

thanks steph

April 17th, 2007, 12:20 am

I hate to say it but you are not in a good situation. I don't suppose you happened to Install the Recovery Console to your hard drive?
This might be your best bet: http://www.tweakxp.com/article36941.aspx. All the steps mentioned above use Recovery Console because ntoskrnl.exe is always in use when windows is running. After downloading and burning that image file restart. Unfortunately I haven't used it myself but imagine it is just the windows xp recovery console without the rest of the windows setup.

Quote:

The command to use is:

expand Cd drive:\i386\Ntoskrnl.EX_ C:\windows\system32

So for example if your CD ROM Drive is normally D:

you would use:

expand D:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ C:\windows\system32

If it fails because it says the destination is read only you will need to use this command and then try the expanding again:

attrib -R C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe