Startup error Missing file <Windows ro...

Missing file <Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe. I am getting this on a black screen when I start up my computer.
No Idea what is going on.


I am the dumbest person alive with computers, I try hard though.

Any help at all would be great. And as dumb as possible.

googled ntoskrnl.exe
found
mswindows-forum/ntoskrnl-exe-corrupted-windows-wont-open-t24580.html

That only helps if I can get a command promp up. How do I get that going. I started up the computer held F8 and tried F10 but it just brings me to the black screen that says Missing file <Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe.

I'm afraid the only solution to a missing or defective ntoskrnl is by
either trying to repair it with the original Windows installation CD
or by re-installing the entire OS.

Note that a missing or damaged system-file, like ntoskrnl, might indicate
it's not the only thing wrong under the hood!

Put the installation CD of Windows into your CD-ROM drive and let your
computer boot from it.
Somewhere during the process you're asked to either repair or install
Windows on your system.
At first you can try the repair option (with "Recovery console"), if
that doesn't work, you can always try the lesser option to re-install
(most of your existing files, like documents, won't get touched, but
you'll have to re-install a lot of applications again!)

With the recovery console you're able to restore files from the CD and
get them back on your system using a command-line interface.
You can read more about it on the Microsoft website.

Mind that this option is normally only intended for advanced users, so
you might want to ask someone else to do it for you or give you some help.

The command you're going to need to retrieve the original file from
the Windows CD and uncompress/store it on your harddrive is called: "Expand"
and the command you would use should look like this:

(Where "X" is your CD-ROM source-drive and "C:\WINDOWS\SYSYEM32\" is the destination-path)

Good luck,

Peter.

It is asking for an admin password... How the heck do I know that? I've never put passwords in anywhere.


Came to a page where it said.

1: C:/WINDOWS
2: D:/MiniNT
3: D:/I386

I entered 1 then hit enter now it asks me for admin pw, like I said. I never made one. IS there a default one?

Try leaving it blank?

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.

It's kind of like a year old post pccare. I think you're a little late.

yes i have the same problem but when i go to repair console and it asks for an admin pw i cant go any further as i dont know it and i never made one as far as i know . itried leaving it blank ,nothing,can anyone help with this,if not i can reload windows but i definitely do not want to lose files