Missing or Corrupt NTOSKRNL.EXE File

Question

All was working until yesturday. My PC froze so I turned it off. While trying to restart Windows I get the following message: Windows cound not start because the follwoing file is missing or corrupt \system
toskrnl.exe Please re-install a copy of the above file. This for Windows XP Home. I have 2 problems here.  First, I can't get Windows to come up so I can copy that file in.  Second, when I run the REPAIR utility from the CD it promps me for the Admin password and when I enter the passoword it does not recognize it. Not sure why, I am entering the right password.  I can't lose my data that is on my PC.  Are there any ways that I can copy that file to my pc???  Please help...

maxd · Answer

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314477 Try Method 4. You'll have to enter Setup(BIOS) so that your computer will boot to your XP cd.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

As you already boot from the CD you are trying to Repair from Recovery Console which asks for default Administrator Password which is usually blank ( not set)
-----------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Windows(R) 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

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to
(To cancel, press ENTER)? (or type 1 & press Enter to use 1: C:\WINDOWS )

(next you get)
Type Administrator password :           (not User Account (Computer/Administrator) password but
                                                              default Administrator password)
                                                            (usually not set so just press Enter key & if not accepted
                                                             set Auto Logon to Recovery Console when Windows starts OK)
-----------------------

To set AUTO Logon to Recovery Console so it doesn't ask for default Administrator password
Use Start > Run & type regedit then navigate to HKEY
Set SecurityLevel DWORD value data is set to 1 in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Setup\RecoveryConsole
SecurityLevel 1
--------------------
If it doesn't accept no password (press Enter key) you could try Windows Repair from boot of XP CD
Not the 1st R for Recovery Console but the next R for Repair after you start install it is displayed on next window.
If you use Repair the installed Programs & Data are left intact but you need to download Windows Updates again including SP1a.

Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 11-14-2003 09:10 AM

sskobel · Answer

Thanks for the help.  I was able to finally run the recovery console after I created a bootable Windows Home SP1 disc. After I recreated the NTOSKRNL.EXE file I then tried to reboot and now I get a different error message.  Finally I tried to run the repair and it got all the way through where it tries to delete the current files and then rebuild them. It got to the point where is tried to create folder \WINDOWS\system32\ias.  It was unable to do so.  It says 'Setup cannot create the folder'.  Now I'm really stuck.  Not sure where to go from here.  Any suggestions??

gryjhnhpe · Answer

Did you use Recovery Console to Expand into;C:\WINDOWS\system32
toskrnl.exe  as your 1st Post said incorrectly  Windows root>\system
toskrnl.exe Also what the new Error message when you try to boot from HD. ?,& how did you create boot XP Sp1 disk if Windows won't start & why did you need to use Disk for Recovery Console.?

Windows General

Missing or Corrupt NTOSKRNL.EXE File

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