Ntkern.vxd is in Win_20.cab file. This would be located in C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS on your hard drive. You can extract it using msconfig. Start > Run > key in msconfig, click OK, click Extract File button, key in file name. If it doesn't find it, click on the Browse button and navigate to the CABS file. This article might also be helpful: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q299264

Dimension 8100 P4 1.5GHZ
512MB PC800 RDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Gainward GF4 Ti4200 64MB DDR
NEC 16X DVD, 12X/8X/32X CD-RW
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz DSP Sound Card
P991 FD Trinitron 19" monitor
Windows / ME

Kenny Thank you so very much for your reply.

I recovered the ntkern.vxd file from a zip Win_20.cab folder and copied it to c:/windows/system and c:/windows/system32/drivers. However, when I attempted to reinstall the driver for my usb port, it did not work. I still get the message:

à"The NTKERN.VXD device loader(s) for this device could not load the device driver. (Code 2).”

Perhaps I recovered this file to the wrong location?

I also tried what's recommended in the ms link you sent me, but that did not work. Granted I could only recover the swflash.ocx and the usbd.sys files. The other two were automatically recovered as I deleted the USB hub from my sytem device manager. I also had to do this in regular mode, since my cdrom did not show up under safe mode. In any event, it seems like nothing is working! There was one other person who had the same problem and the solution was to reinstall win me… which I am not inclined to do.

Does anyone else know how to solve this?

Thanks!
ykesco

I'm pretty sure the ntkern.vxd belongs in the C:\Windows\System folder. I would retry the solution at the MS link in Safe mode as stated.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q299264
Instead of extracting the files from your CD, extract them from the CABS file on your hard drive: C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS
The UHCD.SYS, USBHUB.SYS, and USBD.SYS are located in the BASE2.CAB file
The SWFLASH.OCX is locate in the WIN_OL.CAB file.
I saw one solution to a similar problem as yours, don't know how valid it is, person reinstalled DirectX. You can read it here:
http://www.computing.net/drivers/wwwboard/forum/1872.html
I did find several hits mentioning this site for USB Troubleshooting. Maybe it will help.
http://www.usbman.com/Troubleshooter%20General.htm



Dimension 8100 P4 1.5GHZ
512MB PC800 RDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Gainward GF4 Ti4200 64MB DDR
NEC 16X DVD, 12X/8X/32X CD-RW
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz DSP Sound Card
P991 FD Trinitron 19" monitor
Windows / ME

I have the same problem. After trying numerous fixes, I have been told by Dell Support that the only remaining choice is to re-install Windows ME.

Have you tried removing the devices (device manager in safe mode), reboot normal, and let windows reinstall them?
When did this start happening? Do you have a system restore point prior to error, that you can restore to?

Dimension 8100
P4 2.0A GHZ (Powerleap)
512MB PC800 RDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Gainward GF4 Ti4200 64MB DDR
NEC 16X DVD, 12X/8X/32X CD-RW
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz DSP Sound Card
P991 FD Trinitron 19" monitor
Windows / ME