I have a Dimension 5100 with XP Home edition OS.  It generally runs slower than I think it should, but I've otherwise had no major problems with it...until yesterday.  Yesterday, I turned it on and the black screen with the blue header that says dell.com showed up as usual, but then it just went blank...all black.  A minute or so later, it says on the screen: 

 

"Windows cound not restart because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Please install a copy of the above file."

 

I know this file is part of the old NT operating system file that XP was built on, and I know it's about 2.1 Mb, as I have found the file on my work computer.

 

1.  Can I copy this file from my work computer to a CD and insert the CD at home to load it onto my comp by booting to the CD drive? (can't do it to a floppy and boot to the floppy, because the floppy doesn't have enough space.)

OR

2.  Can I just do a system restore back to a few days ago, so I don't lose all my data and applications, if windows doesn't work?  (I noticed everywhere the forums show how to do a system restore, it tells you how to do it from the Start menu...I'm not getting ANY windows activity, much less a Start button.)

 

Good help would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!!  ~Kim