windows xp startupfailures

[mheronjnr]

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Any suggestion, with having totally reformate.....

(OS) XP Pro. i also have this problem. can this be repaired without cd rom (don't have one)? please help.

[Eraserhead]

You might be able to fix the problem by overwriting your existing ntoskrnl file with a working version.

If you don't have the installation CD, your best bet is to get hold of a working copy of ntoskrnl from someone else's PC, but make sure he's running *exactly* the same OS as you are, including Service Packs etc.
You'll find ntoskrnl in the windows\system32 folder

It needs to be copied onto a CD since the file's too big to fit on a floppy (it's about 1.8mb on my XP Home).

You should then be able to copy the file across if you have a floppy that will boot your PC into DOS with CD support, or you might be able to start Windows in Safe Mode and copy it across using Explorer. Back up your current ntoskrnl file first by renaming the extension to .ex_ or .bak and copy the working file across and reboot.

[mheronjnr]

can i download ntoskrnl.exe
from the internet (windows xp pro sp1)