ntoskrnl.exe is missing or corrupt on NEW windows xp install

floatnazfloatnaz Binghamton, NY
edited December 2010 in Science & Tech
Hello all. My first time to this site. I was reading a lot of posts about the above problem. Unfortunately none of them seem to involve a NEW install of windows. I am trying to install a copy of windows xp pro sp3 on an HP Presario a815n. I have tried to install it 6 times and each time it goes to boot, I get the message: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: (Windows root)\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
I have completely removed any partitions on the HD and formatted it. It appears that all the install files are copied correctly. I am totally at a loss! Can anyone help me here!? I will be most appreciative. Thanks.

Comments

  • trolltroll Windsor, Nova Scotia Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Hello floatnaz.

    6 Times you say... Sounds to me like you have some bad ram....

    Follow the instructions in this fine article:
    http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86/

    Good Luck
  • floatnazfloatnaz Binghamton, NY
    edited August 2010
    troll wrote:
    Hello floatnaz.

    6 Times you say... Sounds to me like you have some bad ram....

    Follow the instructions in this fine article:
    http://tech.icrontic.com/articles/diagnose_with_memtest86/

    Good Luck

    Thanks for replying Troll. Unfortunately, I cannot follow the advice given as I have no OS on this machine now, due to the fact that i did a full format during the installation. Any other thoughts? I am at my wit's end.
  • floatnazfloatnaz Binghamton, NY
    edited August 2010
    Um, I have not had my coffee yet. I am running memtest right now. Duh Floatnaz. Made the bootable disk and running tests as you read this. I will let you know what the results are. Thanks for the advice. We will see if it is bad memory or not.
  • floatnazfloatnaz Binghamton, NY
    edited August 2010
    Okay, memtest has run. Pass 1 Errors 0.
  • PirateNinjaPirateNinja Icrontian
    edited August 2010
    Hey float, welcome!
    It could be the install CD itself has a corrupt file on it. Do you have another XP disc you can try?
    If you do not have another CD, you can boot to the XP disc, entire recovery console, and type this command:
    expand [cddriveletter]:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ <hd-drive>:\Windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

    However, if that file is corrupt on the CD it won't help. Good luck.
  • floatnazfloatnaz Binghamton, NY
    edited August 2010
    How do I get to a command prompt in this case? As soon as I boot to the disk it enters setup for a new install. Willing to try anything at this point.
  • PirateNinjaPirateNinja Icrontian
    edited September 2010
    floatnaz wrote:
    How do I get to a command prompt in this case? As soon as I boot to the disk it enters setup for a new install. Willing to try anything at this point.

    When it enters the install mode it will ask you if you want to repair the installation using recovery console, and it says if you do press R. .. or something similar to that, just read the prompts, you will see it
  • tech-guytech-guy
    edited December 2010
    Hi......

    As this post is all about error ntoskrnl.exe, i would like to discuss some of my views in the same regards.

    If during booting time, you receive an error message ntoskrnl.exe is missing or corrupt, you need follow some steps, in order to repair this error.

    In fact, i would suggest you to have a look on http://www.completepcpedia.com/ntoskrnl.html

    It will assist you to fix this issue.

    Regards.
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