Seeing this error?

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

<Windows Root>\System32\Ntoskrnl.exe

Solutions:

• Google [1]
• Expert's Exchange [2]

Note: The following notes assume an XP environment. The steps are similar for both 2000 and 2003 environments, but I did not take the time to investigate if there are any differences here.

Boot to the recovery console.

• Turn on the computer, pop in the Windows XP CD.
• Reboot the computer. If the Windows XP CD does not boot up, then reboot, go into the BIOS and configure the "boot order" to boot from CD first. Lather, rinse, repeat.
• Select R for Recovery.

After getting to the Recovery Console prompt, make certain that you are in the C:\Windows path for XP (assuming that XP is on C:, that Windows was installed into the \Windows directory, and that your hard disk is readable).

Change to your CD drive - by typing "D:", "E:" or "F:" etc. -- this varies per system but is most often:

D:

Change to i386 path by typing:

cd i386

Copy necessary files to root path (C: in this case) of winxp installation by typing:

copy ntldr C:
copy ntdetect.com C:

Change back to your windows path:

C:
cd windows

Attempt to fix the boot record:

fixboot c:

Try restarting machine - if still nothing - go back into recovery console by booting from cd Then run:

fixmbr c:

If it does work but you are getting an annoying boot.ini message everytime you restart your PC now go back into recovery console as above and run:

bootcfg /?

Reference the below articles for more information on bootcfg. Be certain to select c:\windows as the boot installation.

Microsoft bootcfg pages:

• A discussion about the Bootcfg command and its uses [3]
• Googling Microsoft [4]
• Windows Server 2003 [5]
• Windows XP [6]
• Another XP page [7]