Fix Ntoskrnl.exe Missing or Corrupt Error

Revision as of 17:53, 15 January 2017 by Kipkis (Kipkis | contribs) (importing article from wikihow)

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Are you running Windows XP or Server 2003? Does this look familiar? Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:<windows root="">\System32\Ntoskrnl.exe</windows>. If so there are various ways to fix it.

The error occurs as a result of one or more causes: corrupt boot volume, corrupted or deleted ntoskrnl.exe file, invalid boot.ini configuration or missing drivers for hard disk controller.

Steps

  1. Before trying the steps below, you can test to fix this error by following these 2 quick tips: Boot your Windows into Last Known Good Configuration (press F8 at startup to do so) or disconnect any PS/2 or serial keyboards you may have and try again.
  2. If the above doesn't work, boot into the recovery console from your installation disk (if you don't have your installation disk, check the Tips section below for alternatives), if you are unsure how to do this check out the Microsoft Knowledge base article ID: 314058 for a quick guide.
  3. Once in run chkdsk /r and once done reboot. If this doesn’t work, boot into the recovery console once again and try the following:
  4. From the prompt type attrib -R C:\boot.ini followed by enter
  5. Then del C:\boot.ini followed by enter
  6. With the boot.ini gone, it’s time to rebuild it type bootcfg /rebuild followed by enter
  7. When prompted to search for installed OS’s entery
  8. When prompted for the load identifier enter the name of the installed OS, for exampleMicrosoft Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition followed by enter
  9. When prompted for the load options enter type /fastdetect followed by enter
  10. Next enter fixboot C: followed by enter
  11. Now to give it a whirl, reboot and see if it’s fixed
  12. If none of the above worked hop into the recovery console once again and enter fixmbr C: followed by enter and then reboot.
  13. If nothing from above worked, you may need to run this command to replace the ntoskrnl.exe file itself: expand D:\i386\ntoskrnl.exe C:\Windows\system32 or try to run bootcfg /rebuild

Video

Tips

  • If you don't have a Windows installation disk, you need a disk that's called "recovery disk" or "repair disk". These types of disks are bootable and have Command Prompt tools installed.
  • To do this simply boot from the operating system install disk as per booting into the recovery console but instead of selectingR for the console select Enter to set up Windows [version] now. Press F8 to accept the Windows licensing agreement and then when it has found the installation press R to start the repair.

Warnings

  • Running a Windows repair should be relatively safe but it is worth noting that you should read around the topic if you feel a repair is necessary.

Sources and Citations

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