Ntoskrnl error

[RonnieRonster]

Hello Everyone.

I'm trying to help out a mate who is getting the error when starting up XP-PRO on their IBM laptop:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt
Ntoskrnl.exe file

I tried to access the recovery console which had been installed. However, I get the error:
A disk read error occurred

I next tried to use an XP installation disk to access the recovery console.
The screen locates the version of windows
But when I select the version it hangs before asking for the password

Now this doesn't sound very promising I appreciate.
But was wondering if anyone had any other suggestions?

Would the next step be to re-install windows?
Thanks for your help
Ronnie

[Spoiler]

Do you know who made the hard drive? I would look at downloading the disk tools and check the drive over.

You should also try to hook the drive up as a second drive and see if you can read the data files from it. If you can you might want to copy them off to try to save anything important.

[RonnieRonster]

Hey Spolier,
Thanks for your reply.

I'm assuming the hard disk would be what ever was shipped with the IBM thinkpad.
Would the disk tools already be installed? If so how would I access them?
If not I think I would struggle to install anything as I am unable to do anything at this stage.

I like the idea of trying to hook up as a second drive but again I'm guessing that would be a last resort.

Cheers
Ronnie

[Spoiler]

You can try the steps listed here....

http://www.wikihow.com/Recover-Data-from-the-Hard-Drive-of-a-Dead-Laptop

This will help you get the data back off the drive if it can be read. After you get the data you can try to run the manufactures hard drive tools. You have to know who made the drive and then down load them from the web. After you download them they are burned onto a CD and you boot the machine from the CD.


You should also read this over....

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm

[RonnieRonster]

That looks great thanks for your help.

[michelsmith]

Do you have an XP installation disc? If so, insert the disc and boot up from it. (You will need to change your boot order in BIOS to do this.) After Windows setup runs, press R to enter the Recovery Console and press the number option for your installation of Windows. This is usually option 1. At the DOS prompt, change to your windows/system32 directory and type expand X:/i386/ntoskrnl.ex_ (where X is the drive letter for your CD drive) and press return. When the file is copied, reboot and change the boot order back to floppy as first boot device, then save the change and reboot. Let me know how you get on.
Regards,

Michel