Computer wont start

[mithril]

Both my desktops are dead... one I believe is a hardware issue... but one seems related to either Windows or software. It is running on windows XP, and when I boot it up it will go to the selection screen where you can boot in safe mode, or last known config, or normally, et cetera... and whichever one is picked it will try and boot for a good 5+ minutes then give the following message:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Please reinstall a copy of the above file."

Is there any easy way to fix this? preferably without losing everything currently on the comp?

Thank you for any help in advance.

[icecube]

Hi Mithril

Try this:

Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD. Note: If you have a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your issue.

Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you see this message press any key.

In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to enter the recovery console.

Select the operating system you wish to fix, and then enter the administrator password (if there is one, usually there isn't)

Type "expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32" witout the quotes

You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file type Y and press enter to overwrite the file.

While in recovery console, you might as well run "Chkdsk /r " without the quotes.That will run on reboot.

Type exit to reboot the computer.