Rita wrote me recently with an interesting question.  She had a couple of good questions and today we are going to look at one.  She got a warning that said, “Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt. \ system32\ntoskrnl.exe. Please re-install a copy of the above file.” which requires a Windows disk.

That stinking ntoskml.exe error is a pain and it has many causes and possible solutions.  Rita and others who have had it need to go to ‘computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm‘ for assistance.  You may find relief there.

She asked about using her restore disks which came with her system and wondered if they would wipe out all of her other programs and data files.  Also she, like most people, doesn’t have a Windows disk to reinstall the file. Computer manufacturers now give you these restore disks instead of just a Windows CD.  This is a good thing because if you just install windows on the system you will not get all of the drivers for the particular hardware that is on your computer.  If you only installed windows on a computer your monitor may not work properly, your modem may fail, and the keyboard and mouse could have issues along with a multitude of other problems.  It is just easier for you to use the restore disks provided.

The restore disks that come with most all new computers do just what they say.  They restore your computer system to the exact same condition it was in, as far as software, the day you purchased it and took it out of the box. 

So yes, all of your additional programs that you have installed over the past couple of years, all of the letters you wrote to your elected officials and your business spreadsheets will be destroyed.  So make sure that you backup all of your important files — BEFORE you perform anything with your restore disks.

Now if Rita could use another computer and find the ntoskrnl.exe file on one of her restore disks she may be able to fix it.  But I doubt it. 

I suggest that in this case a person should take their computer to someone who can remove the data files and store them safely on a CD, DVD or flash drive.  At a later date those files can be copied to the restored system.  After backup of those files I would run restore and hope that all is well. 

I say, “…hope…” because one of the outcomes which that error sometimes indicates is an approaching hard drive failure – yuck!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 at 11:55 pm and is filed under Columns. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.