Computer Help

[Passacaglia]

Hey guys, can anyone give me some help on fixing my computer? I'm running Windows XP (or at least, I was), and I had Media Player, and FOF 2004 open, and I left the computer for a while, sending it into sleep mode.
Anyway, when I get back, and move the mouse, I usually get a screen with a blue background, asking me who I'm logging in as. I click on my name, and I'm back to where I was.
However, this time, the screen was completely blue -- no options available, just the little hourglass. So I do the stupid thing, and turn off the computer. Although, the reset button didn't seem to be working. So I do an even stupider thing, and turn off my power strip, then turn it back on again.
So I turn on the computer, and it starts up, only to eventually tell me that a file is corrupt or missing:
<Windows Root>/system/ntoskrnl.exe.
Then it said to reinstall the missing files.
I'm not sure if I have a Windows XP CD (my stepdad gave me the computer, and if he did give me the CD, it's somewhere, but somewhere hard to find). And I'd rather not have to format my hard drive, since I just went through a lot of pains to install an offline FOF license on this computer (plus, I figure that trying to ask ViaTech for a new license within a couple weeks of the game being out wouldn't work), but if I have to, it won't be that big a deal, since there's not even that much else on the computer, and it's all pretty easily replaceable.
Anyone have any ideas?

[VPI97]

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1067680871

[Passacaglia]

Thanks, I'll have to try that, if I can find the CD. Any suggestions on what to do if I can't find the CD?

[44Niners]

look and see if there is a folder called i386 anywhere on your hard drive.

all of the files needed for the OS are in there and it is common best practice for people to copy the files when loading a computer, especially when they are "giving" you the OS.

[Passacaglia]

How do I look and see what's on my hard drive?

[44Niners]

use windows explorer or you can search using the start menu.

start > search > files and folders > all files and folders > "i386"

[Passacaglia]

But I can't get into windows.

[MizzouRah]

I believe your only option is getting the XP CD and doing a recovery. Meaning - boot to your CD and select (recovery).

Todd

[Dutch]

Once you get the CD, you can try and re-install the OS without losing any of your data or file links to the registry. But if that doesn't work, you might have a bigger problem. If you have XP Home, it could get pretty tricky to explain how to fix, but I had a lot of problems with the NTOSKERNEL corrupting. So much that I went back to Win2000 Pro and insisted that my laptop arrive with XP Pro.

[Passacaglia]

Thanks for the help, guys. I actually found my Windows XP CD *surprise*! It's Windows XP professional. Anyway, I booted up my computer, with the CD in it, but the same thing happened. Is there something else I need to do, to let the computer know that I'm trying to boot up with that CD?

I called Microsoft Support last night, who directed me to the computer's manufacturer, which was closed. They open in a few hours, so I'll try giving them a call, when I get home.

[Hoya1]

make sure that your boot sequence is right in the bios

[MizzouRah]

Originally posted by Hoya1
make sure that your boot sequence is right in the bios

Yes, make sure your CD ROM is your first choice for boot sequence.


Todd

[Passacaglia]

Thanks for the help guys. I ended up getting the CD to boot, then I installed another version of Windows in a new directory, which I called winxp. Problem is, now the FOF license isn't working.

So I tried booting from the CD again, and hitting "R" to repair files, hoping to fix the original windows, in the windows directory. I got a dos prompt, and I typed help to get a list of commands, but I don't know how to repair anything. Any more advice at this point?