I Have a Compaq Armada 1700 laptop 233mhz, with Windows NT 4.0 installed on it.
the HDisk is 4GB and has 160MB memory.

I have used this now for nearly 1 year and now "out of the blue" the following message
came up when It went into the OS loader v4.01:

"Windows NT could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\system 32\ntoslrnl.exe.

Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I would be eternally grateful if someone could help me out on this one
as I am really stuck and miffed!!

I have searched the web and tried my best - what I have done so far is:

- What is the best way to create an NT boot disk (I have copied the files - ntdetect.com, ntldr and boot.ini
onto a disk as suggested by one or two forums, but when I boot it says "Invalid syetm disk".

IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN DOWNLOAD AN NT BOOT DISK ?? - I HAVE TRIED UMPTEEN SITES WITHOUT SUCCESS (I have only
found the "setup disk 1-3" and instrusctions on how to make a NT bootdisk (which I followed with no success).

- I have also inserted the NT CD and run the repair NT option only selecting "Inspect boot sector"
but this hasn't helped.

I don't want to "experiment" in case I land up deleting data and files that I need.
I also never made some Emergency Repair Disks - which was very unwise of me !!

So basicaly I need help in how to restore the laptop so it boots up normally.

This problem came out of the blue and it's not that I am a heavy user of it.

Your help would be greatly appreciated

Kind regards, Dave (davelmacd@talk21.com)

You can create Windows NT boot disk in
http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files010.shtml.

I have the same problem now.

Best regards, Bahei.

Perhaps:

Run setup and go for an 'Upgrade' of current installation; it may go through OK; if it does it will (should) preserve 'all' settings and allow you back in again; but you will probably have to re-apply the SP you are using.

Another option:

Start a parallel (second) installation; at first reboot - abort it and remove all disks; reboot and it may well allow you back in OK. Your original installation should be in the boot-menu.

If you allow the parallel install to complete then you will have a dual-boot NT/NT and will be able to access data at the least?

If going the parallel install (partial/aborted or total...) change the default name from winnt to winnt-2 to clearly differntiate it from the original installation. If you go the full parallel installation and space permits, you could install apps etc to it. Once OK with 'new' system you could then delete the original version... But I doubt this would be necesary - you should be able to get back in via one of the above options?

Your system allows a CD boot(?) so you shouldn't need the flopppies for the above; but if you want a fresh/good set, any working PC will allow you to make a set of NT boot/startup disks (you need the NT CD obviously + 3 floppies...); and they may be available as self-extracting (downloadable) images at:

http://www.bootdisk.com

An ERD is not always required for basic startup fixes - often they can be achieved without it. But it's 'nice' to have one nonetheless... The ERD floppy (Repair) info and more is duplicated on the drive in the winnt\repair folder and if no ERD available then the process refers to that...

Once in OK - make the ERD; keep safe/current.