I would like to get back my files under a NT with this error message 'please reinstall ntoskrnl.exe'. My PC is a toshiba libretto with PCMCIA CD-Rom and disket. Only one partition full size of the disk. I also won't lose if possible my long files names.

Microsoft Knowledge base article Q124550 can help you. I usually just do a repair.

This is usually 'fixed' by either editing the Boot.ini to correctly point to the location of the NTOSKrnl.exe (i.e. \winnt\root\system32\ntoskrnl.exe) or running the ERD sequence... If you have the ERD for your installation, then run the installation floppies and choose the 'Repair' option when you get the prompt/choice. If you don't have this ERD (and it's not a good state to be in...) then you can download NTFSDOS from http://www.sysinternals.com and this should allow you to access data etc... (There is a free download version - read-only - and this will probably be all you need to at least access files...; but then you still need to get into the rest of the sytem???) Also checkout Sysinternals other recovery items; there are several that may help out here.) Failing that, the only other route I can suggest is to either: do a fresh (basic/minimum/bare-bones) installation; at the first re-boot remove all disks etc, re-boot and you should be able to see the boot-menu with the 'old' NT and your 'new' version; (give the 'new' version a name you can recognise easily - e.g. Winnt-2). You can delete this version (i.e. the winnt-2 directory, but not the boot.ini etc...) once you're back into the old version... Also verfiy that the < ntoskrnl.exe > is present in the original NT installation before you delete the 'new' (winnt-2) version... or: during the 'new' installaton, allow NT to see if it can 'fix' the present version without the ERD. This latter sometimes seems to work..., failing which you can try for an upgrade to the current version... You may need to re-install SP's, and possibly some applications etc; but it's quite likely that all Registry items etc. should remain unchanged following the 'upgrade'/repair options; and if you have to do a second ('new') installation, it will have its own Registry etc. If you don't have the ERD... then the first thing to do is to make one, and keep it current... once you're back up and running OK! A useful general resource or two that may have more answers and resources: http://www.ntfaq.com (John Savill's site) and from M$ KB Q103673 - Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start...(Missing Ntoskrnl.exe) Q124550 - Err Msg: Windows NT Could Not Start...Ntoskrnl.exe If you do search in the M$ KB for < ntoskrnl.exe errors > or < missing ntoskrnl.exe > under NT workstation, yo shuld find more input; the above items are from the latter search... Finally, and I can't vouch for this approach... I have seen folk suggest that one: obtain a copy of the missing file (it's on the CD in the I386 directory) and (see if it will) re-install. Frequently I've seen this suggested but never actually tried it, so I'm not too sure about it. Obviously you would need to be able access the CDROM from a DOS boot... And I've never seen an instance where this file had actually disappeared; rather that other problems were present and produce this not uncommon message... The edit the boot.ini, ERD approach, and the repair/upgrade options are the more usual routes... Let 'us' know the solution that works for you??? HTH and good luck, LM-S

If these above will not work, you could try this. First, you will need a software called NTFSDOS. It's a small software which will allow to read files from NTFS-partition while using DOS. Then create a simple DOS-bootdisk, add the NTFSDOS in autoexec.bat and boot the computer with that bootdisk. Then you will be able to copy the files you need from HD eg. to a disk, Zipdrive, or whatever you are using. Good luck!

OK, thanks In between I found a software NTrecover, who is like NTFSDOS, but keeps long names, and allow you to connect a "fine working NT" to your crached NT and see it like an other drive.

I've resolved this problem before on a dell. This time around, a compaq laptop came up with the missing ntoskrnl. I used a 98&95 boot up disk, then ntfspro. But when I went to use edit it wouldn't recognize the boot.ini. Any ideas on what im doing wrong?