windows 7-64bit reboot error ntosknl.exe missing or corrupt

lpilar97 · 09 Mar 2009

after installing Windows 7 64bit, I start suffering from the next message:

windows 7 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

This issue continue occuring even after I tried several repairs of the OS. The strange thing is that only happen if remove the original disk from the DVD reader. If I leave the cd, the error does not occurred and the windows reboot normally.

Please I need help to resolve issue.

Lpilar

limneos · 09 Mar 2009

Hello lpilar97 and welcome to Seven Forums.

My guess is that your bcd is somehow pointing to your cdrom drive, instead of the local disk.

To fix that:

1. Start Windows having the DVD in the drive. (so that it starts)
2. Find out which drive letter does Windows 7 installation use. It is probably C:. (Open Computer, open your hard disk drives. The one that Windows 7 is installed on, will have folders : Users, Program Files, Windows)

3. Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator) and type the following 3 lines (in bold):

bcdedit /set {current} device partition=C:

bcdedit /set {current} osdevice partition=C:

bcdedit /set {current} path \windows\system32\winload.exe

(REPLACE C: on both above if your windows 7 partition letter is different)

Remove the DVD from the drive, restart your computer, and see if it helps.

lpilar97 · 09 Mar 2009

I tried the aforementioned method without success. When I remove the disk, WIndows will not reboot properly. Is always displaying the same message.

thanks

SIW2 · 09 Mar 2009

What build of 7 are you using ?

Do you have another o/s installed you can boot into?

lpilar97 · 09 Mar 2009

Windows 7 64bit 7000 and I had Windows XP before but the setup suppose to clean it up. Windows rename the folder windows.old

SIW2 · 09 Mar 2009

Someone may be able to post a copy of their ntoskrnl.exe that you could paste into into System32 folder - but that may not be the problem.

Clean reinstall is probably the best bet , try going to drive options (advanced) and formatting the partition before installing on it - see if that helps.

Clean Install Windows 7

Do you have data you need to save? If so, copy it off first to an external hd. You could make another partition and save your data on there, but need to be very careful not to format that partition during install.

Hope it helps

SIW2

lpilar97 · 11 Mar 2009

Can any body explained how to restore the ntosknl.exe and hal.ddl file from the disk? I would like to avoid making a clean installation since I have too many informmation on the disk.

SIW2 · 11 Mar 2009

That's not so straightforward.

You could try copying these into your System 32 folder (they're from 7048 x64)

hal.zip

ntoskrnl.zip

Hope it helps.