computer

[john warden]

my computer crashed , I have got the emachine [EL 1850-0LE]

AND WHEN I STARTE IT UP IT SAYS [windows failed to start because the KERNEL is missing , or corrupted.

what doed that mean


thanks

[no1knows]

push f8 at start up and pick last known configuration that might help

[Nostradamus]

if that doesn't work then you need to use your windows cd and attempt the repair option

[kutter]

not familiar with emachines ... but some BIOS require you to hit F12 to boot from a recovery partition if one exists...

[john warden]

thanks for the input

Idont have a cd with windows 7 on it

[auggie]

If you can get into Safe Mode, you can do a windows restore from there.

Another way is get yourself a copy of Ultimate Boot CD and boot into it and use Registry Restore Wizard,

and roll back the registry from the restore dates it gives you.

[Nostradamus]

check your manual, from what I found on google it gave you an option to make recovery CDs so I am assuming that it also has a partition on the hard drive with the original windows in it as well

[rica]

go to BIOS and check BOOT ORDER(remove any pen drives) and check cables connectors

[Nostradamus]

nothing to do with the boot order or he would get an error saying no operating system. kernal missing or corrupt means it is trying to boot and can't either due to corrupted files from an improper shut down or a virus, or, the hard drive itself has packed it in

[1boxman]

Hard drive could be failing or virus has cause this ..but hard drive failure is more common which will cause important data not to be readable as to a kernel. When or if you get it to start in windows or safe mode...run a disk check with repair . Check result to see if it has bad sectors . There are also small apps which will do this to. They will check your hard disk . Most manufacture of hard drive have free tools .

[rica]

nothing to do with the boot order or he would get an error saying no operating system. kernal missing or corrupt means it is trying to boot and can't either due to corrupted files from an improper shut down or a virus, or, the hard drive itself has packed it in

my suggestion is based on own experiences

[Nostradamus]

well without getting into a long debate .....

BIOS settings do not change on their own unless the CMOS battery is totally dead in which case it goes back the manufacturer default when powered back up. The system clock is reset and if the BIOS is unable to detect a bootable hard drive then again you will get an error message saying no operating system, not a corrupt kernal file.

I base my opinion on over 25 years repairing and building PCs professionally.

speaking of which if the hard drive has to be replaced, and that is a good possibility with a PC about 6 years old I suggest the OP change the CMOS battery at the same time. It is easy to do, the batteries are only a few dollars and takes about 2 minutes to do. It is a round flat nickel / cadium battery similar to a watch battery only bigger. It is about the size of nickel and the number of the battery is stamped on it. It is probably a CR 2032 type

[1boxman]

BIOS actually will change if it does not detect the config that it was set at ..if any of the hardware malfunction and none detectable . In most bios it will change . Most cases it will ask you to go to setup . Now there is all virus that can attack the bios ..seeing how you can update them now threw windows .

[Nostradamus]

but that isn't his problem. hardware is being detected and just not booting into Windoze. Also I am not sure if a computer that old will let you adjust BIOS settings from within the OS or not and like you said they will go back to default settings in those situations but his hasn't done that. Could be the result of a virus, or a bad windows or driver update, but most likely just a HD that is headed south.

biggest problem is, he never made any recovery CDs and it is a little late now to do so

[iq180]

but that isn't his problem. hardware is being detected and just not booting into Windoze. Also I am not sure if a computer that old will let you adjust BIOS settings from within the OS or not and like you said they will go back to default settings in those situations but his hasn't done that. Could be the result of a virus, or a bad windows or driver update, but most likely just a HD that is headed south.

biggest problem is, he never made any recovery CDs and it is a little late now to do so
Yep, this is why I have a cloned backup HDD of all my computers.

[Terryl]

OK here is what he needs to do.

First go to another PC and download and create the boot CD from the link below, then boot up the PC in question and go to the BIOS, set it to boot from the CD or DVD drive, load the new CD into that PC and re-boot it.

This will load a mini XP operating system (not a full OS) into RAM, it has software tools that will allow him to repair the MBR (master boot record) on the hard drive, the MBR is where that file is located.

It also has some good trouble shooting tools to find out why it happened.


http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/