EggXpert

First off, I guess I made the mistake of going to microsoft.com before coming here for help...dumb.

Anyway, I can't get my PC to boot up without having the install disk in the drive and also the BIOS set to boot from the dvd drive first (not the HD).  When I boot up this way (disk first, disk in drive), I have zero problems with windows.

When I try to boot from the HD, the error I get (while comp still loading) is "missing file <Winroot>\system32\Ntoskrnl.exe"  The only thing I can do at this point is force a restart and then change the BIOS to the above setup.

How can I add this file?

Also, I can't install XP to upgrade to win7.  Windows won't let me install a "downgrade."

Here look at these two

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314477

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822800

A simple version of it

http://analogduck.com/main/node/294

This is a common error and easy to fix just follow those KB articles and the other one.

---

This didn't help.  I can't find the Boot.ini file because I'm using Win7, and apparently with Vista they did away with it.

Also, I can't boot to XP for some reason.  Even when I get the "press any button to boot from CD" prompt during start up, it still loads 7.  If I open the disk and try to run the install from 7 I get an error message saying I can not downgrade windows.

I couldn't even get to the MBR.  I don't think the boot.ini file exists anymore.  So I could hardly attempt your suggestions.

I don't know how else to format the HD.  I was in the disk manager and I can't format it because it's the drive running windows.  I can't delete the Windows folder (hoping to have to restart and reinstall).  When I restart the computer with the disk in and set to boot from the disk, I do not get an option to do a clean install, it just loads windows.  If I try to run the installer from windows I am not allowed to format any HD.

I was able to try that last suggestion.  When my computer went into system restore I found the option to open the command prompt.  I tried all 4 options and when I restarted my computer to boot from the hd, I got the same error message. So no change.

I called MS tech support and spent the first 4 minutes in a stupid automated system, and the last 14 minutes letting my phone just ring.  A-holes.  I was also finally able to find their contact info so I left a message and hopefully they'll get back to me with something that I haven't tried yet.