PC crash after boot screen

January 21, 2004 9:45 AM from

*Cries* Hello all, hope you can help.

A couple of hours ago, I downloaded my first ever Bootskin. Thinking I was doing well, I made a backup of the original file, restarted in safe mode, and installed my new skin as instructed.

However, when I came to reboot to test it out, I got up to the boot screen, it finished doing its business and then my PC decides it wants to restart. I am stuck in this loop with it restarting as soon as the boot screen is done, and I can't even start in safe mode

. I'm currently using my old PC to write this.

What I need is to get into Windows in order to put back the original Bootskin file. Is there anything you guys can recommend?

Thanks in advance.

6,608 views 68 replies

Reply #1 January 21, 2004 9:53 AM from

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*the original file being the Ntoskrnl.exe

Reply #2 January 21, 2004 10:04 AM from

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The bootskin you downloaded is not the type you think, there is a special program that will install the bootskin files from this site.

If you made a backup of the original file, then reboot in safe mode and restore the original file (ntoskrnl.exe) that should do it.

And next time don't be so hasty, read all documentation on any files or programs you download.

Reply #3 January 21, 2004 10:05 AM from

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the bootskin program does not effect your system files so backing up the ntoskrnl was pointless. Did you install the bootskin program from stardock?

Reply #4 January 21, 2004 10:07 AM from

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As said above, I cannot reboot in safe mode, nor with command prompt. Thanks for posting though

Reply #5 January 21, 2004 10:08 AM from

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And no, I didn't, I simply unzipped the folder containing the file and straight forward replaced it.

Reply #6 January 21, 2004 10:20 AM from

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He replace the ntoskrnl.exe.exe with a bootskin file :/

Are you telling us that you do not have DOS Boot disk, sheesh, if you are going to change any of the system files, then this disk is a must.

That will be your only way out, other than that it's reformat and reinstall time.

Reply #7 January 21, 2004 10:24 AM from

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Curious, just what file did you want to use ???

Reply #8 January 21, 2004 10:27 AM from

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Basically, I followed these instructions:-

1. Backup (copy) the file %windir%\system32\ntoskrnl.exe (most likely C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe - the boot screen)
2. Download the .zip to your computer
3. Extract ntoskrnl.exe to a directory other than %windir%\system32 (most likely C:\windows\system32)
4. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode (hit F8 before the boot screen) or into true DOS (from a boot disk)
5. Overwrite the file %windir%\system32\ntoskrnl.exe (which should have been backed up) with the extracted exe
6. Reboot your computer as you normally would

No, I don't have a boot disk. Hopefully, with the help of an article I found on another site, I'll be able to get my system going again without a full reinstall.

And to think, I was only testing out something as simple as this

Reply #9 January 21, 2004 10:29 AM from

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I was using the top one:-

http://www.themexp.org/search.php?txt=crack&op=title

Reply #10 January 21, 2004 10:29 AM from

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you are on a computer right now right.

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

go here and find the system that matches yours and download the dos bootdisk. follow the directions to put the files onto disks.

Reply #11 January 21, 2004 10:33 AM from

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once you have the disks made. follow the instructions to put them in and get everything in order. don't try to reinstall windows right off. Try to see if you can access other files on your system. if you can, replace the ntoskrnl.exe with your backup. If you can't reinstall windows.

Reply #12 January 21, 2004 10:33 AM from

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And do yourself a favour in future NEVER trust a company that tells you to replace the system files.

Reply #13 January 21, 2004 10:38 AM from

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If you really want to change the bootskin in the future, this is the safest way to do it

Here >>> https://www.stardock.com/products/bootskin/

and www.wincustomize.com has many new and good boot screen replacements

Reply #14 January 21, 2004 10:39 AM from

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And to say that ThemeXP.org came highly recommended >

. Thanks for the help, guys.

Goddamn I feel like such a noob, but the dos bootdisk file is too big for a floppy ... and if I'm right then I won't be able to run it from a cd, right? (it's the XP SP1 file) Have patience with me

Reply #15 January 21, 2004 10:41 AM from

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Never mind

I got it.

Reply #16 January 21, 2004 10:45 AM from

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I don't know who recommended ThemeXP to you, but I would suggest you ignore them in future, Stardock has been around a lot longer and are in my opinion much more professional, it has taken them a while to get around to bootskins, but at least they have done it the correct way.

Most of the files at ThemeXP actually hack the system, and as such cannot really be the safest, stick to Stardock.

Reply #17 January 21, 2004 10:49 AM from

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Thanks for the tip

. As soon as I get everything up again, I'll d/l Stardock.

Reply #18 January 21, 2004 10:51 AM from

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From Travis The Crazy and Myself, your welcome

Reply #19 January 21, 2004 11:09 AM from

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Just when I thought I had seen the last of you

...

All of disks were copied to fine, but when I come to put the first one in and reboot, I get to the screen saying "checking you system for hardware blah blah blah .." and then it restarts. So, as you can see, there is no way for me to access the disks

.

Any ideas? It looks more and more likely I'll have to reinstall windows completely.

Reply #20 January 21, 2004 11:13 AM from

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It sounds like you have the wrong disks, DOS boot is only one disk and should boot your computer in DOS mode with CD support, if it does not then look for another on the net

Reply #21 January 21, 2004 11:16 AM from

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Try here,

>>> http://www.putergeek.com/downloads/

Reply #22 January 21, 2004 12:21 PM from

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Help.

With aid of Stumpy's link above, I've managed to boot up in DOS, but am not getting anywhere with the ntoskrnl file.

I've tried copying a fresh version of the file onto a cd and using the replace command through DOS (unless I'm doing it wrong

), but to no avail.

I really don't want to reformat, as you can imagine, so any kind of help is greatly appreciated.

Reply #23 January 21, 2004 12:26 PM from

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the link that I gave you links to microsoft. the files will work if you read the directions correctly.

You said that you saved a backup of the file right. well try this. delete the file and then restart. hopefully since this is required then it will ask you to insert the cd. if it doesn't then boot up in dos and move the backup into the system32 directory

Reply #24 January 21, 2004 12:28 PM from

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acually before you tried what I suggested follow this:
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm#q310994

Reply #25 January 21, 2004 12:36 PM from

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Since I have a a *coughcrackedcough* copy of XP, I'll wait until later tonight so I can get hold of a copy.

I'll report in then to let you know what happened

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