Microsoft Knowledge Base Article
This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Terms
of Use |
Trademarks
Article ID: 146419 - Last Review: May 12, 2007 - Revision: 1.5
Error Loading Kernel. You Must Reinstall Windows
This article was previously published under Q146419
If this article does not describe the error message that you are receiving, view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article to view more articles that describe error messages:
315854Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=315854/EN-US/
)
Windows 98 and Windows Me Error Message Resource Center
This article refers to an old version of Windows. If you need help about how to install, reinstall, or uninstall Windows, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
When you start Windows, you may receive the following error message:
Error Loading Kernel. You must reinstall Windows.
After you receive this error message, Windows quits.
This error can occur if the Kernel32.dll file is missing or damaged.
To resolve this situation, extract a new copy of the Kernel32.dll file
from your original Windows disks or CD-ROM. To do so, follow these
steps:
- Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message,
press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup
menu. If you are using Windows 98, restart your computer, press and
hold down the CTRL key while your computer restarts until you see the
Windows 98 Startup menu, and then choose Command Prompt Only. If you are using Windows Millennium Edition (Me), start your computer with the Windows Me startup disk.
- Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each line:
cd\windows\system
ren kernel32.dll kernel32.xxx
- Extract a new copy of the Kernel32.dll file from your original Windows
disks or CD-ROM to the Windows\System folder. For information
about using the Extract tool, type extract at the command prompt,
or see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID:
129605Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=129605/EN-US/
)
TITLE : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
- Restart your computer.
NOTE: This article was cited in a hoax regarding a problem with Windows 95/Windows 98 functioning properly on and after December 31, 1999. The problem discussed in this article is not year 2000 (Y2K) related, and Microsoft is unaware of any date-related problems in Kernel32.dll.
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
- Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows 95
| kbenv kberrmsg kbfaq kbkern32dll kbprb KB146419 |
Community Feedback System
Very often, it takes hours to solve a problem. Very often, you've looked high
and low, and have tried a lot of solutions. When you finally found it, chances
are, it was because someone else helped you. Here's your chance to give back.
Use our community feedback tool to let others know what worked for you and what
didn't.
Please also understand that the community feedback system is not warranted to be
correct, it's simply a system that we've built to let people try and help each
other. If something in a feedback response doesn't make sense to you, or you're
not comfortable making changes that the feedback talks about (like registry
edits), please consult a professional.
Thank you for using kbAlertz.com Feedback System.
-- Scott Cate