<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

[Korrupt]

Whenever I boot up my computer I get the following error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I have read the other threads and tried booting from the XP disc, but I cannot even boot from the disk, this error pops up after the loading HP screen. Please Help!

Thanks.

Your HP of unspecified make and model may need to be configured
through the system BIOS to look at the CD drive first for booting
software. If you need help with that, provide some basis system
details.

Sometimes they come that way, sometimes they don't.

Is your CD a "real" bootable XP installation CD from Microsoft or is
it an HP bootable/recovery CD?

When you system boots, if you are given an option to boot into some
kind of recovery partition installed from the distributor, have you
tried that.

If you have a bootable XP installation CD, what do you plan on doing
after you boot on it (it is the best option for you).