Replacing the ntoskrnl.exe file in XP

[Dan Gilbert]

recently discovered a program that lets you change your
boot/loading screen in Windows XP. it only required the
replacement of the file (C:\windows\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
(the boot screen) with another ntoskrnl.exe. The problem
is...apparantly, there is a problem when using it with a
machine that has XPsp1. I backed up the old file, but the
problem is, I cannot get back into windows(safe mode) or
dos to put the old one back. What happens is it gets to
the loading screen and reboots. It does this nonstop. I've
tried different boot CD's (I have a laptop with no Floppy
drive, they don't make a floppy drive for use in the bay
in my Toshiba Satellite Pro 6100) and have had no luck. I
seem to be able to get to a dos prompt, but cannot access
my C: drive (i think the reason is because it's NTFS).
I've been pulling my hair out for over a day now and
CANNOT lose the information on that hard drive. My life is
on there. I have backups, but no FULL ones. Please Please,
if you know of a solution to this problem let me know. oh,
and by the way, I've learned my lesson =(

[Dale]

Strange that you should bring this issue up. I was reading an article on
this just the other day. But there was one stipulation that was noted...the
process takes no responsibility if damage is done to the kernel. The article
also noted that there is a possibility that it might not work. Good thing I
didn't try it.

It probably wouldn't hurt to try the repair option but possibly it could
further the damage.

If the repair option doesn't work: pull the drive, make it a slave and pull
personal data. That's a quickie.

[Dan Gilbert]

Unfortunately, the repair option won't work, i tried it
and get locked up midway through the process.
As for using the drive as a slave...it's a laptop and have
no idea if it's even possible. I looked into the price
for a hard drive that can go into the bay and it costs
about 4-5 hundred dollars. =(

[Dale]

You can actually use an application such as Ghost and push an image to a
network drive elsewhere and then use Ghost Explorer and extract individual
files.

[Dan]

I so use ghost sometimes for setting up new PC's for the
company, but i'm not too familair with the other uses of
it. How would this actually be done? and can it be done
if i cannot actually get "into" my computer? this idea
sounds like it has potential, can you elaborate please?

[Dale]

Ghost Explorer allows the removal/addition of files from a Ghost Image File.
It works exactly as Windows Explorer and gives a similar visual.

[Dan]

Can it do this when i can't even get to a dos prompt? or
does the machine just have to be on?

[Dale]

The machine that houses the image file must be on. Ghost Explorer is GUI
driven.

[Dan]

AHHHHH!!!! I think i get it... I'm going to try it.
i'll get back to you...Thanks

[Dan]

Actually, do you know of a way to do this with a CD?
obviously i'm going to need to make a bootable cd, but i'm
not sure how to do it with the norton ghost.