Windows NT Boot Problem: Kernel File Is Missing From the Disk

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Windows NT you receive the following error message:

A kernel file is missing from the disk. Insert a system disk and restart the system.

CAUSE

The file NTLDR is missing from the active system partition or the allocation for \Ntldr's $DATA attribute has become so fragmented that the whole $DATA attribute is not in the base FRS (file record segment).

MORE INFORMATION

After the Power On Self Test (POST), the Master Boot Record (MBR) reads the partition table and jumps to the boot record.

The code that generates the error is in the boot record. The error is generated if the NTLDR file cannot be found or if the $DATA attribute cannot be found.

Windows NT File System (NTFS) views each file or directory as a set of file attributes. Elements such as the file's name, its security information, and its data are all file attributes. Each attribute is identified by an attribute type code and, optionally, an attribute name.

WORKAROUND

When you experience this problem you can either:

1. Boot Microsoft Windows NT from floppy (using the NTLDR on the floppy disk).



2. Move the NTLDR file to a different physical location on disk (ren ntldr ntldr.sav, copy ntldr.sav ntldr).



3. Use an NTFS defrag utility to unfragment NTLDR.



4. Ensure the correct partition is marked active using either NT Disk administrator, or Boot to DOS and use FDISK.EXE to ensure the correct system partition is marked for boot.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: bootsect.com boot

Keywords : ntboot ntfilesys
Version : winnt:3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug