Hi, I'm new and have a rather worrisome problem. My computer will not start Windows XP. The pc itself starts up fine; but when it comes time for windows to load, absolutely nothing happens. The screen stays dark although the monitor power idicator remains on. (There is nothing wrong with the monitor.) Previously I had had a struggle getting windows to load (even in safe mode); in fact my pc would quickly shut down in any phase other than "safe mode with command prompt". System Recovery does not work. I get: "error code 14". The first 3 or 4 things you can think of (including pulling the plug and all the other things connected), I have probably tried--or it just won't work. I fear that my hard drive is gone or that I must take it to a repair shop. I just do not have the money for that. What I would have to do is to put its motherboard in my presently limited (this one) secondary pc. I would thus lose all my files which includes some most valuble work. Any help or advice given shall be entirely appreciated.

If you suspect the HD and the files are "critical" dont install anything or use the HD. If it is just inconvenient to lose the files, you can get a third party app like recuva to see what can be salvaged. Also you might want to run the HD mfr diagnostic tools to see how bad the drive is.


Ken J

I'm am running Windows Xp Home on a upgraded Compaq Presario 5300mx. The exact error message I get when trying to start system recovery is: "File\minit\system32\ntkrnlp.exe could not be loaded. Error code is 14. Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit."

Do you have the XP dvd? without ntkrnlp.exe the system will never run. it is not the HD but the operating system that needs to be repaired.


Ken J

No I don't have a windows xp dvd. Can I create one using my secondary pc and use it to fix my primary one?

Unfortunately my secondary computer doesn't seem to have the file (or I can't find it). I'm trying to use Nero. (What is "drive W"?) I'm also not sure whether its best/easiest to use a cd, dvd, or a floppy. Please help?

When I try to load windows there is no error code; the pc stops loading and stays dark and blank before it even shows the windows emblem--although the monitor's power indicator stays on. It's when I try to run a system recovery and access the bios menu that I get: "File\minit\system32\ntkrnlp.exe could not be loaded. Error code is 14". Also, there seems to be an issue with the pc recognizing, or understand the format of, the dvd (I've also tried a floppy disk) that I've been using. I have download the live cd; but I haven't been able to get it to successfully load to the dvd. I'm pretty frustrated.

You are going to need something to repair that file on...You can get XP fairly cheap these days

Yes, I picked up an all purpose boot-cd on ebay, which really hasn't fixed anything yet.