# "Can't find KRNL386.EXE" or "The nastiest error I've seen in 10+ years of computing&q **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419 "2001-06-28T03:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/1 "2001-06-28T03:50:53Z")
So I come home from work tonight and fire up the ol’ puter and I get a message saying “Cannot find or load KRNL386.EXE” Now I’m no computer genius but I know enough to know that that isn’t a very good error. I’m pretty sure it’s telling me that it cant find my OS, right? Well, all my drivers…etc load until it’s just about to enter windows and then I get that error. And to top it off I can’t get it to read my CD drive so I can’t reload windows. Any suggestions? \*Oh, and before any smarty pants come along, I’m on a different computer right now, obviously 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MrVisible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/2 "2001-06-28T04:18:17Z")
Try going to [support.microsoft.com](http://support.microsoft.com). The article number you need is Q197685. It is a toughie, but it can be worked through. I’ve done it many times, over the phone with people. Follow the article carefully. Remember, “Assembly of Japanese bicycle requires great peace of mind.” ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/3 "2001-06-28T04:51:36Z")
mmm, the loverly Kernel problem…big, big, big problem if Windows can’t find that. It is everything to your computer it’s second only to your BIOS. Get a bootable floppy so you can get to your CD ROM and reinstall Windows. If you can’t find a bootable floppy that also loads the CD ROM, come back and let one of us know, I am sure someone can send you the correct files. I will look around to see if I can locate my bootable floppy and post it on a free disk space provider but I only have my Win 2000 disks readily handy the Win 95/98 disks are floating around in the abyss of my home somewhere. \< do a back up if you can \> IMO reinstalling Windows is your best bet at this time. I might even recommend (over using an MS way) to back everything up and wipe out your system. I usually wipe out my main hard drive every 6-9 months and start from stratch. Very rarely do I have problems with my computers when I do that. You can get rid of a lot of riff raff that likes to hang around even when you do regular scan disk and defrag. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/4 "2001-06-28T07:27:35Z")
And when I try to go into safemode I get this: While initializing device VFBACUP: VFBACKUP could not load VFD.VXD. Please run setup again I tried going into the BIOS and setting it to boot off of the CD drive but no dice. Any further suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/5 "2001-06-28T07:28:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\* > While initializing device VFBACUP: > \*\* That should be **VFBACKUP** ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/6 "2001-06-28T08:02:18Z")
Someone’s been readig their, ‘Zen and the Art of MM’… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/7 "2001-06-28T17:09:42Z")
Sure, first tell us what kind of computer this is & what operating system. Seconds, boot to floppy, & then do the old handy crap routine. type: scandisk /restore Kinda pointless really without knowing what type of computer & operating system…there are tons of versions of windows. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/8 "2001-06-29T01:48:24Z")
Homebrew computer…AMD K6/2 400mhz Processor, Can’t remember what motherboard…everything else seems kind of irrelevant, OS is Windows98. Scandisk /Restore? Explain please ;). Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![cykrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@cykrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cykrider)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/9 "2001-06-29T04:40:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*And when I try to go into safemode I get this: > > While initializing device VFBACUP: > VFBACKUP could not load VFD.VXD. Please run setup again > I tried going into the BIOS and setting it to boot off of the CD drive but no dice. Any further suggestions? \*\* Last time I had computer problems, it was a corrupt driver (thanks techchick!). The file had a .VXD extension, so I’m guessing if you search windows/system on a working computer, put it on a disk and load it on the broken box, it should work. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/10 "2001-06-29T04:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cykrider \* > \*\* > > Last time I had computer problems, it was a corrupt driver (thanks techchick!). The file had a .VXD extension, so I’m guessing if you search windows/system on a working computer, put it on a disk and load it on the broken box, it should work. \*\* AFAIK, all drivers have a .vxd extension, or at least a good majority. Anyway, I think that is the least of my problems at the moment. I can’t even get it to read a CD. I have a 98 disk and a 98 boot disk but all the boot disk does is dump me at an A prompt. I can switch to the F drive and do a /dir but there are no install or setup files or anything, it’s actually kind of weird…And when I type setup, even though there is no setup.exe, it says… … … … wait for it… “This program requires Microsoft windows.” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/11 "2001-06-29T05:24:29Z")
**handy** - when I type scandisk /restore I get: INVALID SWITCH: /RESTORE This is really killing me, I’m not used to running into computer problems that I can’t fix. Well, I guess someone will be along eventually that will know what’s up. Until then I’ll wait in agony. ---
**Author:** ![cykrider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@cykrider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cykrider)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/12 "2001-06-29T06:51:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by cykrider \* > > \*\* > > > > Last time I had computer problems, it was a corrupt driver (thanks techchick!). The file had a .VXD extension, so I’m guessing if you search windows/system on a working computer, put it on a disk and load it on the broken box, it should work. \*\* > > AFAIK, all drivers have a .vxd extension, or at least a good majority. Anyway, I think that is the least of my problems at the moment. I can’t even get it to read a CD. I have a 98 disk and a 98 boot disk but all the boot disk does is dump me at an A prompt. I can switch to the F drive and do a /dir but there are no install or setup files or anything, it’s actually kind of weird…And when I type setup, even though there is no setup.exe, \*\* Ya, I’ll shut up now. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/13 "2001-06-29T14:44:54Z")
“when I type scandisk /restore I get:” Oh, my, sorry, it should be: scanreg /restore not scandisk, although scandisk might have an effect too. Iforgot if there is a space: e.g. scanreg/restore or scanreg /restore but when you type it youll know. Frankly, as with the other users on the board, I don’t understand why people pay $1500 for a computer but won’t pay $50 for the maintenance program for it, like System Suite 2000. They should. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2001, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/14 "2001-06-29T22:57:55Z")
you can also try scanreg /fix – it repairs the reg. instead of replacing it with a past copy… you can also try the following technet articles Q70467 Q197685 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/15 "2001-06-30T01:56:06Z")
Got a spare hard drive? Bootable CD? Any bootable medium more robust than a floppy? Seems like once you get it booted from a different startup volume, you should be able to drag/copy the necessary files to the proper location until you get the original to boot. I’m a Mac person, but I would start with replacing the contents of the WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory a few files at a time, and if that doesn’t do it, go on to the surrounding WINDOWS directory (you don’t want to overwrite a parameter or settings file, but drivers and shared libraries are fair game). Also, I think Windows hides some of its crucial files by making them invisible, so you might need to check for and replace invisible files. I just had to do this on a Mac. I don’t know how, but I managed to hose MacOS 8.6 and had to boot from a different partition and copy files. Spent hours gradually adding back in the bloody extensions and control panels until I’d weeded out the corrupted files and gotten it to run with all its original capabilities and settings. I don’t envy you; all in all, I suspect it’s a bit easier on a Mac. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/16 "2001-06-30T04:12:04Z")
This is really killing me…Scanreg /Fix (or scanreg anything for that matter) gives me the old “bad command or file name.” What’s up with that? I’ve tried it from the C prompt and the A prompt and even from the CD drive with the Win98 CD in there. And I can’t reinstall windows because the full version tells me to get an upgrade because I already have windows on my comp and the upgrade can only be run from inside windows! I’m going crazy here, help! ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/17 "2001-06-30T04:26:05Z")
the scanreg command lives in the c:\windows\command directory… change to that directory first ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/18 "2001-06-30T04:39:05Z")
Update: I got scanreg to run and it didn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/19 "2001-06-30T08:05:47Z")
Ok I did scanreg /fix and that didn’t do squat so I did scanreg /restore and it restored my registry (as intended). Now I go to start my computer and I don’t get the KRNL386 error anymore but I think that might be because it’s just not getting that far, it locks up after displaying the CDROM drivers. I can, however, hold down control and go into “safe mode, command prompt only” (the only option that won’t freeze/give me an error) and switch to the c:\windows directory and type ‘Win’. Now normally this would start windows, and maybe it would start, but it is trying to tell me that HIMEM.SYS is missing. Now I know this isn’t true because I already copied it to its proper directory twice from 2 different floppies! Why is my computer lying to me? How can I get it to realize that HIMEM.SYS is actually there? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2001, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419/20 "2001-06-30T11:15:57Z")
OK, now I’m at the point where I finally got the Windows setup running but once it gets to about 30% it just starts giving me messeges that say “You have interuppted setup while it was trying to install X file” or whatever. It gives these messeges indefinately without the percent raising at all. What the HELL would make it do this? I know the disk works fine because I’ve used it before. Someone please help, pretty please…this has already cost me 4 nights sleep and a keyboard. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-find-krnl386-exe-or-the-nastiest-error-ive-seen-in-10-years-of-computing-q/70419.md?page=2)