<Windows root>\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

Hi. The other day my computer crashed while I was playing a game. I hit it a few times but didn’t seem to cause any damage. When I turned it off and on using the power button I get this error:

“Windows could not start…

\system32\ntoskrnl.exe”

Is anyone farmiliar with this error? After searching the net I found the I was supposed to start a recovery console? But I don’t know how to do that and there was no explanations..Windows XP SP2 came already installed on it and all I have with it is a ‘Reinstallation CD’ from Dell. When I insert the disk nothing happens, when I turn off then on again I get the same message. Can someone give me step by step instructions on how to solve this?

Thanks.