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Cannot find or Load "krnl386.exe"

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i had downloaded a utility to change the serial number of the harddisk for r&d purpose.
After running it, when i restarted my pc, it was unable to start properly giving an error message "cannot find or load krnl386.exe".
i have reinstalled win98, but again the problem is same.

what is the possible solution for this?

its urgent.

6 replies

by Member 35772270

also if you are reloading from CD and trying to reboot it can not find CD, use a boot disk to get access to CD and the OS to HD

Example copy d:\win98\*.* /s /e c:\win98 when prompt select (D) Directory when completed run setup from HD

by colin_seel

This problem can occur if the WIN386.EXE file is located in the Windows
folder. This file is run by WIN.COM, causing Windows to belive the Windows
folder is the Windows\System folder.

RESOLUTION
There are two methods for resolving this issue.
If Windows 95/98 Was Not nstalled/Uninstalled

1. Boot with clean AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files.

2. Make sure that your Windows directory is on your MS-DOS path.

3. Make sure that your path statement does not contain more than 128 characters.

4. Make sure that the correct kernel file indicated in the warning message
actually exists in your Windows SYSTEM subdirectory. If you are running a
shared copy of Windows, make sure the file is in the shared Windows
directory.
5. Add the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory to your MS-DOS path.

6. Make sure your MS-DOS version is compatible with your computer.

7. If you are using a shared installation of Windows on a network server, make
sure that your personal Windows directory and the shared Windows directory
are on your MS-DOS path and are listed in that order.

8. Ensure you don't have any upper memory block (UMB) conflicts. For more
information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
troubleshooting and emm386.exe 4.45
9. Rebuild the SYSTEM.INI file.

10. As a last resort, reinstall Windows.

If Windows 95/98 Was Installed/Uninstalled

1. Remove the WIN386.EXE file from the Windows folder. If there is no WIN386.EXE
file in the Windows\System folder, move the file from the Windows folder to
the Windows\System folder.

2. Restart the computer.

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