ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded, the error code is 7

[LiquidKarma]

This error has plagued me for about three days straight. I'm desperate here. I REALLY need your help. Here's the deal:

I have two computers, the first, a P4 2.4 ghz, and the second, a P3 600mhz. Before Christmas all I had was the P3 with a 20gb hd, 256 mb ram, and Win XP Pro. After Christmas I moved the 20gb hd to the P4 and re-installed Win XP Pro. However, I recently purchased a 40gb hd and want to move the 20gb back to it's originial PC. I installed Win XP on the 40gb with no problems, but now I'm getting the mentioned error on the 20gb.

I've searched and searched over the days and have tried all of the following with no avail.

1. Per microsoft I hit F7 several times when asked about installing third party scsii devices or what-not to bypass the searching of multiple processors. They said that file was used in mp systems, and perhaps the installation was expecting a mp sys when I have a single chip.

2. I updated my bios of the P3 motherboard from the manufacturer.

3. I removed one of the 128mb sticks of RAM. Then I tried several combinations of RAM I had around the house. It was suggested at Microsoft that I had faulty RAM.

4. Booted up to a Win98 startup disk, fdisked the drive and the /mbr.

5. Hit F5 several times during installation when asking for third party devices, was supposed to select ACPI or Standard configuration, but was never presented the option.

6. Downloaded the file that creates 6 floppy boot disks for XP at the microsoft website. This time I successfully passed the "ntkrnlmp.exe" error, but at the end of the 6th disk I got a "Stop 0x0000007e" error.

I'm really clueless at this point. The same disc I'm using on the 20gb in the P3 worked fine on the 20gb when placed in the P4 machine. The 40gb also worked fine in the P4 but produced the same error in the P3. Could my P3 mobo have gone bad after two months of non-use? Is there anything else I could try? I really need this P3 up and running, I'd be incredibly gratefull for help you guys could provide.

LK

 

[rrmagno]

Boot up your machine with a Win98 startup disk, fdisk the drive and the /mbr, format it with Fat32. Restart ur pc andboot it again with the same startup disk with CD-ROM support, insert your XP Pro installation disk, under DOS go to the directory I386, and type winnt. DO NOT HIT F5, install XP as u normally do.

 

[LiquidKarma]

Thanks for the reply. That's the very first thing I did. I formated the 20gb hd using Fat32, then booted to the startup disk. I went into the I386 directory and entered winnt. That's the first time I got the error, so from that point on I tried the six listed "fixes" and have yet to find one that works.

Any other suggestions?

 

[linney]

For normal Single Processor use I don't think this file is necessary. Perhaps all you can really do is work through the following article (as you have) then take the machine to a repairer.


318729 - "Ntkrnlmp.exe Could Not Be Loaded. The Error Code Is 7" Error Message Occurs During Windows Setup

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318729&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

"Could my P3 mobo have gone bad after two months of non-use?"
NOTE: An insufficiently charged or damaged internal battery may corrupt the CMOS or BIOS settings.

 

[linney]

I forgot to mention that you can check your RAM out with or without any operating system by downloading this program and then booting from a floppy disk.

http://www.memtest86.com/

 

[LiquidKarma]

Thanks Linney. That article was one of the first I read. It mentioned the faulty ram, updating you bios, etc. Unfortunately none of those have worked. I guess I'm going to have to return all the parts I bought for the P3 and just get a pre-built system. It's frustrating that after seriously searching the web for four days, there's no discernable solution to this problem. I've seen hundreds of others with the same error, and no one has found a way past it.

 

[linney]

Did you download the memory error checking program and create the files and were they able to boot up?
As a final check did you follow these instructions correctly?

How to Force a Hardware Abstraction Layer During an Upgrade or New Installation of Windows XP (Q299340)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q299/3/40.asp

How to Troubleshoot Windows 2000 Hardware Abstraction Layer Issues (Q237556)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q237/5/56.asp

Troubleshooting Text-Mode Setup Problems on ACPI Computers (Q224826)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q224/8/26.asp

 

[Freestone]

I see that you have updated the BIOS in your P3 motherboard, but have you tried loading BIOS default settings? Just a guess, but maybe you tweaked a setting after you originally installed XP that now prevents XP from being installed again.

 

[LiquidKarma]

Well, I took all your suggestions and yet I'm still coming up short. The memory check came out fine, so I guess it's not a problem with RAM. I've read through all the articles, making sure to follow each to the fullest. Again, I've yet to find a solution. Same with loading the default settings on my BIOS.

However, I'm starting to think it's a problem with the hard drive. I'm stumped now because I moved the 20gb hd back to the P4 where I had it working just a few days ago. This time Windows installs properly (like usual) but once I restart the computer I get an error message saying that the file ntoskrnl.exe is missing or corrupt and that windows cannot start. So I tried to copy it from the cd to the c: and got a "failed to write to drive c:". So maybe it's the hard drive after all?

Then again, I can't get the 40gb to work on the P3 yet it still works on the P4. I'm really confused right now. Never have I had this much trouble getting an OS on a system.