Corrupt

Installing Windows XP SP3 it prompts for c:\system32\ntoskrnl.exe , Retry and Cancel.  Retry of course didn't work.  I searched the hard drive, and the ntoskrnl.exe was in the proper folder.  Cancel out and shutdown.  Reboot into Safe Mode and is now says:

\system32\ntoskrnl.exe is missing or corrupt.

Okay, now I insert the windows xp cd, boot from the cd and enter the recovery console.  Checked to make sure the ntoskrnl.exe was on the hard drive still.  Then I enetered the command:

expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32

D: is my cdrom drive with the windows xp cd, and C: is my hard drive

Double checked that windows boots normally, check.  Reboot to try safe mode again.  This time, ntfs.sys is missing or corrupt.  So I followed: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555531.  Basically the same thing as before except copying instead of expanding.

"ntfs.sys missing or corrupt error message

To resolve this problem do the followings:-
1] Boot  computer with the Windows XP CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.
2] To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
3] At the command prompt, type the following commands:-
 
 cd \windows\system32\drivers [Press the ENTER Key]
 
 ren ntfs.sys ntfs.old [Press the ENTER Key]
 
 If the ntfs.sys file is there and corrupt it will rename it. If it is not there then it was missing. 
 
4]At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
copy X:\i386\ntfs.sys drive:\windows\system32\drivers [Where X=CD-ROM Drive]

5]Remove the Windows XP CD from CD-ROM drive, type quit, and then
press ENTER to quit the Recovery Console.

6. Restart the system."

Windows boots normally still.  Now Safe Mode goes all the load files and then automatically reboots.  Ok.  It's just screwed up now.  What a waste of time...I'll append this post if I ever get SP3 to install.