Vista - Recent Update has stoped system booting up

Hi all, I recently decided to update windows and thought I was doing the right thing by doing this but I have hit a brick wall and I regret doing it now.

When I boot up it comes up with Ntoskrnl.exe Windows failed to load because a required file is missing, or corrupt.


I have tried replacing the files associated with it Fix for ntoskrnl.exe missing or corrupt. Error 0x0000098 when booting up Vista | Windows Reference but still doing the same. I cannot get into windows what so ever..not even safe mode or system restore has worked. I can't even repair when trying from the vista dvd. Only option is to do a clean install...
Why is it doing this? I have been trying all day and last night reading etc to try get some where so I thought I'd sign up and post a thread in this great professional forum.

I can still see all my files are there and are intact through dos. The boot bak file under main drive appears to be empty but I think it will still work even without it. I don't think there is a INI file for Vista correct?


Cheers in advance guys.

I really need help people.

SA

If you cant get into vista at all I suspect a clean install is the best idea. is there any data on the drive that you cant live without? has it been backed up?

Let us know how we can help


Ken

Hi, yes I can see all my data is still in tact and safe on the drive so it's just very strange that this has happened. I have only just finished installing a heap of programs and setting up my new machine you see (about a week ago so not from that at all) so I have it how I want but now this. I really don't want to reinstall after going to all the effort setting it up as you do.