You have a hacked kernel file and you want to know if Bootskin is 100% safe...

Anyway, you need to restore the original file and yes, Bootskin is safe.....

I would really replace the original kernel before using Bootskin

Bootskins is 100% safe as it does not change/alter the system files in any way

Yes, it is possible, but really - Replace the Original ntoskrnl.exe before hand

no you have a choice:it should work with the modified version. since you can't be 100% positive about it working it is advisable to put back the original.
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We all have no intention of changing or Kernel's, so you would be out of luck there

I would suggest that you try using bootskin, and if you cannot now replace with the original, it would still be ok to use bootskin safely

Give it a try, and don't be so quick to change the system files in future, or at least remember where you save the originals

as I said before I don't know if changing the bootskin will effect anything because you have changed a system file, especially since I don't know what you changed. My kernel says that its 1.83 mb, and I haven't done anything to it.

Insert your windows cd. don't run the reinstall, but instead explore the cd. go to i386 folder on the cd and find the file with the name ntsoskernel.exe, it might not have the same extension as the original, but I think it does. copy it to your c:\ directory. You have 2 options here you can use a seperate program to bypass the file protection or you can start up in safe mode to bypass it. I will just tell you how to do it in safe mode. Restart your computer and get it into command prompt safe mode. To do this press a certain key multiple times while the bios is still starting. In my case this key is f8, but it depends on your computer. once you get to the bootskin its to late.

alright you should have gotten to a list of a couple of options. find the one that says command prompt safe mode (or something close to that). start up in it and choose the admin as who you are going to log in as. once logged in type cd\ go to the base c directory. if the ntsokernel that you just copied here doesn't have the correct extension type "expand ntoskernel.extension" (without the quotes and with the extension as the files actual extension). now after thats done type "md backup" and press enter then "copy c:\windows\system32\ntoskernel.exe c:\backup\ntoskernelmodified.exe" and press enter. then type "move ntoskernel.exe c:\windows\system32\" and press enter. that should change the file and leave you with a backup of the one you had there
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I learned the hard way.

Forgot about microsoft and its craziness. uninstall your service packs then reinstall them form windows update. they will write over the existing messed up ntoskernel.exe. thats even an easier way out.

I never undestimate you, you never gave enough information about what you did, and how you did it. My suggestion is to uninstall the service packs then restart. then go to windows update and redownload and reinstall them. that should fix any problem with those.

When using any systemfile that did not come from your computer (example you downloaded the whole system file and replaced yours with it) you run the risk of it not working right with your computer. All computers are not the same, and every version of xp is not the same. That is why you don't replace system files. If you know what you are doing you can modify your own, but I wouldn't suggest it.

also watch your language.