Computer cannot find 'krnl386.exe,' will not start up correctly

Hello,

I am currently using my father's computer to ask for help.

While playing a PC game, the computer froze. It is currently using Windows 98 (obviously). When I rebooted the computer, it said 'cannot find krnl386.exe ... the file is in an incorrect exe format' - or, at least, something along those lines, and then hang. The computer also does not start up in safe mode, though I am given the option to enter command prompts. The computer was purchased from a friend so I have no disks... it is also custom made.

If my only option is to reformat, should I just purchase Windows XP and install that? And if I do reformat, is there anyway to figure out what drivers I need? The computer doesn't have anything drastically valuable on it.

Thanks in advance.

 

If you decide to go to XP, and the machine is a few years old, XP most likely will have the correct drivers for itself. I would get the full install version of XP if I were you.
During the install of XP, you are given the option to format the drive as it is, or to format it to the NTFS file system. NTFS is a good choice.
But there is still hope for your 98 system. There may be a chance your friend has the windows setup files copied onto the drive. Before anything, it would be a good idea do a scandisk first.
scandisk /autofix
Try these commands at the prompt.
dir c:\windows\options\cabs\*.cab
dir c:\win98\*.cab
If you see a bunch of file names scroll on the screen, do these commands, remember which of two folders they appeared from. If in the first folder;
cd\windows\system
extract /y c:\windows\options\cabs\win98_45.cab krnl386.exe

or second folder

cd\windows\system
extract /y c:\win98\win98_45.cab krnl386.exe

In either case, you will get a confirmation of success.
If scandisk fixed more than 1 or 2 errors, more files may be 'lost'.