Windows XP Pro system crash

>-----Original Message-----
>My brothers comp crashed this evening. I am running the
>same version of windows, most current updates and all
>same as he. I am wondering if I can use my Automated
>recovery disk on his computer.
>
>I was also wondering if nothing else, if I could
>reinstall the OS on top of itself, without losing the
>precious data that is unfortunately marooned on his hard
>drive. I understand some programs may not work propery
>and such, but I need the majority of the stuff - over
>several partitions, saved if possible.
>
>The problem is this - the computer restarted and

>go anywhere. He says he tried to go into safe mode, at
>which point it told him that the c:\windows\system32
>\ntoskrnl.exe file was missing - right off the bat. I
>checked and it is still there, proper file size and all.
>
>When I went into safe mode, it made it farther than he
>did. I got the list of all the drivers and files that
>were being loaded, but then it hung up without clearing
>the file list and going into safe mode.....Just sat

>
>Any ideas or suggestions?
>.
>