programs won't start

A friend running win2k called me today saying when they started up their computer they got an error that the \system32\NTOSKRNL.exe not available or corrupt. I managed to get their machine booting up. desktop is there but very few of the icons work. DSL connection. Norton. etc. my computer opens . I tried to reinstall nortons or run application from the CD (systemworks 2003) and it won't start. can't check quarantine or any part of it.
CPU runs quite a bit at 100 percent as well. I noticed under the process running that one called applicationlaye (yes R is missing) is taking up 80-90 percent of CPU. Did a search on google and coudn't find anything about this.
anyone else have this problem? They mentioned a while ago about a trojan Norton said it caught but can't get into quarantine to see which one.
thanks for your help. always greatly appreciated.Brent

http://support.microsoft.com/default...en-us%3B103673


Wasn't there something reguarding this as a buffer overun type problem? Make sure to install service pack 4 for Windows 2000 to correct this if that is what it is.

Also run a online virus scan at trend micro or panda to double check that norton hasn't missed anything.

see if you can end process/shut down on Applicationlaye to free up resources.

You also can install msconfig from Xp and run it on 2000 you may be able to shut down that process from that as well!

Thanks for replying. All the updates up to last month (when I redid it for them) including sp4 were installed. I was able to correct the ntoskrnl problem. I was going to do an online scan but it won't connect. the dial up connection as well as Ie or netscape will not open and/or startup. I even tried directly from the program folder.and I can't shut down ANY program the are running in processes.
still trying and scratching the old head