NTLDR is missing

[AD-15]

hello,

After a disasterous attempt at recovering my backup partition, I now get the following message when I switch on my system:

NTLDR is missing

I've tried booting from a floppy disk, and then using the bcupdate2.exe app from another floppy disk by entering it into the "A:\" command line, however, it just says "bad command or file name".

Any ideas?

EDIT: I've tried bcupdate.exe now, but it tells me the program cannot be run in DOS

[alsenior]

do a repair install from your windows disk

[AD-15]

hello,

Unfortunetly XP was pre-installed, I have no XP disks. My warranty has also expired, so I can't ask the manufacturer (I've tried).

[Thorsson]

Borrow someone's XP disk. If it's just a damaged or missing NTLDR file then you can do this:

Using the Recovery Console, copy the Ntldr file from the Windows XP CD-ROM to the root directory of the current active partition. Follow these steps:

1. Start your computer by using the Windows XP Setup floppy disks or by using the Windows XP CD-ROM.
2. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10, or press R to repair.
3. Press C to start the Recovery Console.
4. Copy the Ntldr file from the Windows XP CD-ROM to the root of your system partition by using the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

1. Type cd\ to go to the root of drive C
2. Type the letter of the CD-ROM drive, e.g. D:
3. Type cd i386 to change into the right directory
4. Type copy ntldr c:
5. Type exit

[Thorsson]

Is your "My System" spec accurate, or is that a wannabe? Coz that doesn't look like a pre-built machine.

[AD-15]

hello,

Sorry about that Thorrson, this is my other system.

Is there no other way to fix this? I don't know anybody with the actual disks.

[burtie]

You must get recovery disks with a system like that?

[AD-15]

Nope, no disks.

[tigerboyce]

download the disks from certain sources? as long as your using your own licence key is there anything wrong with that?

[Thorsson]

Normally if there's no recovery disk there is a recovery partition, or at least a recovery directory.

I presume you are using Vista on the other PC?

You could try this solution Simple "ntldr is missing" fix with boot floppy or CD, then fix HD

[Thorsson]

Stoned again? If you read you'll see he doesn't have a CD.

[tom18230]

then why did you post this comment.




1. Start your computer by using the Windows XP Setup floppy disks or by using the Windows XP CD-ROM.
2. At the "Welcome to Setup" screen, press F10, or press R to repair.
3. Press C to start the Recovery Console.
4. Copy the Ntldr file from the Windows XP CD-ROM to the root of your system partition by using the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

1. Type cd\ to go to the root of drive C
2. Type the letter of the CD-ROM drive, e.g. D:
3. Type cd i386 to change into the right directory
4. Type copy ntldr c:
5. Type exit

...I see you "accidently" missed out the part where he said "BORROW A DISK FROM A FRIEND." Pffft.

[AD-15]

Thorsson, that link worked brilliantly!! Thanks!!!

Unfortunetly though, I can't get it to boot without using the disk I created using the program. I tried removing the backup partition that I recovered (this is what started the issues), but this has made no difference.

Do you think if I purchased the XP disks it would fix the issue? I was looking at formatting the system anyway, you wouldn't believe how much junk is on the disk.

[Thorsson]

You've possibly corrupted the MBR (Master Boot Record). That's easy to correct if you have a CD using the fdisk /mbr command.

Without a disk you might try this site Fixmbr - Repair Master Boot Record, MBRFix for Windows 2000, XP etc., fdisk /mbr, linux LILO damage MBR.