NTLDR is missing

[speedy_s]

Write, i formatted my hdd on another computer using windows (right click>formate). And when i try to install windows, it won't boot from cd and i get an error saying NTLDR is missing. Press xtrl+alt del to restart. I can't boot of a cd, How???Please help.

[Moby-Dick]

have you changed your BIOS boot order to put the CD before HD ?

[speedy_s]

yes.

[speedy_s]

Write shall i format my hard drive again ?

[Olly1234]

You shouldn;t need to as the install will give you that option, does it not read boot from cd > press any key when you boot?

[speedy_s]

no.

[MD]

the only way you could get to that point is if it is not booting off the CD, do you have TWO cd drives int he machine, is the CD in the right drive? I know it sounds basic, but its somthing simple thats wrong.....

m@

[Olly1234]

I have that on my Asus Sli, if you have two optical drives you set master and secondary even though they are on seperatr ide channels

[speedy_s]

I think teh problem is as i have a USB keyboard, it won't recoginze it would it when it says press any key to boot?

[speedy_s]

nope only 1 optical drive

[nichomach]

If you're getting the "Press any key to boot from CD..." message, then it is booting from the CD, but your KB is not being recognized. If you have a PS/2 keyboard handy, use that instead (or buy a cheap one). Problem is that there's usually a BIOS setting to enable USB recognition in the BIOS, but you need to get into the BIOS to set it, and for that your keyboard has to work...cue chorus of "There's a hole in my bucket dear Liza, dear Liza...".

If you're not getting that message, then it's not recognizing the CD and you need to recheck the boot order in BIOS.

[speedy_s]

Ok, i think its the ps/2 thing. Well, my wireless k/b and mouse is ps/2 and it still won't recognize it. With the USB kb i was able to go into bios and all that with the ps/2 wireless kb i can't even do that.

[nichomach]

Yeah, wireless PS/2 won't help. Seriously, unless you want to furtle around changing the USB legacy device support settings and device recognition in BIOS or software settings then a cheapo wired PS/2's your best bet.

[Allen]

Just FYI, my USB keyboard works fine in my BIOS as I have the option set for it to recognise it, but if I try and use the USB keyboard to boot from a CD or run through the Windows installation, it won't recognise it.

Don't you have a USB - PS/2 dongle? Those little green things normally come with USB keyboards and work fine for this purpose.

[Norky]

Have you tried creating a boot floppy? If you have access to Windows XP, right click the A drive, Format, Create MS-DOS boot disk. This will get you into the command prompt so you can start the CD from there.

[Allen]

My version of XP won't run from DOS, you have to boot from the CD.