NTLDR is missing, and other Windows problems

khal · July 6th, 2004, 08:44 PM

OK, so I have seen multiple forums with multiple threads about the NTLDR being missing. (Dude) It's a Dell, Dimension 8200 that I've had since Nov. 2002, running Windows XP. I had to get another one due to not being able to sign on it (blue screens, etc). So now, I have had the tower sitting around for sometime, and decided to pull it back out and try to get it operating again. Alas, I get the "NTLDR is missing", with the Ctrl Alt Del message. Now, I have seen all of this talk about resetting the BIOS, but I have been told (and read all around) that I just need to reformat and reinstall Windows, which I am fine with (the HD I originally had on it is now in my new tower, and everything is saved). I have 2 different (legal) Windows XP CDs, both from Dell, but one is a Service Pack 1a disk. On the Service Pack 1a disk, I can only get about 20% or so into the file copying before it errors everything and makes me restart. On the regular Windows XP Home Edition cd, I can get about 56%-70% through the copying, but then it errors out, usually with a blue screen. I don't think the CDs are corrupt or scratched, b/c I used the Service Pack 1a cd to reformat/reinstall Win XP on this PC back in Feb, and also used another to upgrade a friend of mine's Win XP. Do you think I need to try a new CD? Do you think there is some way around this? Any other ideas as to how to figure out this situation.

NOTE: I have tried the "fixmbr"/"fixboot" stuff, but it doesn't work. The thing is, I don't have Windows or anything on the HD, b/c of the reformat(s).

Any help would be very appreciated. Sorry for the long description, but I have been going through this for a few weeks, and I am at my wits end. I don't know if this can be fixed or if I will have to spend $$ (I don't have any!) on a new mobo/RAM/etc.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

noseBleeD · July 6th, 2004, 09:37 PM

Hello khal and welcome to TechIMO!
I just had this problem yesterday. I have WinXP Pro with the service pack and all other Windows OS related updates. Why all of a sudden the ntldr system file is missing is beyond me.

edit because my advice could get me in trouble, as usual.
Also , I find it comical that my drive did actually fail not long after ntldr left town for awhile.
------------------------------------------

Sometimes the answers are right in front of our face in the guise of an error message.
Like the error message that reads "NTLDR Missing".

Nope, not true. "NTLDR Hiding" is more like it.
Reminds me of trying to install some huge program from cdrom. If cdrom is faulty or cd is faulty, you get cannot find such and such a file, or not ready, reading drive X
Abort,Retry,Ignore.....

Maybe Missing NTLDR is hdd ready to fail, or faulty in some way. Why it singles out NTLDR? Well that file on cd that can't be found is singled out every time too...
Maybe NTLDR is written to certain sector, track on hdd's ....

Keep Coming Back ...

Flip! The Bird! · July 6th, 2004, 10:29 PM

I have recently joined those who have lost their ntldr file...

My problem is this...

Brand new 80gig HD with no OS on it...
No floppy drive whatsoever...
XP Pro disc...

I have no OS to get into to restore anything; I have no floppy drive to do a bootdisk from; My XP Pro disc doesn't boot (which all of you know that because I don't think it CAN be used as a boot disk).

Is there anything I can do to fix this?

Remember, I CANNOT use a win98 bootdisk because i have no floppy drive...my brand new HD has never been used and has nothing on it...I can partition it with the disk that came with it, but i can't load any windows onto it at all b/c any other cd in the drive results in NTLDR Missing blah blah blah...

Can anyone help me after they've helped the posts above me???

StealthyV · July 6th, 2004, 10:50 PM

welcome to TIMO, everyone!

well I know you're all new here, but it might help to search the forums first before you post...this topic has been discussed in detail before:

see thread

glad you came to Techimo for help...next time, utilize the search function before you post!

~branson

khal · July 7th, 2004, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthyV

welcome to TIMO, everyone!

well I know you're all new here, but it might help to search the forums first before you post...this topic has been discussed in detail before:

see thread

glad you came to Techimo for help...next time, utilize the search function before you post!

~branson

I wouldn't have made this thread if I hadn't read the one you linked in your response. I couldn't find an answer in there, and at the very end someone said "please make a new thread instead of bumping old threads"...

XsCode · July 8th, 2004, 09:06 AM

I had the same problem and tried all the solutions in the other thread but none worked. I finally fixed the problem after coming moving the HD to the connector closest to the MB then reinstalling.

StealthyV · July 8th, 2004, 12:33 PM

I'm sorry if my linkage wasn't helpful. I had assumed (wrongly) that since you were new here, you wouldn't have searched the forums, as many have done before. I'm sorry to have made that assumption.

just to clarify, the error message refers to the "NT Loader" and I hope you find the answer you're looking for soon!

~Branson

khal · July 9th, 2004, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XsCode

I had the same problem and tried all the solutions in the other thread but none worked. I finally fixed the problem after coming moving the HD to the connector closest to the MB then reinstalling.

Wow that really worked? I shall try that... a friend of mine is going to let me borrow his copy of XP, I'm wondering if it's the CD(s) that I have, maybe the PC is not recognizing all of the files? Who knows...

@StealthyV - that's OK, I understand.

noseBleeD · July 9th, 2004, 10:48 AM

khal - read http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...21#post1138021 ,
then consider

Quote:

Originally Posted by XsCode

I finally fixed the problem after coming moving the HD to the connector closest to the MB then reinstalling.

Perhaps if everybody would just reinstall, there would be no more "Missing NTLDR" threads.

Keep Coming Back.......

khal · July 11th, 2004, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noseBleeD

khal - read http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...21#post1138021 ,
then consider

Perhaps if everybody would just reinstall, there would be no more "Missing NTLDR" threads.

Keep Coming Back.......

Believe me, I'm trying, if you read my original thread, you will see that I have been having problems with 2 different XP cds. I have a reformatted HD with no Windows XP being able to complete installation. That's why I come to the forums and ask for help.