Can't load Win XP (Home Edition)

Jeffrey I. · January 27th, 2006, 11:18 AM

I am having a problem loading Win XP on to a previously used and formatted hard drive. I formatted the drive because I was getting the "ntldr is missing" message. Now that I'm trying to re-load Winxp it is not loading. This is happening on a new motherboard which I set up and is currently working with another hard drive (10gig). This is what happens: I turn on the system with xp in cd drive. It begins to spin but then stops or slows down and nothing happens. The screen turns off with no message. This is a new CD drive which works fine, in fact the entire system works fine but I want to replace the smaller HD. The BIOS is set to boot from the CDROM (when I'm trying to load this driver). The jumpers seem to be set to mfg. specs.

Here are the components:
HDD Westen Digital WD1600 160 Gig
Motherboard: MSI pm8m-v
New Win xp full version (not upgrade).

Thanks.
Jeff

MTAtech · January 27th, 2006, 11:40 AM

Welcome to Techimo.

Actually, you didn't need to re-format for that original prob. You could have done the REPAIR option. But that' water underthe bridge now.

How did you format the drive?

Jeffrey I. · January 27th, 2006, 11:52 AM

Actually, I don't remember exactly how, but I know that I didn't do it through Win Xp. But I did it through a C:\ format I just don't remember how I got to the C:\ .

I was doing a repair with my Win disk when my cd rom shattered the disk into a million pieces! I now have a new WIN XP and a new CD ROM drive.

Thanks.

Foggy · January 27th, 2006, 12:44 PM

You could use kill disk, http://www.killdisk.com/ to zero out the HDD and don't fdisk just put the xp cd in the drive and let it do it's thing.

Jeffrey I. · January 28th, 2006, 09:14 PM

Thanks.

I tried the Killdisk stuff but it still didn't work. It was as if the hard drive was not being recognized. The BIOS shows the drive listed but that's about it.

When I try to boot from the Win XP disk the usual screens flash then the cd begins to spin. Then the screen says what it usually does, when you load WIN XP, something like "installation is checking your settings..." but only for a second. Then the cd stops spinning and I get the NTLRD IS MISSING message.

I suppose I could buy a new hard drive, but this one is only a year old and I would like to solve this problem if possible.

Any other ideas?

Jarhed7276 · January 28th, 2006, 10:25 PM

Is the drive you are trying to install SATA or PATA (regular ide)? If it is SATA did you load the drivers for it?

Jeffrey I. · January 29th, 2006, 09:14 AM

Thanks.

As it turns out the HDD is still under warranty and I have an authorization to return it, so I will.

Micro Bean · February 1st, 2006, 06:43 AM

Hmm that is kinda strange...because if I remember correctly ...A friends comp which I was working on had a faulty HD...Now when trying to install WinXp going to the install section where it formats your HD and install it tells you there whether it detects the HD or not it might show up in bios which it did...Now as to NTRL situation that happens if you dont boot from the CD....You should see a message saying Boot from CD press any key...well press any key and it should start to copy some files What I remember you get NTRL missing error is when none of files which it needs to start to complete winxp install was added... I would also change the jumper to Cable select which should make things abit easier..unless you dont have anything else attached as a slave on the same IDEgood luck

quickoldcar · February 1st, 2006, 07:26 AM

Try checking the boot device order in the bios. (Hit delete key on boot)
Set cdrom as first boot then hd0 as 2nd
Just connect the 1 harddrive that you want to install xp on.
Make sure cdrom isn't sluggish---try a different one.
Make sure cd isn't damaged or dirty.
I have had a few xp cd's i burned do the ntldr missing and it has to do with the cd being able to boot.

Hirens boot cd is a fabulous tool--everyone should have one for the day when their xp stops booting or the mbr gets messed up and no matter what you do it'll break again in a short time. Insert cd in 2nd drive and boot.

quickoldcar · February 1st, 2006, 07:29 AM

One more ting to add---the harddrive came with a cd--use it because harddrive will not read your 160 gig and there are format tools on it. Go to WD website and you can download it there.