NTLDR missing

shortybiscuit · April 23rd, 2003, 11:03 AM

I've been working on PC for seom time now, not an expert, but good enough. This is a first for me. i have read most of the threads, and I've also gotten info from search engines. I will try tonight and let you know which method worked best!

In my case, I added a new 80GB Maxtor Hard Drive to my current 13GB XP system. IT came with software to copy the contents of the old drive to the new (80GB) drive. After setting up the new drice as master I first got the "Remove disks or other media, Press any key ot restart" error. Over and over. Some how i got out of that, and ended up with "NTLDR is missing".

Will let you know tomorrow or later tonight if I get it to work.

Blazer06 · April 23rd, 2003, 11:10 AM

unfortunealtly as far as I know, windows 98 dosent have or use ntdlr. This is used by the O/S's using NFTS, such as NT, 2000, ME, and XP. If you have a 98se boot disk with ntdlr on it, tell me where you got it from.

Takeing your battery out should have nothing to do with ntdlr imo, but it's possible it might. Make sure you write down your cmos settings before so you can set them back.

Blaze

AnotherGuy · April 25th, 2003, 09:12 AM

Well, seems most people have stopped replying to this thread but I thought I would add my story just for the record:

Win 2K Pro
AMD 2500+
40GB Seagate HD
512MB RAM
Biostar M7VIT Pro mobo

Tried everything, Fixboot, fixmbr, changed my bios settings, copied all the files onto my HD, tried booting from a floppy, (dont have a CD...it's a, uhhh, "borrowed" copy of windows).

I have read 2 or 3 posts out of many that say it was a mobo issue...I am hoping this isn't the case because I wouldn't know how to determine if it was a mobo issue.

anhooo, still working on the problem, if I come up with a fix I will let you all know. This has been a GREAT source of information.

Here's the story of how I got to this problem for anyone who wants to read it to see if they can get any clues

This is the first computer I have built, to save money I stole the HD out of my old computer without formating, hoping that I wouldnt have to re-install anything and life would be wonderful. Old system was a pentium II 350 compaq running windows 2K pro, switched it to the new system running AMD athalon 2500+. first time I switch the comp on it wont boot, nothing...nada, zip. I unplugged the CD-rom and it started...dont know what was wrong, everything was in the right place. so, second boot, get to verifying dmi pool and then ntldr is missing.

I've been through every suggestion that has been made for win2k but nothing works. wish me luck. the family will kill me if I lose the files

Blazer06 · April 25th, 2003, 11:54 AM

check the jumpers on your cdrom. make sure they are set to slave. or set them to master, and put them on the secondary ide cable. make sure there is not adisket in the drive.

Blaze

Deltron · April 25th, 2003, 09:42 PM

I had this problem, I fixed it by taking my hard drive out and stuck it in my friends computer and added two files to c:\, those two files were "ntldr" and "ntdetect.com" brought my hard drive back home and put it back in my computer and she booted like nothing was ever wrong.

AnotherGuy · April 25th, 2003, 10:06 PM

Thanks blazer, the CD-rom I fixed no problem.

As for the HD, the solution is now easy...it crashed this morning so I have to format it now. Oh well, I got it backed up so no big deal.

thanks everyone for all the comments over the several years that this thread has been going

radio1_mike · April 26th, 2003, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Deltron
I had this problem, I fixed it by taking my hard drive out and stuck it in my friends computer and added two files to c:\, those two files were "ntldr" and "ntdetect.com" brought my hard drive back home and put it back in my computer and she booted like nothing was ever wrong.

What a great tip!

I just wish I had known that when I had my own problems, at least now, I can help some of my friends...!

Strawbs · April 26th, 2003, 08:43 PM

Did anybody suggest hitting F8 and "boot from last known good configuration" yet?

niconz · April 27th, 2003, 10:11 PM

The computer stops booting before it gets to the Windows Boot Menu, so you cannot press F8 to boot from last known good configuration.

AnotherGuy · April 29th, 2003, 05:04 AM

OK< so I just did a complete format of my HD, fresh install of windows 2000 and same thing.

is there any way it could be something other than the HD...mobo maybe, or ram? I am lost for ideas here.

Anyone know a way to check the mobo or ram?