NTLDR is Missing

[Guest]

I've got a Windows 2000 Server (SP4) acting as a Domain Controller and
print server. This morning on reboot, it began giving an "NTLDR is Missing"
error" and would not boot into Windows. I have since been able to get it
back online simply by keeping a Windows 2000 Server CD in the CD-Rom, but
want to ensure I take the appropriate measures to trully correct this.

My question is two-fold. Number 1:
While trying to initially troubleshoot, I tried to follow the instructions
as per http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318728, however I could not find a
boot.ini file on any other 2K Server, and ensured that my View was set to
"Show Hidden Files and Folders." Now that this server is back online, I
cannot find the boot.ini file on this machine either, or Ntbootdd.sys for
that matter. Am I missing something here?

Number 2:
Why would my machine only boot when the Windows 2000 Server disc is in
CD-Rom and how can I possibly correct this?

Thanks!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I've got a Windows 2000 Server (SP4) acting as a Domain Controller and
print server. This morning on reboot, it began giving an "NTLDR is Missing"
error" and would not boot into Windows. I have since been able to get it
back online simply by keeping a Windows 2000 Server CD in the CD-Rom, but
want to ensure I take the appropriate measures to trully correct this.

My question is two-fold. Number 1:
While trying to initially troubleshoot, I tried to follow the instructions
as per http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318728, however I could not find a
boot.ini file on any other 2K Server, and ensured that my View was set to
"Show Hidden Files and Folders." Now that this server is back online, I
cannot find the boot.ini file on this machine either, or Ntbootdd.sys for
that matter. Am I missing something here?

Number 2:
Why would my machine only boot when the Windows 2000 Server disc is in
CD-Rom and how can I possibly correct this?

Thanks!

You can view c:\boot.ini with this command: notepad c:\boot.ini.

You can probably fix your booting problem by booting the
machine into the Recovery Console, then typing these commands:

fixboot
fixmbr

 

[Guest]

Typing "notepad c:\boot.ini" did bring up the file and the contents are as
follows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server"
/fastdetect


However, I noticed that there appears to be two installs of the OS on this
machine, one of C and one on D. Most likely someone had tried to repair at
some point in the past. How can I tell which instance is currently being
used and is operational?

 

[Steve Parry]

I've got a Windows 2000 Server (SP4) acting as a Domain Controller and
print server. This morning on reboot, it began giving an "NTLDR is
Missing" error" and would not boot into Windows. I have since been able
to get it back online simply by keeping a Windows 2000 Server CD in the
CD-Rom, but want to ensure I take the appropriate measures to trully
correct this.

My question is two-fold. Number 1:
While trying to initially troubleshoot, I tried to follow the instructions
as per http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318728, however I could not
find a boot.ini file on any other 2K Server, and ensured that my View was
set to "Show Hidden Files and Folders." Now that this server is back
online, I cannot find the boot.ini file on this machine either, or
Ntbootdd.sys for that matter. Am I missing something here?

Number 2:
Why would my machine only boot when the Windows 2000 Server disc is in
CD-Rom and how can I possibly correct this?

Thanks!

You've made sure there's no disk in the floppy drive?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Start a Command Prompt and type this command:

set system

It tells you clearly which where your Windows system folder
resides.

Seeing that you were initially unable to locate the hidden
file c:\boot.ini, you might want to explore just why exactly
you could not see this file. Maintenance of your PC can
be quite difficult unless you are familiar with the method of
making hidden files visible.

Typing "notepad c:\boot.ini" did bring up the file and the contents are as
follows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server"
/fastdetect


However, I noticed that there appears to be two installs of the OS on this
machine, one of C and one on D. Most likely someone had tried to repair at
some point in the past. How can I tell which instance is currently being
used and is operational?

find
a

You can view c:\boot.ini with this command: notepad c:\boot.ini.

You can probably fix your booting problem by booting the
machine into the Recovery Console, then typing these commands:

fixboot
fixmbr

 

[Guest]

That was the first thing I checked.

Pagasus, thanks for the "set system" command.. that helped!