Boot error: NTLDR is missing

[Christoph]

I'm not sure why I'm having so many problems today. I have Norton
Systemworks 2006 installed and I defragged my HDs last night. I ran Disk
Doctor and scheduled a check upon reboot. This morning, I rebooted my PC
and now, all of the sudden, I'm getting the above error. I've tried going
into the recovery console after booting from the WinXP install disk and I
see that the NTLDR file is indeed in the root directory. Following
suggestions in other posts found via Google, I've run the FIXBOOT utility
but that doesn't seem to have much of an effect. Another post suggested
running the FIXMBR utility but it gave me an error about how it might screw
up my partitions making the data on my drive inaccessable. I don't want
that because there is data on the drive I need.

So basically, I have two questions:

1) How can I fix it so Windows will boot again. There is one thing that may
throw a wrench into a possible fix. I moronically installed Norton GoBack
when I installed Systemworks. This is not a mistake I'll *ever* make again.
Evidently, it changes the partition type from 0x07 to 0x44. If I change it
from 0x44 to 0x07 (using a utility called PTEDIT), GoBack gives an error and
that causes a boot failure. If I leave it at 0x44, then I get the NTLDR
error. And I'm not sure if FIXBOOT is able to work with GoBack installed.
So I'm worried that reinstalling XP is my only solution. Which leads to my
next question...

2) Failing that, how can I get access (from the recovery console) to some of
the directories (particularly 'Documents and Settings' which I know gets
obliterated on re-install) on the HD so I can make copies. That way I can
at least install XP again.

thnx,
Christoph

 

[Guest]

Wow! OK, this is a tough one! IMO, your first priority should be to recover
your files. There's many ways to do this. Please go to this link and read
the advice that I posted earlier:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...01d0-46f6-b445-77266b7df759&lang=en&cr=US&p=1

That'll help you to recover your data.

Next is the NTLDR message - it can be troubleshot - or you can (once you've
saved your data) perform an In-Place Upgrade (reinstallation) of XP (also
known as a "repair install") using these directions:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

This link is a bit less complicated to follow:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The repair install may or may not work (depending on the problem that caused
the NTLDR message - but it won't take all that long, and it can fix a whole
mess of stuff on your system!

Good Luck!

- John

 

[Guest]

Oh, and BTW...From your description of your problem - I suspect that you're a
bit too advanced to benefit from Norton Systemworks.

IMO Norton Systemworks is a good program that's designed for folks who need
a suite of applications that takes care of most problems for them. Your
description of your use of the Recovery Console and PTEDIT suggests that
you're past the point that Norton services.

There's lot's of other good programs out there (both free and payware) - let
us know what you're looking for and I'm sure that there'll be plenty of
suggestions!

- John

 

[Christoph]

Oh, and BTW...From your description of your problem - I suspect that

you're a
bit too advanced to benefit from Norton Systemworks.

Perhaps, but it's convenient.

IMO Norton Systemworks is a good program that's designed for folks who
need
a suite of applications that takes care of most problems for them. Your
description of your use of the Recovery Console and PTEDIT suggests that
you're past the point that Norton services.

While I'm do still definitely have a lot to learn (doesn't everyone ),
I've been working
with PCs for the last 15 years. So I'm definitely comfortable with getting
under the
hood. Now, whether or not I screw something up while I'm down there is
another
story.

There's lot's of other good programs out there (both free and payware) -
let
us know what you're looking for and I'm sure that there'll be plenty of
suggestions!

Well, what I primarily use NSW for is Disk Doctor, Speed Disk, AntiVirus and
Win Doctor. I'm also thinking about starting to use Ghost.

thnx,
Christoph

 

[AJR]

I'm not sure why I'm having so many problems today. I have Norton
Systemworks 2006 installed and I defragged my HDs last night. I ran Disk
Doctor and scheduled a check upon reboot. This morning, I rebooted my PC
and now, all of the sudden, I'm getting the above error. I've tried going
into the recovery console after booting from the WinXP install disk and I
see that the NTLDR file is indeed in the root directory. Following
suggestions in other posts found via Google, I've run the FIXBOOT utility
but that doesn't seem to have much of an effect. Another post suggested
running the FIXMBR utility but it gave me an error about how it might
screw up my partitions making the data on my drive inaccessable. I don't
want that because there is data on the drive I need.

Common cause for message that NTLDR and HAL files missing is Windows trying
to boot
from the wrong partition or System/Boot location. Verify default boot.ini
setting is correct
or run FIXMBR.

 

[Christoph]

Wow! OK, this is a tough one! IMO, your first priority should be to

recover
your files. There's many ways to do this. Please go to this link and
read
the advice that I posted earlier:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...01d0-46f6-b445-77266b7df759&lang=en&cr=US&p=1

This doesn't really help in because it presumes that the user is able to
actually boot into windows and open a command prompt. I need to be able to
access directories from the only place I can right now -- the recovery
console. Unfortunately, whenever I try to change to a directory that isn't
windows, I get an "Access Denied" error.

I've tried creating a boot disk but there are two problems I'm encountering.
First is that when XP creates a boot disk, it creates it as Windows ME.
Second, my drive is formatted NTFS and as a result, I can't access it when
booting using the disk; ME can't read NTFS.

So, as a result, the only place I can access the file system to do anything
with my files is the recovery console. If anyone knows of another way I can
get access to my files and copy them elsewhere so I can re-install, that
would be great!

thnx,
Christoph

 

[Christoph]

Next is the NTLDR message - it can be troubleshot - or you can (once

you've
saved your data) perform an In-Place Upgrade (reinstallation) of XP (also
known as a "repair install") using these directions:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

I tried this but I'm still getting an error, albeit a different one. Now,
the error I'm getting is:

"Load Error!
Press a key to reboot."

So it looks like I'm definitely going to have to reformat the drive. I just
need to access my files to create a backup first... :|

thnx,
Christoph

 

[Lawrence Systems]

Boot to the recovery console and copy your NTLDR Back to c:\

 

[coal_brona]

Hello,

I recommend you trying NTFS Reader utility, that is a really useful
tool that can access NTFS in DOS/win98/me. I've used it before and can
say it is really reliable. The tool can be found on a CD image data
tools set, Active@ Boot Disk. That set also includer really mighty
tools for data destruction, recovery and backup. You can give it a
quick glance.

http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm

 

[Lee Chung Pak]

do you have your xp cd with you? instead in and let it boot to recovery
console, if you have SP1 install, you probably have NTLDR in this location

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

copy C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386\NTLDR C:\

if you dont have this it in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386, xp cd also
have a copy.

try copy E:\i386\NTLDR C:\
E: depend on your cd rom drive