Disk I/O Error and NTLDR Is Missing

[Guest]

I had to buy a new hard drive for my son's computer because the other one was
many years old and it got fried. I bought a new Seagate 100 GB hard drive and
a new Maddog power supply.
I used the CD to help install the hard drive and when I went to install
Windows XP Professional I keep getting the NTLDR is missing and/or the Disk
I/0 Error when I tried using floppy's to tried to install Windows (after
trying the CD and it not working). I have went over and over the cables,
Bios, etc. trying to find out why it won't work! If anyone has any ideas on
what could be going on, please tell me, Thanks!

 

[HeeroYuy]

I had to buy a new hard drive for my son's computer because the other one
was
many years old and it got fried. I bought a new Seagate 100 GB hard drive
and
a new Maddog power supply.
I used the CD to help install the hard drive and when I went to install
Windows XP Professional I keep getting the NTLDR is missing and/or the
Disk
I/0 Error when I tried using floppy's to tried to install Windows (after
trying the CD and it not working). I have went over and over the cables,
Bios, etc. trying to find out why it won't work! If anyone has any ideas
on
what could be going on, please tell me, Thanks!

The boot sector (sector 0 on the hard disk drive) is FUBAR (destroyed, in
other words). Without the boot sector, you will get that error, and the only
fix for it is a new hard drive to replace the one you have now. If the drive
came that way, as you implied it has, you need to take it back to the store
and exchange it.

 

[deebs]

I had to buy a new hard drive for my son's computer because the other one was
many years old and it got fried. I bought a new Seagate 100 GB hard drive and
a new Maddog power supply.
I used the CD to help install the hard drive and when I went to install
Windows XP Professional I keep getting the NTLDR is missing and/or the Disk
I/0 Error when I tried using floppy's to tried to install Windows (after
trying the CD and it not working). I have went over and over the cables,
Bios, etc. trying to find out why it won't work! If anyone has any ideas on
what could be going on, please tell me, Thanks!

I can't really say whaty may be going on (that's probably best left to
the experts) but what i heartily recommend is:

- backups before any major changes

- make sure to visit a manufacturers website for any late breaking
news/advice/drivers/utilities that may not be included in the box

- download any utilities the manufacturer suggests (Seagate are pretty
good on this)

- some upgrades can be performed online

 

[Guest]

The hard drive I am trying to use is new and does not having an operating
system installed on it yet. Didn't know if I made that clear, Thanks

 

[HeeroYuy]

The hard drive I am trying to use is new and does not having an operating
system installed on it yet. Didn't know if I made that clear, Thanks

You did, and I thank you for being thorough. I am saying that the disk's
boot sector was damaged when you bought it. Take it back to the store and
have it exchanged.

 

[Anna]

I had to buy a new hard drive for my son's computer because the other one
was many years old and it got fried. I bought a new Seagate 100 GB hard
drive and a new Maddog power supply.
I used the CD to help install the hard drive and when I went to install
Windows XP Professional I keep getting the NTLDR is missing and/or the
Disk I/0 Error when I tried using floppy's to tried to install Windows
(after trying the CD and it not working). I have went over and over the
cables,
Bios, etc. trying to find out why it won't work! If anyone has any ideas
on what could be going on, please tell me, Thanks!

The boot sector (sector 0 on the hard disk drive) is FUBAR (destroyed, in
other words). Without the boot sector, you will get that error, and the
only
fix for it is a new hard drive to replace the one you have now. If the
drive
came that way, as you implied it has, you need to take it back to the
store
and exchange it.

I can't really say whaty may be going on (that's probably best left to
the experts) but what i heartily recommend is:

- backups before any major changes

- make sure to visit a manufacturers website for any late breaking
news/advice/drivers/utilities that may not be included in the box

- download any utilities the manufacturer suggests (Seagate are pretty
good on this)

- some upgrades can be performed online

The hard drive I am trying to use is new and does not having an operating
system installed on it yet. Didn't know if I made that clear, Thanks

You did, and I thank you for being thorough. I am saying that the disk's
boot sector was damaged when you bought it. Take it back to the store and
have it exchanged.

Bev:
First of all, there's really no evidence at this point that you have a
defective HD. It's possible, of course, but I really don't think that's your
problem. As one of the responders to your query mentioned, you can download
a HD diagnostic utility from Seagate and test your drive.

I'm assuming that you or someone correctly installed your Seagate HD. That
it's connected as Primary Master to the correct IDE connector on your
motherboard, that it's jumpered correctly, and that the power & data cables
are securely fastened to the drive and the motherboard's connectors.
Double-check this, OK?

You must install Windows XP from the Win XP installation CD. Forget about
using any floppy disks to install that operating system. You've stated that
you could not do this (boot to the CD) because "after trying the CD and it
not working". What exactly does this mean? Why couldn't you use the XP
installation CD to install the OS? I trust that you're aware that you have
to set your boot order in your BIOS so that the system will first boot to a
bootable CD. Have you done this? Is that the problem, i.e., the BIOS will
not allow you to boot to the XP installation CD?

Do a Google search on "installing XP". You'll be pointed to a number of
websites that contain detailed step-by-step instructions for installing CD.
Anna

 

[HeeroYuy]

Bev:
First of all, there's really no evidence at this point that you have a
defective HD. It's possible, of course, but I really don't think that's
your problem. As one of the responders to your query mentioned, you can
download a HD diagnostic utility from Seagate and test your drive.

I'm assuming that you or someone correctly installed your Seagate HD. That
it's connected as Primary Master to the correct IDE connector on your
motherboard, that it's jumpered correctly, and that the power & data
cables are securely fastened to the drive and the motherboard's
connectors. Double-check this, OK?

You must install Windows XP from the Win XP installation CD. Forget about
using any floppy disks to install that operating system. You've stated
that you could not do this (boot to the CD) because "after trying the CD
and it not working". What exactly does this mean? Why couldn't you use the
XP installation CD to install the OS? I trust that you're aware that you
have to set your boot order in your BIOS so that the system will first
boot to a bootable CD. Have you done this? Is that the problem, i.e., the
BIOS will not allow you to boot to the XP installation CD?

That is a well thought out explanation, but pay attention to the error Bev
got: "NTLDR is missing and/or the Disk I/O Error"

That error occurs ONLY after Windows is already on the hard drive. NTLDR is
a file necessary to boot Windows. Somewhere along the line, that file got
corrupt. She can try and copy over that file from another copy of Windows,
but I recommend trying another hard drive just to make sure. One bad sector
will not prevent Windows from being installed, but could prevent it from
loading properly if a file in was copied on to that bad sector.

 

[Anna]

Bev:
First of all, there's really no evidence at this point that you have a
defective HD. It's possible, of course, but I really don't think that's
your problem. As one of the responders to your query mentioned, you can
download a HD diagnostic utility from Seagate and test your drive.

I'm assuming that you or someone correctly installed your Seagate HD. That
it's connected as Primary Master to the correct IDE connector on your
motherboard, that it's jumpered correctly, and that the power & data
cables are securely fastened to the drive and the motherboard's
connectors. Double-check this, OK?

You must install Windows XP from the Win XP installation CD. Forget about
using any floppy disks to install that operating system. You've stated
that you could not do this (boot to the CD) because "after trying the CD
and it not working". What exactly does this mean? Why couldn't you use the
XP installation CD to install the OS? I trust that you're aware that you
have to set your boot order in your BIOS so that the system will first
boot to a bootable CD. Have you done this? Is that the problem, i.e., the
BIOS will not allow you to boot to the XP installation CD?

Do a Google search on "installing XP". You'll be pointed to a number of
websites that contain detailed step-by-step instructions for installing XP
using the XP installation CD.
Anna

That is a well thought out explanation, but pay attention to the error Bev
got: "NTLDR is missing and/or the Disk I/O Error"

That error occurs ONLY after Windows is already on the hard drive. NTLDR
is a file necessary to boot Windows. Somewhere along the line, that file
got corrupt. She can try and copy over that file from another copy of
Windows, but I recommend trying another hard drive just to make sure. One
bad sector will not prevent Windows from being installed, but could
prevent it from loading properly if a file in was copied on to that bad
sector.

I'm well aware of the significance of the "NTLDR is missing..." error
message. It seems apparent that what's involved here is a flawed initial
installation of XP probably due to the fact that Bev was using
God-knows-what-kind of bootable floppy disk(s) to undertake the install
process. And we're assuming her HD installation has been properly
connected/configured.

I really don't think that at this point there is a need to "try another hard
drive just to make sure". And most likely Bev doesn't even have another HD
at her disposal. What Bev must do at this stage is to undertake a
straightforward installation of the XP OS using the XP installation CD.
Should that prove defective, we can go on from there.
Anna

 

[HeeroYuy]

I'm well aware of the significance of the "NTLDR is missing..." error
message. It seems apparent that what's involved here is a flawed initial
installation of XP probably due to the fact that Bev was using
God-knows-what-kind of bootable floppy disk(s) to undertake the install
process. And we're assuming her HD installation has been properly
connected/configured.

I really don't think that at this point there is a need to "try another
hard drive just to make sure". And most likely Bev doesn't even have
another HD at her disposal. What Bev must do at this stage is to undertake
a straightforward installation of the XP OS using the XP installation CD.
Should that prove defective, we can go on from there.
Anna

I concur. I fell into the trap of ruling out a possibility before testing
the theory.