NTLDR is missing...

[Guest]

Recently, after using "System Restore", on start up screen, instead of
"Windows", I got "NTLDR is missing, please press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" -
after I restart computer, same happens.

Does anyone know how to repair this?
(But I want to keep my files as well).
Thank you

 

[Guest]

Run with XP CD, press "R", choose the Windows to repair, type in the password (only hit <Enter> for Home Edition) and then type this without quotes:
"copy d:\i386\ntldr c\:"
Then reboot without CD.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Jose, but what if I don't have my XP CD (didn't get it with my
machine - it's really old as well)... can I use some different method or will
I have to buy new Windows XP?

 

[Guest]

Honestly, I don't knit whether you can use another one. You could try it, if you want. By the way, you have an illegal copy of XP. If you bought your machine with XO the vendor had to give you the CD.

 

[Guest]

In the UK they don't give these out (as far as I know). You can get
backup/reload cd but that's it. However, I have a sticker on my machine with
the XP (key)serial number.

I know for sure it's not illegal as it was bought at PC World. Thank you
Jose.

 

[Guest]

i do this, but get the following message, the system cannot find the file or
directory specified"? I have two DVD/CD drives. I believe the top one is
the D drive, so this shouldn't be an issue, should it? I tried D and E with
the disc in the top drive both times, but got the same message. I have a
feeling I am missing one small thing to have this resolved. any help is
greatly appreciated.

would it be an issue that it is a dell cd for xp home ALREADY INSTALLED ON
YOUR COMPUTER?

 

[Guest]

i'm sorry, but a couple of other things.. i have to type in "1" before
hitting enter, to choose C:Windows, although it is actually my only option.
then i can hit "enter" and type, without quotes...as you say. i think i
figured those differences out okay and got to where i needed to get, based
upon your reply to rookie, but that is when it errors out and says "the
system cannot find the file or directory specified"? it sounds like i am one
small step away from resolving this. thanks for any help.

 

[Guest]

now i see something that says to copy the ntdetect.com file as well, just
like the ntldr file. i can't find it on my disc's directory tho. i think if
i could find it, i would be done with this. any help would be great.

 

[Guest]

Put the CD on the drive and the Start>Search and type "ntldr" and "ntdetect.com". See if they are in the CD. And post here (if they exist) their folder.

 

[Guest]

okay, i did find both okay and did what was needed to ntldr and ntdect.com.
now i get this loop saying ntdetect is missing, or something like that. i
get that message about 5 secs into booting up and it goes back to the start
of re-boot and 5 secs later the same thing. it is basically what someone
said in another thread below. i am not at my computer now, but that is what
happened last night. i get the feeling i am really close to resolving it,
but that is where it is at now. thanks for the help so far. any more help
would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Guest]

You have found the files, on which folders? What did you write for restoring them?

 

[hvac]

Try clearing your CMOS, This has solved this problem for me on two
computers. Shut down, disconnect power, open computer, read MB manual to
find CMOS pins to jumper or short out, wait for a minute or two and replace
jumper to correct pins restart system.

You have found the files, on which folders? What did you write for restoring
them?

 

[Guest]

Hey jose, i typed "copy d:\i386\ntldr c\:" then i exit to restart the
computer without the cd. It doesnt work, it keep loading the menu that let u
go to Bios setup, then it reboot again doing it over and over again....??
when i typed "copy d:\i386\ntldr c\:" and hit enter, it said 1 file copied
and i exited to restart. what can i do now, i still can't load my window

 

[Ed.]

Try this:

From Recovery Console:
Try in this order,
fixmbr
fixboot

If that don't work try running,

bootcfg/scan
bootcfg/list

And then finally run

bootcfg/rebuild
and see if that fixes the problem.