VPR Matrix

[sdgprogrammer]

My fried has a VPR Matrix desktop (Windows ME) that won't boot up. He gets the message 'NTLDR is missing.'
I am a software programmer and don't know a lot about computer hardware/software maintenance or repair, but he was desperate so I offered to try to help.
I've helped another friend with a similar problem and I had to replace a OS file using the command prompt. Easy enough. I've tried doing a similar thing with his computer: I inserted the recovery CD to get to the command prompt. Using DOS, I have tried to change the drive to list the contents so I know where the new file should be placed. I am unable to view the contents of any drive other than the restore CD. I believe that the OS is outdated and I'm sure the computer is also. My friend would just (at least) like to retain his data.
Do you have any suggestions for me?
Thanks very much for your help!

[sechs]

Your friend has a Windows NT boot sector installed. Try running an fdisk /mbr on the disk to write a DOS boot sector to the disk.

[fitbabits]

Are you sure it's Windows ME? NTLDR is usuall found, as intimated by sechs, with Windows NT-based operating systems (Windows 2000, etc.).

Try this website: NTLDR is missing

If that is of no help to you, try typing the error message exactly as it appears into Googe and you should hopefully find an answer.

Good luck.

[sdgprogrammer]

Thanks for the suggestions! I think this problem may be over my head.
I tried looking at that site 'NTLDR is missing' and found a lot of information but my main problem is not being able to change the directory to anything other than the restore CD. I tried the command fdisk /mbr and it said the command wasn't recognized. When I boot with the restore CD it says 'starting Caldera DOS' then opens the menu to restore or cancel. I hit cancel and I am brought to the Y: prompt. It seems like there are many MS-DOS commands that I've tried that aren't recognized AND DR DOS commands that aren't recognized (???) Is this a VPR Matrix specific DOS (?)
Unfortunately, this is how I first saw the computer and I don't have any background (current OS - but I thought it was ME, recent updates or installed programes, etc.)
I checked into the BIOS and restored default settings but that didn't change anything. I found a message in the event log that said there was a CMOS battery failure. I don't know if that is recent or not, or whether that is the problem.
When I boot regularly, the exact error message is 'NTLDR is missing Press any key to restart.'

I am going to try to find out about the CMOS battery and also try to get more information on the computer OS and history. In the meantime, any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks so much for any help!

[sechs]

If the machine has a bootable floppy, you can feel free to download a Windows ME bootdisk from bootdisk.com to get to a MS-DOS prompt with the fdisk command available.

You should make sure that the computer is, in fact, licensed for Windows ME, as it would be illegal to take the WinMe boot disk if you're not licensed, and it won't do you any good to run an fdisk /mbr for an NT-based operating system.

[sdgprogrammer]

I found out that it is Windows XP. He has a CD to restore from, but he doesn't know the admin password. He said he never assigned any passwords or created any users.
Because the OS was installed when he purchased the computer, wouldn't the manufacturer have set that password?
I know there is a way to reset this password, but it may cause loss of data. Does anyone know if VPR matrix computers have a preset password?
OR... if not, would it be possible to try to replace the old corrupted files on the hard drive and then try to run the (and not reset the admin password) OS?