Missing NTLDR files - nothing seems to work!

[Mr.Joecat]

I hope this is the right forum for this question. I have a "Missing NTLDR" problem where my computer won't boot up, and before coming to this forum I've tried every fix I found online, with no luck, so hopefully someone out there is expert enough to suggest something. I run Windows 2000 on my computer. I've ALREADY tried using a reboot disc and a startup disc, both as a floppy and as a CD. I've made sure both contained NTLDR, NTdetect.com, and boot.ini files as suggested, but they don't work. The computer is trying to access them (I can hear it trying) but either the information on the discs is not being read correctly or it just won't work. So I can't get into my computer to edit anything, I can't upload any fixes by inserting discs, and I can't even run it on safe mode. Is there anything else I can try or has my computer become just one big paperweight? Thanks for any help you can give!

[Mr.Joecat]

Ok, I’ve made quite a bit of progress since my postings yesterday. I went to various computer help sites and downloaded the files for something called an “Emergency Restore Disk” or “Emergency Recovery Disk” on a floppy. That seems to work, in that it allows me to get past the initial screen and onto my computer normally. But here’s where the catch comes in:

When I try to correct the “Missing NTLDR” problem, I’ve used both the Windows System Restoration CD, and I have even tried to totally reload Windows altogether. The computer then says that for the changes to take effect, Windows must be restarted. However, when I do the computer isn’t reading it as a re-start, but rather right back where I began, as if I was booting on for the first time before any changes were made, where it still needs the floppy to operate and doesn’t yet recognize any of the changes or fixes that have just been installed. In other words, its like the old chicken-or-the-egg problem: for the newly installed files to work, I need a successful re-start, but in order for the computer to get a successful re-start on its own, I need for the newly installed files to work. It’s like a Catch-22.

I’ve read one idea on different help sites, in manually going in and inserting the NTLDR / NTdetec.com / boot.ini files etc. They all say they are root files, but I’m a computer novice of sorts, and I need to know exactly where on Windows 2000 these files are normally supposed to operate from, what file/subfolder/subfolder and so on. Will it work if I go in and manually insert them, or are there better ideas? At least I can now get onto my computer, but only with the help of the floppy.

[sechs]

First, make sure you have a backup of your files before making any changes.

Have you tried installing Windows over itself?

[Mr.Joecat]

Yes, in my last post I said "I've tried reinstalling Windows altogether." I still can't get a successful reboot.

[PC_Fanatic]

This might be a silly question, but did you remove the boot cd before you rebooted the computer?

If the boot CD (or floppy) is in the drive when you reboot, the system will continue to boot from the removable media, NOT the hard drive.

Just a thought...

[acer1]

I too am having the very same problem and have been trying to get the problem resolved for months now the only thing is I am using windows xp or have the option to use windows 98 I tried all that I know and did a lot of internet searches concerning it and still no luck with it I have never seen this before and am about to give the quest up but I sure hate to give up on anything that I am sure of a fix some where some how I know it can be fixed.