NTLDR is missing when re-installing XP

[wudi1107]

Hello there I'm an international user and I decided to switch my Chinese version XP to an English one. I formatted the disk (c using PartitionMagic8.0, then when I restarted my computer, I keep getting "NTLDR is missing, Press Ctrl-Alt-Del to restart" information. When I inserted the WinXP installation disk (provided by Compaq) and changed the boot order from C: to D: (DVDROM), the message still remains. How could this possible? Big thanks for solutions.

[Shakie]

Is the disk that is provided by Compaq an actual Microsoft Windows XP disk or is it a restored disk?

If it is an actual MS disk, call them and they will replace it.

If it is a restore disk... then it may be alittle more complicated.

[kevfirth]

I had a very similar problem not so long back. The only solution I found was to download a set of XP startup floppies and use them to get the XP install process going. It's 5 floppies and a bit more hassle than just going from the cd, but invaluable compared with the amount of time I spent trying to fix the prob.

Try http://www.ez-pc.org/bd/ez/bootdisk.asp?printable=yes for starters, but you will need some internet access in the first place to do this obviously!!!

[Namie]

Damn, another same thread started.... I started one and there's like 4 others... We really need a solution for this NTLDR file missing...

I can get into Windows successfully if I use the WinXP CD as a bootup but that's too much of a hassle to keep inserting the WinXP when restarting so is there any way to fix this? I tried copying NTDETECT.com and NTLDR file from the CD to the C: manually with explorer and restarted without the CD but did not work

[Namie]

Let me make sure..
is the ntldr file 229 KB? and NTDETECT.com 47 KB?

[wudi1107]

Oh man, no. I've already made the six boot disks, but the computer automatically restarts after reading disk #1 andwhen I insert disk #2 then, it said "not a system disk". Damn. Have to call Compaq.

[GuyLeeJr]

Here's what I found when I had the same problem:

If WinXP will not start, it may be due to a damaged boot sector or a missing or corrupt ntldr or ntdetect.com files. To replace, access the recovery console and enter:
1. Copy X:\i386\NTLDR C: (X is your CD ROM drive letter)
2. Copy X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:

Also, you may try "fixmbr", "fixboot" and then run "bootcfg /rebuild"

Good Luck,

Guy

[kendo]

create a Windows boot disk that contains the following files:
Ntldr
Ntdetect.com
Boot.ini
Ntbootdd.sys

Modify the Boot.ini file to point to the correct hard disk controller and to the correct volume for your Windows installation

Insert the boot disk into the computer's floppy disk drive, and then restart the computer

Copy the Ntldr file, the Ntdetect.com file, and the Boot.ini file from the boot disk to the system partition of the local hard disk

reboot

Use the Windows Setup disks to restart the computer, or use the Windows CD to restart the computer

At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to repair the Windows installation

Press C to repair the Windows installation by using the Recovery Console

Type the number that corresponds to the Windows installation that you want to repair, and then press ENTER

For example, type 1, and then press ENTER.

Type the Administrator password, and then press ENTER

Type map, and then press ENTER

Note the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows CD

Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after you type each one

copy drive:\i386\ntldr c:\

copy drive:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

If you are prompted to overwrite the file, type y, and then press ENTER.

Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

type c:\Boot.ini

A list similar to the following list appears: [boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microso ft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

If you receive the following message, the Boot.ini file may be missing or damaged:

The system cannot find the file or directory specified.

If the Boot.ini file is missing or damaged, create a new one

To do so, follow these steps:

Use a text editor, such as Notepad or Edit.com, to create a boot loader file similar to the following boot loader file:[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microso ft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Save the file to a floppy disk as Boot.ini.

NOTE: If you used Notepad to create the file, make sure that the .txt extension is not appended to the Boot.ini file name

Type the following command at the Recovery Console command prompt to copy the Boot.ini file from the floppy disk to the computer:

copy a:\Boot.ini c:\

Type exit, and then press ENTER

[andyseaman]

I just wanted to say thanks to kendo for the resolution to the ntldr problem - it worked first time for me, having tried and failed following other posts. I had lost my boot.ini but did'nt have access to a floppy drive on my other machine (I have a mac). I was able to create boot.ini using the cmd bootcfg /add. You can find the instructions from microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;289022 Don't worry if you type in the wrong text at first as long as the last entry is ok you'll br fine. You can remove errors later. Also don't be put off if you are not a pc expert. I'm not but I can read!