Need to do an XP repair but.....

I got an NTLDR missing error when I tried to boot.
First I tried to repair the boot with boot fix and was told the boot was a non standard one so tried the boot rebuild one.

Then I got boot disk missing error and have been able to start windows with the Windows CD.

I suppose I am going to try a repair windows install but the motherboard, Asus, has both ide and sata sockets. All my hdds (3) use the sata as well as my dvd player/burner.

I have noticed that there is an option F6 to load RAID drivers when I run the windows cd but I do not use RAID, will this affect the installation?

 

If your XP CD is at least SP2 it should be able to see your SATA drives without any drivers. I'm guessing it is SP2 or above or you would have had problems using recovery console.

My one thought is that since you have three HD maybe your XP boot files are on a different HD then your XP installation. That might not be too hard to fix. What does your boot.ini file look like?

 

Thankyou for your reply. I have SP3. Here is that file you asked for, it reads :-

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Hope you can make more sense of it than I can

 

It looks fine. I just want to check that ntldr is on your drive C:.

Go to My Computer and click on C: drive. Then on the Tools menu Select Folder Options. On the View tab tick the circle for Show hidden Files. A few lines down untick the box for Hide Protected Operating System Files. Click Apply and then OK. What files do you see listed (I don't need folders).

Basically looking for:

ntldr
ntdetect.com
boot.ini

 

Thanks, the files are autoexec boot bak cmldr io, ntdetct , page file, boot burnlog config msdos ntldr (the one it cannot find)

hope this assists

jo

 

That looks like all the usual files. I was wrong about them being on another drive.

I don't have much to add. If no one else chimes in then I guess you will have to go with your original plan of trying a repair install.

 

Thank you for your help. I guess I will

Jo