NTLDP file missing from Windows XP

I booted up my Toshiba laptop and get the following message: "NTLDR is Missing
Press CTL + ALT+ DEL to restart... "

I have tried downloading the windows recovery console but I get a back screen with the command [DR-DOS] A:\>

What the heck am I meant to do with that?? Every tutorial I have seen tells me that I am meant to get WINDOWS and that I have to press "R"

Cans Someone please help me??

 

Are you booting off your Windows disk?

 

I was looking at forums on what to do and there were options to download rc.iso for example. But they didn't work. So at a complete and utter loss, I reinstalled windows xp and then I tried to reboot into the previous version I had on my laptop and for some strange reason it worked...!

So I have no idea what the heck I have done BUT if I try to use recovery console on the laptop I get the NTLDR missing error message.

Weird....

Oh and cheers for the help. It means a lot.