NTLDR is missing; need help to work my way around it

I have yet another issue. I have recently procured a compaq nx9010 laptop. the hard drive was formatted; nothing was there. So i tried using HD Clone to copy XP from a backup to the laptop... It partially worked. But i can no longer get past the NTLDR is missing BS. I have several external drives but the computer will not boot from them, and i tried swapping the hard drive from my curent laptop (presario 2500) but it still refused to boot of a perfectly healthy drive and OS. at thie point im about ready to pull the XP installation disc of the wall over my stepdads PC and do my dirty work from there. any suggestions for me before i go nuts?

 

Try this http://www.tinyempire.com/shortnotes/files/ntldr_missing.htm
and read this : http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320397/en-us
and this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555304/en-us

 

thanks alot!!! not only did i get the clone of windows to work on the 2nd laptop but now i have the enterprise edtion of HD Clone... in GERMAN!!!! :confused The link to tinyempire.com really hit the mark. so now mom.. try to prevent me from hauling a laptop to MA will you? HA! you dont even know the second laptop exists!!!! your only hint is all of my external drives missing.....:-D:-D:-D