NTLDR Missing,

Please help,I have some questions here about Missing NTLDR. First my OS was Windows ME,I've upgraded about 6 months ago to XP Pro. My file system is still Fat 32 and I have plenty of space on my HD. I scan disk and defrag regularly and the other day I get this black screen on boot up telling me Missing NTLDR is missing,restart.Well I could not get online for help so I ended up formatting and reinstalling my OS. What caused this,I'm always very careful what I do on my PC. I also read about requiring the "Bcupdate2 utility" I have this on a floppy now. How do I use this tool and what does it do,if I have this problem again I will be prepared.
I need these Questions answered Please.

Marlene
Hugs,,,

HP XL 775
XP Pro
40 Gig HD
640 Mb Ram

 

Many things can cause NTLDR missing error

• Computer is booting from a non-bootable source.
• Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.
• Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.
• Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file.
• Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32.
• New hard disk drive being added.
• Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.
• Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
• Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.

Check this site for details
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm
Bcupdate2 utility defrags the boot sector

 

Actually, bcupdate2 defrags the MFT in the MBR, and doesn't touch the bootsector. Don't bother with it, its not designed to work on Fat32 at all. Your best bet is to go through the website mentioned and forget about bcupdate2.

 

Thank you Adrynalyne,your a Sweetie --------> Mauh
Marlene
Hugssssss

 

Thank you too kadavill...

 

Check out my thread

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=68393

I had a lot of trouble with "NTLDR missing", as well. Finally got my dual boot system back thanks to MG 'ers, and google. Bazza

 

hey there, i hav a problem with the NTLDR is missing, but lemme tell you what happened, i started having problems with the computer a while ago, it wouldnt start, it would say a system file was missing, i was gonna see what i could do but my brother was in too much of a hurry so he formatted the hard disk. so thats it, supposedly theres nothing on the drive but when i tried to install windows xp the hideous "NTDLR is missing, press ctrl+alt+del to restart" message came up, and it wont go away! i cant do anything cuz right after i turn it on, theres the post and then suddenly the black screen from hell delivers the same message again and again and again... what can i do? its driving me nuts!

-Slinky

 

How to repair NTLDR Missing
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Please print out these instructions so that you can operate with All Browser Windows CLOSED.
​

1. Use the Windows XP CD-ROM to restart the computer.

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

3. Press C to repair the Windows XP installation by using the Recovery Console.

4. 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.

5. Type the Administrator password, and then press ENTER.

6. Type map, and then press ENTER. Note the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD-ROM.

7. Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after you type each one, where drive is the drive letter of the drive from step 6:

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.

NOTE: In these commands, there is a space between the ntldr and c:\, and between ntdetect.com and c:\.

8. 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)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft 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.

9. If the Boot.ini file is missing or damaged, create a new one. To do so, follow these steps:

a. 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)\WINDOWS

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

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

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

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

copy a:\Boot.ini c:\

10. Type exit, and then press ENTER. The computer restarts.

 

i tried using the windows xp cd to restart, but i get the same screen even if i boot from cd rom, it wont let me do anything

 

Download and create the startup disks for your version of XP. Boot from the first disk into the recovery console.

 

thanks, but, how do i do that????

 

Save the file to C:\bootdisk, extract the contents of the file.

To create floppy disks for starting the system

1. Insert a blank, formatted, 1.44-MB disk into the floppy disk drive on a computer that is running any version of Windows or MS-DOS.

2. Click Start, and then click Run.

3. In the Open box, type

c:\bootdisk\makeboot.exe a:
​

4. Click OK.

5. Follow the screen prompts to finish the installation.

 

i'll try that, thanks!!