standbye then NTLDR is missing

Being lazy i decided to shut down my XP Pro with SP2 unit without switching to looking at the P.C screen, Windows key U enter, I use a LCD T.V as monitor for P.C... have shut down this way every day for the past year or so no issues.

However today the unit took longer than usual to shut down, so switched to P.C mode on T.V and the unit was going to standby mode... well o.k... I'll just wait and turn it back on when its gone to standby, after another five minutes or so all the fans were going but no one was home.. although there was another bit of txt like dos.. the old "NTLDR is missing"...was on screen... you what...

So crash start and everything is fine. There was only about 1.5gb of free space on the C:\ windows drive and 512MB of ram. If I recall when unit goes to standby it suspends what ever is running to ram or is that hibernate?

Can someone advise, apart from the obvious to do a recent back up of files, why this issue occurred in the first place? Curious as to why standby maybe having issues (never used this before) and is it anything to be concerned with.

Cheers guys:confused

 

Alright so after restart everything seems to be "A" OK? Bizarre, lol.

This is a really weird error. NTLDR is part of the boot process, and I don't know how involved it is in the standby mode. I think maybe the chance of you executing the wrong keystroke is obviously low since you've been turning it off the same way for a year now, but maybe not impossible if xp pulls a fast one on you, and it explains it nicely if your using the keyboard shortcut keys.

I noticed on my machine if i use the windows key, hit "u", it gives a menu with various options. When I hit "s" next, two things are possible. If i have updates to install, then when i hit "s" it selects the next item in the drop-down menu which is standby, but with no updates and the menu at the top list item (log off user), then is selects shutdown which is listed just below it in the drop-down. So maybe there were awaiting updates messing with your menu?

The only other remote possibility is the power options have been set to put the system in standby after (X) amount of inactivity time... but how that happens without user direction is beyond me.

If NTLDR doesn't error on a fresh boot, then i think you're ok. For now...

But I have a question for you now. Don't take this wrong, I love using the keyboard shortcuts myself, but why not just hit the button on the case?

 

Thanks for your reply doubltime.

Yeah I know bizare... hence the querry.

The reason I dont hit the button on the case is I dont have windows configured to power off when i hit the case power button, I dont have it configured for the ask me what to do option either. I prefer the good old Windows key shutdown and press U option for shut down+ the box is on the other side of the room in a entertainment unit so easier to use the Wireless K.B and keys.

Unit seems fine, even for whatever reason it did go to stanby, still wonder why the ntldr was missing... somewhat perplexing.. was wondering if anyone else had an issue with standby, which may allude to the cause of this NTLDR, then hard reset / crash start and its fine... either NTLDR is missing or it isnt, I have heard there is a backup ntldr in one of the first sectors on a hdd..wonder if this was used on restart...? who knows??? but seemingly its fine fingers crossed...

L8r guy:wave