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NTLDR Is Missing after re-installing XPPro ??? 1
- Thread starter kwunder
- Start date
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1
- #2
Make sure there is nothing left in either of the floppy or CD drive while you boot.
NTLDR Is Missing
320397 - You Receive an "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message When You Start Your Computer
318728 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message in Windows 2000
305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
NTLDR Is Missing
320397 - You Receive an "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message When You Start Your Computer
318728 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" Error Message in Windows 2000
305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP
XP Won't Boot - NTLDR is missing - Or a Blinking Cursor
thread779-1270779
Irregular XP Tips Series: Missing HAL.DLL or other boot files
thread779-1280340
The magic floppy or CD to fix NTLDR is missing
____________________________
Users Helping Users
thread779-1270779
Irregular XP Tips Series: Missing HAL.DLL or other boot files
thread779-1280340
The magic floppy or CD to fix NTLDR is missing
____________________________
Users Helping Users
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks for all those links guys !
I have had to re install XP Pro again as I fouled up somewhere. I now have a clean install, and have a copy of ntldr and ntdetect on my flash drive. Can I simply copy these files to where they SHOULD be on my HD ?
If so, where exactly should they be ?
In the Windows folder ??
Cheers
I have had to re install XP Pro again as I fouled up somewhere. I now have a clean install, and have a copy of ntldr and ntdetect on my flash drive. Can I simply copy these files to where they SHOULD be on my HD ?
If so, where exactly should they be ?
In the Windows folder ??
Cheers
- Thread starter
- #5
OK. In anticipation, I copied the files into the d:\ folder.
It now restarts every time, BUT.....
During the boot sequence, I see the following error :-
Invalid boot.ini file
Booting from c:\windows
(There is NO c:\windows folder !!!)
This only flashes on screen for a fraction of a second, then XP fires up OK.
Also noticed that somehow, my drive mapping has changed, in that I have my HD partitioned into 2 drives. The 2nd partition seems to have taken on the drive letter "C" (was previously "D" and my system drive has gine to "D" ???
Is this error cause for any concern ?
It now restarts every time, BUT.....
During the boot sequence, I see the following error :-
Invalid boot.ini file
Booting from c:\windows
(There is NO c:\windows folder !!!)
This only flashes on screen for a fraction of a second, then XP fires up OK.
Also noticed that somehow, my drive mapping has changed, in that I have my HD partitioned into 2 drives. The 2nd partition seems to have taken on the drive letter "C" (was previously "D" and my system drive has gine to "D" ???
Is this error cause for any concern ?
The booting files, Boot.ini. NtDetect.com and NtLdr should be placed in the root of your System drive. The Windows folder will be located on the Boot volume. I know that seems a contradiction but that is how Microsoft describes these drives. Have a look in the Disk Management snap-in (via compmgmt.msc in Start Run) to see what I mean.
Make sure you are displaying both Hidden and System files via Folder Options/ View. Search for the above mentioned files and make sure they are in the root of the System drive.
How many operating systems do you have installed?
Sometimes the operating system will call itself C: drive even if you install it in to a second partition on your hard drive, and the first partition becomes another letter. It even gets stranger if you have multiple operating systems installed, for example Vista will always call itself C: drive even if you start the install of it from another operating system which at the time of the install is on C: drive. Vista then sees that original operating system as another drive letter.
This thread goes in to drive letter assigning, if you are interested.
XP System Partition is NOT drive C:
thread779-641371
Overview of PNP enumeration and hard disk drive letter assignments in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP
If you have further problems post back with a text of your boot.ini file (open it with Notepad).
Make sure you are displaying both Hidden and System files via Folder Options/ View. Search for the above mentioned files and make sure they are in the root of the System drive.
How many operating systems do you have installed?
Sometimes the operating system will call itself C: drive even if you install it in to a second partition on your hard drive, and the first partition becomes another letter. It even gets stranger if you have multiple operating systems installed, for example Vista will always call itself C: drive even if you start the install of it from another operating system which at the time of the install is on C: drive. Vista then sees that original operating system as another drive letter.
This thread goes in to drive letter assigning, if you are interested.
XP System Partition is NOT drive C:
thread779-641371
Overview of PNP enumeration and hard disk drive letter assignments in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP
If you have further problems post back with a text of your boot.ini file (open it with Notepad).
- Thread starter
- #7
Right.
Thanks Linney.
BTW, I have only 1 OS installed.
Having been up most of the night, I figured that the root of the problem was the partition on my HD, and the fact that I had a 2nd HD in there also. So, I backed up the stuff I had on the partition and deleted the partition, then disconnected the 2nd HD. I then proceeded to quick format the HD and clean install XP Pro.
BINGO !
It works fine. The HD is back to "C", I have reconnected the 2nd HD, and its now "D"
Seems that XP was getting confused with the 3 drives !?
I have noticed, after selecting to view hidden files, that ntldr and ntldetect had been placed on my 2nd HD during my earlier attempts to install XP, that's why they couldn't be found on the OS Drive I presume.
So I suppose by removing the other drives, XP had only one place to scatter files !!!
Thanks for your input
Appreciated
B
Thanks Linney.
BTW, I have only 1 OS installed.
Having been up most of the night, I figured that the root of the problem was the partition on my HD, and the fact that I had a 2nd HD in there also. So, I backed up the stuff I had on the partition and deleted the partition, then disconnected the 2nd HD. I then proceeded to quick format the HD and clean install XP Pro.
BINGO !
It works fine. The HD is back to "C", I have reconnected the 2nd HD, and its now "D"
Seems that XP was getting confused with the 3 drives !?
I have noticed, after selecting to view hidden files, that ntldr and ntldetect had been placed on my 2nd HD during my earlier attempts to install XP, that's why they couldn't be found on the OS Drive I presume.
So I suppose by removing the other drives, XP had only one place to scatter files !!!
Thanks for your input
Appreciated
B
Understanding the Boot Process may help to explain any confusion and how it may have occurred.
WINDOWS XP BOOT SEQUENCE
The PC Boot Process - Windows XP
WINDOWS XP BOOT SEQUENCE
The PC Boot Process - Windows XP
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