Help..! NTLDR missing!!

sjmsingh · 07-04-2006

Hi,

My brother was clearing files from the root drive and upon resetting the PC, Windows no longer boots up. It seems he has accidently deleted a criticial file.

A black screen now comes up saying "NTLDR is missing".

1) Where can I get this file? (I tried the Windows CD but could not find it).

2) How can I restore it back to the C: to get Windows running again?

I must note, the computer has no floppy drive so I would need to use a CD. How can I boot the computer in DOS without a floppy disk, and then copy the file across?

Or is there another solution?

Please help ASAP as there are some important files on the computer that I cannot afford to lose.

Cheers.

Hengis · 07-04-2006

Hi there and welcome to PCHF

Firstly, do you have the Windows installation CD? If you do then a non-destructive re-install (it will not remove the data from the drive, merely re-install Windows properly again) could be the answer you're looking for.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

sjmsingh · 07-04-2006

I read the instructions that applied to me:

"Windows XP users

Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.
Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password.
Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E". This letter may be different on your computer.

copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot."

I am using the Win XP Update CD, as the others I have were OEM and part of System Restores.

However, when I attempt typing those commands at the prompt.. I get a "file not found" message.. I am sure E: is the correct letter of the drive as CD i386 makes e:\i386> come up.

sjmsingh · 07-05-2006

Hey,

I used a freeware version of fdisk on CD. I then made the correct partition the active one.

So now the PC no longer boots up the recovery procedure.

But it does now say Windows is corrupt and missing HAL.DLL.

I am going to attempt to restore that throught this bootable Windows.

Big problem is however, that I cannot backup the important work through this OS as the DVD Writer is faulty.

I do have a USB DVD drive, but it goes undetected in this environment..

07-04-2006	#1
sjmsingh Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3	Help..! NTLDR missing!! Hi, My brother was clearing files from the root drive and upon resetting the PC, Windows no longer boots up. It seems he has accidently deleted a criticial file. A black screen now comes up saying "NTLDR is missing". 1) Where can I get this file? (I tried the Windows CD but could not find it). 2) How can I restore it back to the C: to get Windows running again? I must note, the computer has no floppy drive so I would need to use a CD. How can I boot the computer in DOS without a floppy disk, and then copy the file across? Or is there another solution? Please help ASAP as there are some important files on the computer that I cannot afford to lose. Cheers.

07-04-2006	#2
Hengis PCHF Founder & Owner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The PCHF Bunker Posts: 14,077 PC Experience: Microsoft Certified Professional	Hi there and welcome to PCHF Firstly, do you have the Windows installation CD? If you do then a non-destructive re-install (it will not remove the data from the drive, merely re-install Windows properly again) could be the answer you're looking for. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm __________________ Pre-Work / System File Checker / Promote PCHF!

07-04-2006	#3
sjmsingh Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3	I read the instructions that applied to me: "Windows XP users Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer. When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key. Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows. Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter. You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password. Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E". This letter may be different on your computer. copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\ copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\ Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot." I am using the Win XP Update CD, as the others I have were OEM and part of System Restores. However, when I attempt typing those commands at the prompt.. I get a "file not found" message.. I am sure E: is the correct letter of the drive as CD i386 makes e:\i386> come up.

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07-05-2006	#4
sjmsingh Bronze Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3	Hey, I used a freeware version of fdisk on CD. I then made the correct partition the active one. So now the PC no longer boots up the recovery procedure. But it does now say Windows is corrupt and missing HAL.DLL. I am going to attempt to restore that throught this bootable Windows. Big problem is however, that I cannot backup the important work through this OS as the DVD Writer is faulty. I do have a USB DVD drive, but it goes undetected in this environment..