First off, hi there everyone. How rude of me not to introduce myself, lol.
Okay, so i've searched around the forum, and there are indeed several other threads on the deady NTLDR problem. However, they all refer to machines that already have an OS installed on them. I have built my own computer, and today, as my memory finally arrived, I could turn it on for the first time without any incessant beeping.
However, there's a bit of a problem. I just get the 'NTLDR missing...etc' message. My CD won't open, and I only managed to get the Windows XP CD ROM inside by the paper-clip method. Choosing the CD as the first bootable device doesn't help either. I have surfed around for files that, on a floppy, will get one back into Windows. But these don't really help me as I have no OS on my system to do anything with anyway.
Any sort of help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!

Marko_

Welcome to PCHF Marko!

well done for searching the forums first a tech will be along soon to help you.

Hi Marko,

Welcome to PCHF.

Yes you will get NTLDR is missing because you have no OS. You do need to boot to CD, which won't be a problem as long as the CD is bootable, and your using a full version of Windows and not the upgrade version?

Alright, however i'm sure that once you select the CD drive as the first boot device, you insert the Windows CD and setup should take over. I have a full version of XP at the ready, indeed I can get the disc in the drive (but only by the dubious paperclip method). However, after booting up the computer fails to recognise the cd in the drive, and that is when I get the error. I'm sure that if the tray would open it would sort itself out. As yet, the light is displayed, but nothing happens when I try to open the tray the proper way.

Hi Marko, the drive sounds a little screwed to me?, as long as the CD-ROM is set as your first boot device, and the CD your using is bootable, there will be no problems unless the drive the drive cannot read from the CD.