NTLDR is missing

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 25 Nov 2011 1:38 pm

I can't get past this error code, should not my OS CD be bootable, I have it selected in my BIOS, still get NTLDR code

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 25 Nov 2011 2:51 pm

It should boot from a Windows operating system CD or DVD, if the BIOS is set to boot from that device before the HDD. Make sure the BIOS is so arranged. If you change any setting, save as you exit.

You are going to have to either repair or reinstall the operating system. The repair would be to restore the Boot files. The code to do this is FixBoot.

The question is what caused the boot loader to go missing? A Bootkit perhaps? Just to be safe, run the command: FIXMBR - which will overwrite sector zero with the correct bootstrap code, wiping out a bootkit if any existed.

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 25 Nov 2011 3:16 pm

thanks Wiz, is there a key I would hold down while waiting, whatever first selection I choose be it CD or hard disk I get the same code

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 25 Nov 2011 4:01 pm

jim milewski wrote:thanks Wiz, is there a key I would hold down while waiting, whatever first selection I choose be it CD or hard disk I get the same code

Everything hinges upon the CD actually being bootable. If it is not bootable, no key combination will make it so. However, if the CB IS bootable, do press any key before the countdown timer reaches zero, or the CD drive will be bypassed and the hard drive will be polled for the bootloader.

You know where the ANY key is, don't you?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 25 Nov 2011 6:28 pm

You know where the ANY key is, don't you?

Been looking for my "any" key for a coupla decades now.

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 26 Nov 2011 9:49 am

My computer Guy marked mine for me...BF

William Steward · Post by **William Steward** » 29 Dec 2011 7:39 pm

For anyone else who has this rather common problem in Windows XP I found an answer online that was relatively painless -check out: http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm
It allows to to repair your master boot record by creating a bootable CD with a batch file which will at least get you started again. After that the instructions were simple. I have had the problem a few times since and just have to reboot with the CD I made so the the 'fix' is easy.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 30 Dec 2011 6:26 pm

Never in my 27 years of using a computer have I seen
that message until about 4 weeks ago. I find that removing any external devices like external drives helps. Sometimes it takes a reboot anyway. I will take Willam's advice and make a boot disc, until I reformat this computer or throw it in the trash.