How do I fix the "NTLDR is missing" problem?

Question

Unfortunately, I do not have:

1) A floppy disk drive.
2) The original XP Installation CD. (And thus, cannot "repair".)

But I have access to another XP computer. How do I fix this problem? >_<

Answer 1

If WinXP will not start, it may be due to a damaged boot sector or a missing or corrupt ntldr or ntdetect.com files. If there is a specific error message "NTLDR is missing", you need to replace the file. To replace, access the recovery console (boot through the CD, Press R when welcome screen appears and press 1 and enter and press enter with out any password) and enter:

1. Copy X:\i386\NTLDR C: (X is your CD ROM drive letter)
2. Copy X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:

No option with out having the XP cd the above steps can help you avoid reinstallation by copying the files from the CD

Answer 2

If the other XP Computer has a floppy drive, a CD writer and the XP CD Dump or atleast the i386 Directory i can give you a solution.

In the other XP Computer format a floppy using the format /s command. This would make the floppy a bootable floppy.

Now open your CD Writer Software select new data disk and select bootable in options.

Now it will ask for system files. Point the floppy Disk.

Now add the i386 Directory to this CD and Burn the CD.

If you dont have i386 directory dump durn the NTLDR file.

Not boot using this cd Select start with cd support.

Now repair by starting setup from i386 folder or by copying the ntldr file.

If this doent help i will get back to me.

Answer 3

Ok now your problem becomes more complex as you don't have a Windows XP installation CD...
You can do one thing take out your Hard Disk and connect it to the other XP computer... in this computer open C:\ and there's the NTLDR file, identify C:\ of YOUR Hard Disk and copy/paste the NTLDR from the source location.
Remove your Hard Disk and connect it to your own computer,
Boot it.
This should do it.
Also, before copy pasting the file, take a backup of the NTLDR that's present in YOUR hard disk, in case something goes wrong you can restore back your own stuff.
Thanks.
MaX

Answer 4

u cant fix it in floppy a drive..
u should have a copy of u Xp installer.. because NTLDR is a system file that if altered or remove ur computer will not boot..... buy a cd rom and reconfigure your bios to pirmary boot in cd then reinstall ur OS.. i hope this will help

Answer 5

I 've experienced the same problem when I was installing XP with a CD-ROM. I went thro' this link and it worked. The link is http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm