"NTLDR is missing" error

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 17:23

I keep getting an "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" error, or something along those lines, whenever I try to boot from disc to install Windows XP on my other HDD.

I've been in BIOS and arranged the boot priorities so that only the CD drive boots but I still get the error.

I've done a Google search but that's about as much use as a lazy slave!

Anyone got any ideas?

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 17:29

sk82jack said:
Is it a legit XP cd?

Haha, no.

But I've never had any problems with it before.

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 17:36

PapaLazaru said:
Buy a legitimate copy?

I know, I do need a legit copy. But when I purchased my first setup, I overlooked the fact that it didn't come with an OS and so at that moment in time had no option but to use a ripped copy just to get it setup... and I've just been using that copy ever since.

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 17:48

honosuseri said:
It is usually to do with the MFT on the HDD.

Disconnect the power from the HDD and try and boot from the CD (you might have forgotten to press a key to boot from CD btw). If it boots the xp disk post back we shall go from there

Just tried that, still no boot from the disc and got spammed by a big dirty error thing, probably telling me there was no HDD.

So I guess the problem is with the disc because it just won't boot? Time to invest in a legit copy I s'pose.

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 18:05

honosuseri said:
Mate you couldn't be more vague if you tried! If there is an error please state what the error is. With no HDD the xp disk should still boot, it takes a while before it gets to scanning for a HDD.

Try searching for a bootdisk image to download and burn. I think I use Ultimate bootdisk, it's somewhere in my collection of troubleshooting gear.

It could also be a memory error, I seem to vaguely recall this happening on one of my laptops many moons ago. Memory can cause some strange problems

It was really long, contained a lot of E's and #'s I think. I think I had it before in the past when my HDD wasn't properly connected.

superboof · 10 May 2011 at 18:11

honosuseri said:
How much RAM is installed? Do you have more than one stick? Try removing 1 trying to boot the cd again. If it still fails swap to the other stick and try again.

Just the 1 x 2Gb stick.