"NTLDR is missing" error

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superboof

superboof

superboof

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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?
 
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
 
PapaLazaru said:
Buy a legitimate copy?
Click to expand...

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.
 
Unplug any usb sticks, and all hard drives bar the one you're planning on installing windows to. Then reformat & reinstall.

The error normally means it's trying to boot from the wrong device. Windows does some retarded things when installed to a computer with several hard drives, or things that look a bit like hard drives. It's simpler to unplug everything to avoid confusion.
 
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
 
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
superboof said:
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?
Click to expand...

Just because you have a burned a copy of XP onto a disk does not mean you can boot from that disk I'm afraid. The disc itself needs to be "bootable", which involves copying additional (boot) files to the disc when it is created.
 
Use this to make a streamlined install disk from the xp files you've got, junking all the crap out of the install as you do it. Burn your new xp iso to disk with this, then use your new xp install disk to install windows.
This should work if i've understood your problems correctly?
 
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