Removed HD - Now ntldr is missing error

johnyccc · 24 Jul 2011 at 16:44

Hi,
I am having a lot of trouble with this error, most recently I had XP installed onto a SATA drive and also had an old ATA drive with some files I was backing up. When that was done, I removed the ATA drive and am now getting this error when I try to boot.
Is there anyway to fix this? Google has not been a huge help..
Thx

andy_mk3 · 24 Jul 2011 at 17:51

Should sort it: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/repairmbr.htm

johnyccc · 24 Jul 2011 at 18:37

Thx for help but it wont accept admin pass

bledd · 25 Jul 2011 at 09:27

Should work..

This is why you should always install Windwos with only one hard drive in the machine

deanolfc · 25 Jul 2011 at 10:24

have you tryed this
How to Repair Ntdetect.com or NTLDR Missing or Corrupt on Bootup with no Windows CD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5zIzC3G2eU&feature=related

d_brennen · 25 Jul 2011 at 10:32

Very easy to fix if you have the XP install disk

1. Load Windows XP CD into CD drive.
2. Make sure BIOS is set to boot to CD drive.
3. Boot the computer from CD.
4. At menu, press "R" to load Recovery Console.
5. Select the installation to be fixed.
*The following instructions assume CD-ROM is labeled as drive D and the hard drive partition the windows installation is on is labeled as drive C. Replace the letters accordingly.
6. Type "COPY D:\i386\ntldr C:\" and press ENTER.
7. Type "COPY D:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\" and press ENTER.
8. Remove CD and type "EXIT" and press ENTER (to reboot your computer).

johnyccc · 25 Jul 2011 at 14:23

thx for help. I read that XP home dosn't ask for an admin pass, so I was able to use recovery console by not entering one. However none of the fixes had any effect. Putting the old drive back in did though and I was able to boot, backup files and reinstall windows (with just the one drive in this time

).