Serious problem, Windows XP , NTDLR Missing error, can't reinstall etc

revolutionrock · 22 Aug 2008 at 21:33

Right i have a problem

When I built my pc, I lent my brother my laptop to use. He has somehow got a virus on it, and it is well and truly buggered. I decided to re install XP, so i put the discs in . Gets about half way, and then bang, a whole host of errors come up. now i didn't take a picture of them sadly , but when we went to reboot, it comes up with

"NTDLR is missing" Error

Now i don't know where to go from here. I need to re format the HDD, but I can't because I can't get onto Windows. What the hell do I do?

leoncc · 22 Aug 2008 at 21:39

i've had this error quite a few times from setting up raid, usually its because the computer is attempting to boot from a non-bootable floppy disk or cd-rom

Curiosityx · 23 Aug 2008 at 00:17

You have a couple of choices should you need to recover data from the disk before re-installing windows, firstly you can install Windows on a seperate hard disk and access the existing drive through the new install or remove the existing disk and put it into another machine in order to read the disk that way.

It sounds like youve got quite a mess on your hand, i would recommend formatting the hard disk before attempting to re-install windows again.

<Dubz> · 23 Aug 2008 at 07:03

i havn't read it but maybe something in here is usefull.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

I'v had the same problem before myself but it was a long time ago and i can't remember if i was able to rectify the problem.

Curiously how do you expect to format from in windows? you cant format a drive thats in use, you'll need to back a dos boot disk and use the comand format c:/ and this will nuke all data from the drive. (i'm asuming theres only 1 drive as it's a laptop).

Dano · 23 Aug 2008 at 08:06

Use the XP install media to format the drive if needed. As for missing NTLDR, that is usually a sign that the boot sector is gone/bad, can be fixed easily in the repair console (again accessed by using the XP install media) and running fixmbr and fixboot commands. However seeing as how it had issues during an install you probably want to a) run memtest and b) run the manufacturers drive fitness test on the drive first (available from thier website in most cases).

<Dubz> · 23 Aug 2008 at 08:29

ah yes it's to early in the morning, i forget you can format using the win XP disc options.

revolutionrock · 25 Aug 2008 at 20:10

i never got the xp disc, was already loaded on laptop

I think i may just download a programme to delete all the drives contents(format) and then do a clean install of vista?

edit i am doing this now