Can't get a command prompt

pmachalek · 11-12-2005, 10:36 PM

I recently tried to reinstall Win 2000 on my hard drive, and obviously I did something really wrong because now when I try to boot up, I get the following:

Searching for Boot Record from IDE-0..OK

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

Underneath, I get a flashing cursor, but it's not a prompt -- I can't type a thing.

Where do I go from here? It doesn't seem to make a difference if I tell my BIOS to boot up from a disk, a CD, or the hard-drive. I'm at a complete loss.

I appreciate any suggestions.

oldmn · 11-12-2005, 10:48 PM

You need to set the bios boot order to Cd as the first boot device. with the windows cd in the drive. Boot up and a message will come up to (hit any key to boot from cd) do it.it will then go into the windows install .

~~whodat~~ · 11-13-2005, 05:24 AM

welcome to tsf

read through some of these

post back

pmachalek · 11-14-2005, 09:32 PM

I have the BIOS set to boot up via CD-ROM, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Here's what happens when I boot up:

* Checks and finds RAM
* Checks and finds hard drive
* Identifies Plug & Play Devices
* Identifies PCI Devices
* SDRAM at DIMM # : 1,2,3
* Searching for Boot Record form IDE-0..OK
* NTLDR is missing
* Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

pmachalek · 11-14-2005, 09:42 PM

I've considered setting up this hard drive as a slave in another computer I have that has Windows 2000, then reinstalling Windows 2000 on it using this other computer. Is that possible? Is it a good idea? Might it work? If so, how do I do it?

oldmn · 11-14-2005, 10:54 PM

When you have your CD as the first boot device, it should come up with a line that says( hit any key to boot from cdrom).Are you getting this? A lot of people do not reise that you have to hit a key to boot from the cd. If you do not then it will then try and boot from the HDD.
As to placeing the drive into another machine and installing windows. That is possable but before you move the drive into the other machine Read this procedure it could save you some time and trouble .

pmachalek · 11-15-2005, 08:00 AM

Nope, I'm not getting anything onscreen indicating that I need to press a key to boot from the CD.

As for the link you gave me, it's about replacing the motherboard in a PC. Is there something in there I'm not seeing that's relevant to installing a slave harddrive?

11-12-2005, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
pmachalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4 OS: Win2000	Can't get a command prompt I recently tried to reinstall Win 2000 on my hard drive, and obviously I did something really wrong because now when I try to boot up, I get the following: Searching for Boot Record from IDE-0..OK NTLDR is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart Underneath, I get a flashing cursor, but it's not a prompt -- I can't type a thing. Where do I go from here? It doesn't seem to make a difference if I tell my BIOS to boot up from a disk, a CD, or the hard-drive. I'm at a complete loss. I appreciate any suggestions.

11-12-2005, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn Hardware Tech Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,137 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	You need to set the bios boot order to Cd as the first boot device. with the windows cd in the drive. Boot up and a message will come up to (hit any key to boot from cd) do it.it will then go into the windows install . __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.

11-14-2005, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
pmachalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4 OS: Win2000	Tried changing BIOS to boot up via CD-ROM I have the BIOS set to boot up via CD-ROM, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Here's what happens when I boot up: * Checks and finds RAM * Checks and finds hard drive * Identifies Plug & Play Devices * Identifies PCI Devices * SDRAM at DIMM # : 1,2,3 * Searching for Boot Record form IDE-0..OK * NTLDR is missing * Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

11-14-2005, 09:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
pmachalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4 OS: Win2000	Could this help me? I've considered setting up this hard drive as a slave in another computer I have that has Windows 2000, then reinstalling Windows 2000 on it using this other computer. Is that possible? Is it a good idea? Might it work? If so, how do I do it?

11-14-2005, 10:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
oldmn Hardware Tech Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,137 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	When you have your CD as the first boot device, it should come up with a line that says( hit any key to boot from cdrom).Are you getting this? A lot of people do not reise that you have to hit a key to boot from the cd. If you do not then it will then try and boot from the HDD. As to placeing the drive into another machine and installing windows. That is possable but before you move the drive into the other machine Read this procedure it could save you some time and trouble . __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.

11-13-2005, 05:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	welcome to tsf read through some of these post back

11-15-2005, 08:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
pmachalek Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4 OS: Win2000	Booting from CD / Link Nope, I'm not getting anything onscreen indicating that I need to press a key to boot from the CD. As for the link you gave me, it's about replacing the motherboard in a PC. Is there something in there I'm not seeing that's relevant to installing a slave harddrive?