xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing

peterson · 01-05-2008, 07:25 AM

Hi,

i installed xp sp 3 through microsoft website but after rebooting i got that message: NTLDR is missing...

I booted on my UBUNTU and found this file in WINDOWS folder. I copied ntldr to the root as well as ntdetect.com still got the message and am not able to boot XP.

I can't find boot.ini which should be on the system root, too.

Would appriciate any help, at least to come back to xp sp 2. Before i tried installing sp3 i did my system root backup. This file is 080501backup.bkf - not sure how to use the file at this moment.

Thank you

-peterson-

**sobeit** · 01-05-2008, 08:14 AM

are you dual booting?

JohnthePilot · 01-05-2008, 08:24 AM

Hi and welcome to TSF.
Try creating a new boot.ini file using Notepad. It should contain something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

peterson · 01-05-2008, 11:26 AM

Thanks for responses.

To sobeit666:
Dual booting?
Actually don't know. I've got 2 hard drives. 1st hdd 80GB divided for system XP sp2 (20) and data (60). 2nd hdd 250GB divided to 4 partitions where is UBUNTU. Is this dual booting?

(I have to say that i'm UBUNTU beginner. Have not used it because i had problem with sound here. Because of that XP fail to boot i had to run UBUNTU and i got the sound working suddenly. Now, while i'm writing this there's no sound at all again :( But never mind, need help with XP)

To JonhthePilot:
Thanks. Nice to be here.
I did try your advice but doesn't work.
I have now ntldr / ntdetect.com / boot.ini in the system root but it still says ntldr is missing...

English is not my first language so i'm sorry for any mistakes.

-peterson-

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 11:30 AM

Hi,

Try this:
Start the computer with the Windows CD.
At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to select the repair option.
You will have to enter the Administrator password - if none, just press <Enter>.
In the recovery console - type fixboot, then press <Enter>.
Type Exit > press <Enter>.
Take the Windows disc out and reboot.

peterson · 01-05-2008, 11:32 AM

Thanks
i'm giving a try

01-05-2008, 11:49 AM

You can also use this to help you:

http://www.techsupportforum.com/1248988-post8.html

peterson · 01-05-2008, 12:03 PM

After fixboot command i got a question that the taget partition is C and if i want to write a new bootsector to the partition c:?

But my XP system is on the partition E:.

(My partition C: fat32 is actually called backup and was made by Packard Bell for windows recovery or something. I don't use it anymore and deleted the files.)

So i just answered Yes and the process was ok.
Now in UBUNTU i can't see a change on that partition C:. Thought that new files will be created on it. Should I copy boot.ini here?

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Are you able to start XP now?
You can't "see" the boot sector.

peterson · 01-05-2008, 12:18 PM

No still the same message

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 12:27 PM

Can you see the boot.ini file on the C: drive?
If so - post a copy of the text.

peterson · 01-05-2008, 12:31 PM

No. There are only two old folders: $recycle.bin and System Volume Information

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 12:37 PM

Please tell us this:
What's on the C, D and E drives?
How did you create your XP/Linux boot environment?

peterson · 01-05-2008, 01:21 PM

C:(former backup) is mentioned above. It is small partition approx 6GB.
D: is cd/dvd-rom drive.
E: is mentioned above. It is windows XP pro sp2.
F: is for multimedia, documents etc.
(don't know maybe it looks strange, you normally have system on C:. I think it happened when i was re-installing XP in the past)
=> this is 80 gb HDD

Then i have:
G:/H:/I: for multimedia, documents etc.
and there is 4th partition which is UBUNTU and is not seen in Windows.
=> this is 250 gb HDD

XP/Linux boot environment?
I think it was made automatically. There is a menu screen called GRUB where i can select os.
Hope i've written this right and clearly.

-peterson-

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 01:42 PM

I guess you have to look at the boot options in Ubuntu.
Something has messed with the boot files/MBR - sorry, but I'm not too good when it comes to Linux.

peterson · 01-05-2008, 01:44 PM

Thank you anyway.

JohnthePilot · 01-05-2008, 03:12 PM

Your partitioning could be what is causing the problem. Can you tell me what disc and what partition on that disc XP is on?

Malevolent · 01-05-2008, 06:18 PM

@ Peterson:

Correct me if i'm wrong, but from your post i got the idea you put the BOOT.INI to a folder?
it should be located in C:\
Not anywhere else.

**Deleted090308** · 01-05-2008, 06:26 PM

How could the boot.ini be put into a folder when you run fixboot?

01-05-2008, 07:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Hi, i installed xp sp 3 through microsoft website but after rebooting i got that message: NTLDR is missing... I booted on my UBUNTU and found this file in WINDOWS folder. I copied ntldr to the root as well as ntdetect.com still got the message and am not able to boot XP. I can't find boot.ini which should be on the system root, too. Would appriciate any help, at least to come back to xp sp 2. Before i tried installing sp3 i did my system root backup. This file is 080501backup.bkf - not sure how to use the file at this moment. Thank you -peterson-

01-05-2008, 08:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
sobeit TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEAR Posts: 5,846 OS: windows/linux	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing are you dual booting? __________________ Do not feed the trolls.

01-05-2008, 08:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Asst Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 28,143 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Hi and welcome to TSF. Try creating a new boot.ini file using Notepad. It should contain something like this: [boot loader] timeout=30 default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS [operating systems] multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-05-2008, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Thanks for responses. To sobeit666: Dual booting? Actually don't know. I've got 2 hard drives. 1st hdd 80GB divided for system XP sp2 (20) and data (60). 2nd hdd 250GB divided to 4 partitions where is UBUNTU. Is this dual booting? (I have to say that i'm UBUNTU beginner. Have not used it because i had problem with sound here. Because of that XP fail to boot i had to run UBUNTU and i got the sound working suddenly. Now, while i'm writing this there's no sound at all again :( But never mind, need help with XP) To JonhthePilot: Thanks. Nice to be here. I did try your advice but doesn't work. I have now ntldr / ntdetect.com / boot.ini in the system root but it still says ntldr is missing... English is not my first language so i'm sorry for any mistakes. -peterson-

01-05-2008, 11:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Hi, Try this: Start the computer with the Windows CD. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to select the repair option. You will have to enter the Administrator password - if none, just press <Enter>. In the recovery console - type fixboot, then press <Enter>. Type Exit > press <Enter>. Take the Windows disc out and reboot.

01-05-2008, 11:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Thanks i'm giving a try

01-05-2008, 11:49 AM	#7 (permalink)
techpro5238 Posts: n/a OS:	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing You can also use this to help you: http://www.techsupportforum.com/1248988-post8.html

01-05-2008, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing After fixboot command i got a question that the taget partition is C and if i want to write a new bootsector to the partition c:? But my XP system is on the partition E:. (My partition C: fat32 is actually called backup and was made by Packard Bell for windows recovery or something. I don't use it anymore and deleted the files.) So i just answered Yes and the process was ok. Now in UBUNTU i can't see a change on that partition C:. Thought that new files will be created on it. Should I copy boot.ini here?

01-05-2008, 12:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Are you able to start XP now? You can't "see" the boot sector.

01-05-2008, 12:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing No still the same message

01-05-2008, 12:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Can you see the boot.ini file on the C: drive? If so - post a copy of the text.

01-05-2008, 12:31 PM	#12 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing No. There are only two old folders: $recycle.bin and System Volume Information

01-05-2008, 12:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Please tell us this: What's on the C, D and E drives? How did you create your XP/Linux boot environment?

01-05-2008, 01:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing C:(former backup) is mentioned above. It is small partition approx 6GB. D: is cd/dvd-rom drive. E: is mentioned above. It is windows XP pro sp2. F: is for multimedia, documents etc. (don't know maybe it looks strange, you normally have system on C:. I think it happened when i was re-installing XP in the past) => this is 80 gb HDD Then i have: G:/H:/I: for multimedia, documents etc. and there is 4th partition which is UBUNTU and is not seen in Windows. => this is 250 gb HDD XP/Linux boot environment? I think it was made automatically. There is a menu screen called GRUB where i can select os. Hope i've written this right and clearly. -peterson-

01-05-2008, 01:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing I guess you have to look at the boot options in Ubuntu. Something has messed with the boot files/MBR - sorry, but I'm not too good when it comes to Linux.

01-05-2008, 01:44 PM	#16 (permalink)
peterson Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp home	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Thank you anyway.

01-05-2008, 03:12 PM	#17 (permalink)
JohnthePilot Asst Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cheltenham, near Wales. Posts: 28,143 OS: XP Home SP3, PCLinux, Vista Home Premium SP1 My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing Your partitioning could be what is causing the problem. Can you tell me what disc and what partition on that disc XP is on? __________________ Submit New Articles Here If you feel that TSF has helped you please make a donationand help to keep the forum free Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon Folding@Home - Team 85015

01-05-2008, 06:18 PM	#18 (permalink)
Malevolent Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 72 OS: XP	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing @ Peterson: Correct me if i'm wrong, but from your post i got the idea you put the BOOT.INI to a folder? it should be located in C:\ Not anywhere else. __________________ - Homo Homini Lupus - WinXP Pro SP2, NF-7, 1.833Ghz Barton @ 2.400Ghz, Ati Radeon 9600PRO, 2x512MB PC3200 DDR (Dual), 40GB 2MB 7200 Deathstar HDD + 120GB Maxtor 9plus Dmax 8 MB 7200 HDD

01-05-2008, 06:26 PM	#19 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,280 OS: Xp	Re: xp service pack 3 => ntldr is missing How could the boot.ini be put into a folder when you run fixboot?