CMOS BIOS DEATH ?

[obibenne]

I haved installed this : Intel® Express BIOS Update < http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/rl/rl_bios.htm >
And the installation crashed, now when I boot my PC I have this message: NTLDR is missing, ctrl+alt+del to restart ...

Do you have comments about this?

Do I need to buy a new MB ?

 

[egale]

I believe that is hardrive problem not bios. Try booting from the XP CD and do a system restore. If that doesn't work, than try installing XP over itself. As a last resort, try reformatting the drive. I don't think it is a mobo or bios problem.

 

[M1key]

NTLDR is one of the first files that Win2k/XP requires to boot. When your machine crashed it has either corrupted/deleted this file, either that or the bios update has changed drive device number assignments (although unlikely), or a number of other small things. First thing I would try is restoring defaults on the bios.

However this is possibly the best result as it means that crashing during the bios update hasn't caused you to have a new paperweight shaped like a motherboard (It is beginning to try to load Windows therefore your bios is good). Worst case scenario - reinstall windows.

 

[RalfHutter]

First of all, welcome to Anandtech and enjoy your stay here!

If your BIOS is in fact borked and you have one of the Intel Springdale or Canterwood boards you can use the special "recovery BIOS" (found on the BIOS page along with the other BIOSes) to reflash it. You have to move a jumper on the MoBo before doing this (follow the directions from the website precisely) but it does allow you to recover from a bad flash.

No matter what is happening with your BIOS you've probably now got trouble with your OS. If you an fix it using the methods outlined above, fine. If not a reinstall is next on your list of "things to do today"