NTLDR is compressed

[mdoglol]

Hi, I am looking at a friend's computer here, and I have already performed a "non-destructive" (all personal files and programs remain; windows system files are reinstalled) system restore via the windows system recovery.

After the system restore, I get a message before the splash screen should appear saying "NTLDR is compressed. press alt-ctr-del to restart."

Here are two "solutions" I have tried:
onehttp://www.madboot.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=30&topic=4.msg18;topicseen
two

Basically, I am stuck at the part where I type in attrib -c ntldr. cmd promt says "invalid switch - -c"

Any comments/suggestions are well appreciated!
This for windows xp home. it is an emachines model T5026

 

[bruceb]

You need to follow the exact steps as listed below ... it must be from the recovery console of XP

An NTLDR is compressed error is pretty easy to fix(much better then NTLDR is missing errors!).

First you need to boot to the recovery console.

To boot to the recovery console follow these steps:
1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer. Click(or press any key) to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
2. When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
3. When prompted type "1" or if you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. Now you should be at the comman prompt and ready to repair the ntldr file!

Now all you need to do is enter the following commands(in order) and each command on a new line just like you see them here:
Code:

cd c:\
attrib -c ntldr
exit


Your computer should now reboot, and everything "should" work!

 

[mdoglol]

Bruceb -

I have tried those series of steps to no avail. The command prompt will not accept the line "attrib -c ntldr". (responds to this by saying "invalid switch - -c")

Both links I provided have NOT worked.

 

[humanure]

are you using restore cds from emachines or a winodws xp home disc? If you have a winodws xp disc I would try going into the recovery console, and then copying the files to the root directory. Enter these commands, cd d:\i386 enter, then, copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\, press enter then, copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\, press enter. Might have to change the d if your cd drive has a different letter.

 

[bruceb]

It should work fine ... You MUST be in the C:\ .. Root Directory or the command will not find the file.

 

[mdoglol]

Ok well I ended up reformatting after I took all the important files off, (humanure - i was using the emachines restore disc. Maybe that had something to do with why those command lines weren't working).

Thanks anyways