NTLDR is missing error

[Vaktathi]

ok, so on my previous windows installation I was getting an NTLDR is missing error, along with frequent BSOD's on startup after loading windows and BSOD's when trying to access the majority of the files on my second Hard Drive. evidently the boot.ini was missing too. the computer would boot into windows if I had the XP CD in, and would usually work just fine unless I needed something from my 2nd HD, but I decided I wanted the stuff on there again and didnt want to have to keep the WinXP cd in all the time so I went ahead and reinstalled XP. this seems to have solved all the issues except the NTLDR error, which is still occurring after reinstallation (I did not format the drive, and would like to keep it that way)

any idea about what is causing this and how to fix it without formatting? my XP setup CD does not seem to come up with a repair option either, only Automated System Recovery (I have no floppy drive) and Installation and thats it.


system specs are
DFI LANparty NF4 ULTRA-D
nVida XFX 6800gt
2x1gb Corsair XMS memory
1x200gb Maxtor hdd
1x250gb Maxtor hdd

thanks for the help in advance and please let me know if there is any more information you need to help me out

 

[dclive]

When you get to the first XP blue background + text screen when booted with XP CD, and instead of pressing ENTER you press F10, what happens?

 

[Vaktathi]

unfortunatley at the current moment I'm trying to reinstall XP again and its almost done, if it doesnt work this time I'll try that and post what it tells me here.

 

[Vaktathi]

woot, ok in the recovery console now, what do I do from here?

 

[John]

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

 

[Vaktathi]

I just tried chkdsk and fixmbr fixboot, none of these seem to have fixed the NTLDR problem =(

any other ideas? please keep in mind that formatting the drive is the solution of last resort and I do not have a floppy drive.


-thanks

 

[br1229]

Check your BIOS and make sure your computer isn't trying to boot from your second hard drive.

br1229

P.S. If you need help with this, just ask. I have a DFI board and get the same error once or twice a week for some reason. Really threw me the first time.

 

[Vaktathi]

how would you check to see if it is booting from the slave drive?

 

[br1229]

Go into your BIOS (press del) and look under "advanced BIOS features". Check "hard disk boot priority". Here you have the option of choosing which HD to boot from. I am assuming that you have a phoenix BIOS, if not, there still might be a setting for this.
Good luck!

br1229

 

[Vaktathi]

ok, so after copying NTLDR and NTDETECT to all of my drives and swapping the boot order a couple times everything seems to be in working order, thanks everyone