NTLDR is missing.......

[lrmat]

i built my rig a few weeks back here.

i finally started the ardous task of moving files over and one of the quickest ways was to load the most pertiant files to my old pc's second drive (a maxtor 160 gig ide) when i install it as a ide primary drive, the bios detects it but i get this message:

"NTLDR is missing" and asks me to hit ctrl+alt+del.

what am i doing wrong?

 

[Shooters]

So you just copied files over to the hard drive and plugged it into the new system without actually ever installing an OS?

 

[lrmat]

no. i already have a 200gig sata drive with the os, i am trying to add my 160 gig ide drive as a backup drive and am getting this message

 

[Shooters]

You say that you connected it as an IDE primary drive. Is this one your new computer or your old one? And what OS is installed on that drive? What file system? Have you made sure that the jumpers are configured properly? I'm having trouble understanding exactly how you have everything configured.

Anyway, the NTLDR is missing error can be caused a number of things. Try looking through these and see if any of them solve your problem.

 

[cubanx]

Why would you set the 160GB as your primary when the 200GB SATA has your OS boot partition? I assume this is were Shooters got confused also.
It sounds like you need to go into the BIOS and change the boot order of your harddrives.

*Edit*
Whoops Shooters beat me

 

[lrmat]

cubanx, you were correct, it didn't occur to me to check the boot order. since the sata had been the primary boot drive BEFORE i add the ide drive i assumed it would continue to be so once i added the 160gig drive.

thanks for the help guys. it's always good to have another set of "eyes".