Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Missing NTLDR file

Jan 20, 2014 6:34AM PST

can anyone out there help me I've had two laptops lose the ntldr file just by turning them on. Using windows xp the laptop I'm working now is not even mine, I installed the windows xp it worked fine I installed a Wi-Fi adapter so I download the drivers, I restarted it and I got a NTLDR file is missing. what interesting is that it won't recognized the cd not even using a external dvd/cd drive.
please help. thanks

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Too many times.
Jan 20, 2014 7:40AM PST

But there is another reason for that failure which is a BIOS setting. Since I missed if this machine has a SATA HDD and no make or model I can't offer much. Try revealing more and keep in mind there must be a million posts on that error alone. Makes you wonder how Microsoft got a pass from so many.
Bob

- Collapse -
Missing NTLDR
Jan 20, 2014 7:59PM PST

The laptop I'm working on now is a Dell Inspiron E1505, the SATA HDD I don't know how to find that. Hope you
can help me with that. Thanks.

- Collapse -
Let's try a most common setting.
Jan 20, 2014 11:01PM PST

One of the more common settings is IDE EMULATION. It has a few names in the BIOS so look for that or SATA "Legacy" or other. If you have a manual with the BIOS screens, I'll look.

XP does not support SATA natively and the error you noted can be provided at demand here by me flipping this setting in the BIOS. Please do not write "I didn't change it." Go find it.

Also, if you repair NTLDR there is a risk you'll damage the OS if it's just this little setting.
Bob

- Collapse -
NTLDR
Jan 21, 2014 12:51AM PST

I'm sorry and pardon my ignorance, but can you explain this in a little more comprehensible terms. I didn't
quite understand what you are talking about. Thank you for all of your help

- Collapse -
Sorry
Jan 21, 2014 12:56AM PST

But as XP never supported SATA natively we added that with either a BIOS setting or drivers.

If you can supply a manual with BIOS screens I can be more specific. There's a lot of reasons for XP to end. Your post is sharing one of them.
Bob

- Collapse -
EXAMPLE.
Jan 21, 2014 1:15AM PST
- Collapse -
Answer
ntldr
Jan 20, 2014 3:39PM PST

I recently restarted my pc as well and this happened. I'm super upset

- Collapse -
Answer
can you boot to recovery console?
Jan 20, 2014 9:44PM PST

If so, then at the c:\ prompt, type in FIXBOOT and try it again. If that doesn't do it, then type in FIXMBR and try it again. If you have no recovery console setup, then use the XP install disc to get to a C:\ prompt and do it.

- Collapse -
This link is posted on most forums so it may help you
Jan 28, 2014 7:59AM PST