NTLDR MISSING - help 15

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi Guys,

I'm a noob to all this stuff so if I get something wrong, can you please point it out.

I'm getting a 'NTLDR missing' error.

I'll go through the steps of how this message came about and then hopefully someonje can point me in the right direction on getting this fixed.

I have a dual boot system (it was like this when I purchased it). I always use Vista but I today I needed XP to do some work on.

Not knowing how to swap between the OS, I went into VistaBootPro and changed the default boot settings.

When I restarted the computer, it went straight into XP (normally I got the option to go into either of the OS). As I couldn't get back into Vista, I messed around with the Boot Manager software. I made the XP partition Inactive and made the Vista partition active. When I retstarted the computer, I got the 'NTLDR Missing' error message.

I've tried the XP repair from the CD (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm) but that hasn't done anything.

I've also tried the command 'FIXMBR', it returns 'The new master boot record has been successfully written' but still comes up with the ntldr error. I tried the Fixboot command on the XP partition but that also didn't work!

Can someone shed some light on this please!!!

Thanks in advance guys

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

dadon_786 wrote:

Hi Guys,

I'm a noob to all this stuff so if I get something wrong, can you please point it out.

I'm getting a 'NTLDR missing' error.

I'll go through the steps of how this message came about and then hopefully someonje can point me in the right direction on getting this fixed.

I have a dual boot system (it was like this when I purchased it). I always use Vista but I today I needed XP to do some work on.

Not knowing how to swap between the OS, I went into VistaBootPro and changed the default boot settings.

When I restarted the computer, it went straight into XP (normally I got the option to go into either of the OS). As I couldn't get back into Vista, I messed around with the Boot Manager software. I made the XP partition Inactive and made the Vista partition active. When I retstarted the computer, I got the 'NTLDR Missing' error message.

I've tried the XP repair from the CD (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm) but that hasn't done anything.

I've also tried the command 'FIXMBR', it returns 'The new master boot record has been successfully written' but still comes up with the ntldr error. I tried the Fixboot command on the XP partition but that also didn't work!

Can someone shed some light on this please!!!

Thanks in advance guys

First of all, if it was giving you an option of choosing an OS, what was your confusion to begin with? You already were given the option right there.

Secondly, somehow, you need to UNDO ALL that you did. (You may be able to boot with the repair disk & set it back.) Especially changing the partition status - your boot loader will handle which it needs to be & when but now you have it confused so that is why it can't find the NTLDR. (you are trying to boot from a non-bootable source, most likely)

Thirdly, if you can boot at all, scan ALL drives to find the NTLDR so you know that it IS still there & where. You MAY need this info if undoing what you changed doesn't get it. I just hope when you did the MBR repair that you didn't change the master boor record in such a way that the bootloader won't function correctly.

Above all, we need to know what the current status of the computer is. Can you do ANYTHING with it at ALL? Will it boot either OS? If so, which OS, etc. Will it boot the repair CD? - Let us know BEFORE you start to do a fix.
Let us know how you make out.

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

Thank you for your quick reply.

I managed to load up Windows XP but it reboots after getting a blue screen error. By mistake I have wrote the ntldr and ntdetect files to Vista aswell and when the computer loads, it errors 'Can't find boot.ini file' for vista then boots into XP.

Can I somehow get the computer to boot up Vista so I can remove the XP partition?

Thanks guys

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Depending on your level of computers, you MAY get something out of this link.
Please be aware that there is more info here than you need. you will be using the info for restoring the NTLDR & BOOT.INI

I would just copy in the NTLDR files to the ROOT of XP from the repair CD as stated & if you can get into XP post the BOOT.INI file & I'll give you a hand.

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm#b
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is some info on VISTA boot loader repair

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Repairing+the+Windows+Vista+Bootloader

Being a "NOOB" if this is to much to comprehend, then don't even try to do it yourself, get someone to help. Local college computer dept would be a good place to check.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Vista doesn't have a boot.ini, that's why you can't find it.

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Can you get into and USE XP?
If so, then do this:

1. Right click My Computer.
2. Choose Properties.
3. Click the Advanced tab from the systems properties page.
4. In the Startup and Recovery portion choose Settings.
5. Under system failure remove the checkmark next to Automatically restart.
6. Click Ok twice.

This will turn off the auto reboot so you will get the blue screen. Note any errors here.

Also, remove all that XP stuff you accidentally put in VISTA. You will need to get into one of the OS's to repair things and since XP is easier (& I don't know vista, yet) we will try XP since it acts like it is going there anyway.

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

I'm getting a 'cmdmon.sys' error which seems to be pointing at the comodo firewall I have.

I'll try to uninstall that and then vl take it a step further and do the rest of the steps which will help me on my way!

Thanks for the quick and informative replies.

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

I've got a stable build for XP now.

Can you run through the steps with me so I can succesfully switch between Vista and XP?

Thank you

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Post your BOOT.INI & drive configuration. (which is "C" , "D", etc)

Like;
XP = "C"
VISTA = "D"

& if there are any other partitions.

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi baby_tux,

I got XP working and decided to install the WIndows Updates. After completing the update, the computer rebooted but with the following error:-

STOP: c0000269 {Illegal System DLL Relocation}
They stsyem DLL user32.dll was relocated in memory. The application will not
run properly.
The relocation occured because the DLL C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll
occupied an address range reserved for Windows System DLLs. The vendor
supplying the DLL should %s %s

It won't boot up as I get the error. I've tried 'chkdsk /r' didn't seem to work as I got the same error.

Any suggestions anyone

goretsky

Hello,

Are you able to start the computer in Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key as the computer starts up? If so, try going to the Add/Remove Programs applet in the Control Panel, uninstalling any security software (anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, and so forth) and then restarting the computer as normal. Does it now boot up? If so, you will want to download the latest versions of the uninstalled programs and then reinstall them on the computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

It won't boot into Windows unfortunately even though I go into Safe Mode.

I have three partitions on my PC- C: XP, J: Vista, and E: Documents. If I remove XP and reinstall it, would it affect the other partitions as you can see my original problem was to do with missing windows files. I don't have much data on XP but I need to get on to Vista as everything is set up on that OS.

Thanks for your help so far guys

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi guys,

Heres the boot.ini file after I repaired XP

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /NOEXECUTE /FASTDETECT

XP is drive C, Vista is drive J and Documents/Data is drive E.

There's no Vista details int the boot.ini?

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

OK - one of two things can be done at this point. We can get the XP loader to "see" the VISTA or we can repair the VISTA loader.

Since you made it clear that you want VISTA over XP, then we will go that way. Especially since I would need more info to get the XP loader working. The info to do this is already given on my post - 4th one down.

If you want to continue with the XP route, then I will need a screen shot of your DISK MANAGER showing ALL the drives, partitions & there #'s.

dadon_786 · Joined: Sep 20, 2008 Posts: 8

Thanks guys! Got it working atlast.

How do I set the default OS to be Vista when you get the boot option?

Thanks

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 1242

Try this link:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/easily-set-default-os-in-...indows-

Or just GOOGLE your question. Came up quite a few hits, for me.