After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive a NTLDR
is missing error message and cannot get into Windows. This
article describes several possible solutions to solving the NTLDR is missing
error and gets your Windows XP up and running again.
Step 3 – Windows Repair
Step 4 – Download & Run BCUPDATE2
Explanation:
The
NTLDR is missing error message is usually caused when the following conditions exist
although there are other causes of NTLDR errors:
1.
The
primary partition is formatted with the FAT32 file system
2.
The
computer starts by using INT-13 extensions
3.
The
heads value in the FAT32 BIOS Parameter Block (BPB) does not match that of the
physical disk drive
Resolutions:
Step
1 – Remove non bootable media
·
Remove
any floppy disks, CD’s or USB sticks from your computer and restart.
·
If
NTLDR is missing error appears again, proceed to step 2
Step
2 – Copy new system files
1.
Boot
the computer using a Windows 95/98/ME startup boot diskette or bootable CD
2.
Backup
MSDOS.SYS by issuing the following commands at the command prompt (pressing
ENTER after each command):
attrib -h -r -s c:\msdos.sys
rename msdos.sys msdos.old
3.
Now
copy new system files across by issuing the following command and pressing
ENTER at the command prompt:
sys c:
4.
Rename
MSDOS.OLD back to MSDOS.SYS by issuing the following commands and pressing ENTER
after each at the command prompt:
attrib -h -r -s c:\msdos.sys
copy msdos.old msdos.sys
5.
Remove
the boot disk/CD and insert your Windows XP CD
6.
Restart
the computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL
7.
Ensure
you boot the system from the CD. The
system will then boot into the Windows XP Setup.
8.
At
the welcome screen press ‘R’ to enter the Recovery Console
9.
At
the recovery console, select your Windows XP installation and enter your
Administrator password if requested
10.
At
the command prompt issue the following commands and press ENTER after each
command:
fixboot
fixmbr
11.
Remove
your Windows XP CD and restart the computer
12.
If
the NTLDR is missing error appears again after reboot, proceed to Step 3 below.
Step 3 – Windows Repair
1.
After
Step 2 above, it is sometimes necessary to run or re-run the Windows XP Setup
repair process
2.
If
step 2 did not solve you issue re-insert your Windows XP CD and run Windows
Setup again
3.
If
NTLDR is missing error appears again, proceed to Step 4 below.
Step 4 – Download & Run BCUPDATE2
Occasionally
this NTLDR error is caused by too many files in the root folder and an issue
with an out of date windows version.
BCUPDATE2
is an official Microsoft fix for the NTLDR problem but is difficult to find and
cannot be downloaded directly from Microsoft without first contacting support.
This
can be solved by downloading and running BCUPDATE2.EXE as follows:
1.
Download
BCUPDATE2.EXE from here: http://www.proposedsolution.com/downloads/download-bcupdate2/
2.
Copy
BCUPDATE2.EXE into the root folder of a Windows 95/98/ME boot diskette or CD
3.
Boot
the computer using the boot diskette or bootable CD
4.
At
the command prompt issue the following command and press ENTER: bcupdate2.exe
C: /F
5.
When
prompted to update the volume press Y
6. After
you receive a confirmation message, remove your bootable diskette or CD and
restart your computer.
