XP NTLDR Boot Problem - 2HD's

Da Mail Man

Da Mail Man

Active Member
Greetings ALL,

...My friend has a computer I put together that has win xp pro, plenty of ram and 2 HARD DRIVES - 1 the larger contains "everything" and the other is a smaller back up of the bare-balls computer before programs were added (as in the 1st drive).

...What I am being told is this:

1)...When the computer is powered on as normal, she is getting a BLACK SCREEN that says,"NTLDR IS MISSING". and PRESS CTRL/ALT/DELETE TO RESTART".

2)...That does nothing.

3)...I told her to shut down the computer and restart which she did.

4)...While booting up, she was directed by me to keep pressing "F8".

5)...Then, she gets a BLACK BOX that says; "PLEASE SELECT A BOOT DRIVE". At that point, she selects the "larger" hard drive and everything works well with her being able to access her "stuff" as normal. It just started doing this this week.

...I do not know what happened and it appears as no result of a virus. If I remember correctly, I have cmos(?) bios(?) as ENABLING BOTH DRIVES with the primary larger drive being first in the boot order.

...What I had thought is, to have her (she is 300 miles away) get into the bios(?) and "DISABLE" the 2nd bare balls smaller drive that I had mentioned. Does anyone think this will solve this problem? She has NO DISCS there FYI. Thanks for any help on this!
 
Its possible the cmos battery is going bad and needs to be replaced. The cmos battery keeps all bios settings intact when unpkugged. If battery is dying it will result in wrong boot order and that is why she is getting that message.
 
johnb35 said:
Its possible the cmos battery is going bad and needs to be replaced. The cmos battery keeps all bios settings intact when unpkugged. If battery is dying it will result in wrong boot order and that is why she is getting that message.
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....Thanks for the reply......I THINK i replaced the battery before i gave here the computer but, it is something i can do anyway next time i am there. BUT, assuming it takes a bit of time to get up there, could i disable the 2nd smaller hard drive which then, in my opinion, should not confuse the computer as to which drive to boot on or into?
 
johnb35 said:
Just disconnect the power cable going to the drive you don't want hooked up.
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....I am a few hundred miles away so, that is not possible from here. Further, she is NOT computer literate at all and replacing a battery or opening a case would instil panic so, that can't happen either....

....I supposed all that is left w/out me being there is to see if i can "disable" the 2nd hard drive which nobody has yet addressed.
 
It all depends on the machine. Usually on some dells you can disable the sata or IDE channel. But its always just easier to unplug the power cable. If she doesn't know how to do it, then have her get someone over that has computer knowledge.
 
johnb35 said:
It all depends on the machine. Usually on some dells you can disable the sata or IDE channel. But its always just easier to unplug the power cable. If she doesn't know how to do it, then have her get someone over that has computer knowledge.
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......I think she can follow directions on the phone and i think it would be infinitely easier to hit the bios and DISABLE the 2nd hard drive as opposed to sliding the computer out from where it currently is, risking disconnection of cables, removing screws, and then, facing wires and cables.....she also does not know anyone literate with computers and for the most part, lives in the "country".......thanks for the reply. Maybe someone else can chime in with some thoughts.
 
Like I said, it all depends on the machine as far as the bios goes. If you aren't there to physically look in the bios to verfiy it has the correct setting how are you gonna have her go into the bios to check? In my opinion, its easier to open the case and unplug the power cable. 1-2 minutes tops.
 
Like I said, it all depends on the machine as far as the bios goes.
and i agree in part

If you aren't there to physically look in the bios to verfiy it has the correct setting how are you gonna have her go into the bios to check?
she can follow directions quite well and tell me what the screen says as she CAN read but, this is immaterial as she will NOT go into the case!

In my opinion, its easier to open the case and unplug the power cable. 1-2 minutes tops.
like i said, she will not do this and is not computer literate, and, can follow directions but still, will not go into case! Thanks anyway for the reply
 
Then nobody will be able to correctly answer your question because they aren't sitting in front of the computer looking in the bios. If you can tell us what motherboard was used then maybe.
 
johnb35 said:
Then nobody will be able to correctly answer your question because they aren't sitting in front of the computer looking in the bios. If you can tell us what motherboard was used then maybe.
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.....Asked and answered.....thanks for the reply anyway.
 
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dddaaaa said:
i have sam problem with you, NTLDR are one of system file, when im strated to turnon my laptop and NTLDR is missing appeared on my screen, after that ive reinstalled the OS.

you can see NTLDR on drive C: but you have to open the super hidden.

read my blog computer review
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...i think i have it figured out....there are also write-ups that indicate as to how to replace the file...Only problem is that i am 250 miles from computer....
 
Da Mail Man said:
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.....and here you are again...you must be following all my posts...seems i have a stalker!...I figured this one out also a few weeks ago.(see post #12).
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What you must understand is this forum is searchable on the internet therefore generally what we try to do is resolve issues clearly so anyone who comes to the thread or searchs via google gets an answer.

So care to share how you solved it as thread #12 says absolutely nothing.
 
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I love how you come on this forum and claim to know everything
NEVER CLAIMED THAT - IT WAS YOU WHOM IS SAYING THIS!

but literally nothing,
AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW THAT - AGAIN, FLAWED INFORMATION FROM YOU!

give no information and then claim all is solved.
YOU ARE THE ONE JUMPING UP AND DOWN, NOT ME!...YOU STATED THAT THE PROBLEMS I HAVE STATED WITH THEIR SOLUTION IN THIS AND OTHER POSTS ARE INCORRECT SO, WHAT DOES IT MATTER TO YOU HOW I RESOLVED MY PROBLEM? ANY ANY ANY ANSWER I FURNISH YOU WILL CONTEST W/OUT MERIT!


What you must understand is this forum is searchable on the internet therefore generally what we try to do is resolve issues clearly so anyone who comes to the thread or searchs via google gets an answer.
AND FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 SO PROBLEMS, ALL I AM GETTING FROM YOU IS NONSENSICAL REPLIES TO ISSUES THAT WERE ALREADY ANSWERED OR, BARE-BONES TYPICAL INFO THAT ONE COULD EASILY REALIZE THAT I AM NOT A NOVICE USER. SEEMS TO ME THAT YOU JUST LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR SUM TOTAL OF POSTS.
 
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Fair enough, so mate, chill out and just let us know how you solved it so that when others come here they can also fix it.
 
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