How to fix "NTLDR is compressed" error when booting USB harddrive in XP

P

PeterPan

New Member
Dear Sirs

I have a serious problem.

I have made a mess out of my computer. Long story.

Case now is that I have an identical clone of C: on an external USB harddrive, and I need to boot from this in order to start the clone program, and clone back the external backup to C:

I have entered BIOS and changed the start up sequence, so that USB Hard drive is first in order.

Problem is that error "NTLDR is compressed" occurs when booting of USB harddrive starts

I have repared Windows through recovery console, but error persists.

I have tried this in dos:

"cd \
attrib -c ntldr
exit"

Problem is error message occurs. The message, translated, is:

"Illegal switch - - c"

Am I not supposed to put a regular "-" (minus) sign before "c" ?

I am now lost.

Can the "NTLDR is compressed" error be fixed by other means?

Should I totally wipe the C:, and try all over?

...or can we fix this with other commands in DOS?

Any help appreciated.
 
I don't want to make a new thread since this is the issue I have as well. I've also tried to fix the issue by making a copy on a usb and boot from it but no luck. I also DO have the recovery cd/dvd that came with the computer. Everyones first reaction is to go through recovery with the cd, press "R" and choose the options, enter admin password etc etc... but none of these options are available to me?? My ONLY 2 options are destructive restore or restore with backup. The backup option reroutes me to the same ctrl+alt+del restart option. I CANNOT lose all my info so I have not done the destructive restore. Any ideas?? Ultimately I'll buy a new computer and install this hard drive in it, or at least copy it onto someone elses and do the destructive stuff. Let me know, thanks
 
Im assuming your using xp if so try this
1. Start the Recovery Console. If you do not have the Recovery Console installed, start it from the Windows XP compact disc (CD). To do this, follow these steps:

a. Insert the Windows XP CD and restart the computer. If prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.

b. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the repair or recover option by pressing R.

c. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access from the recovery console.

d. When prompted, type the Administrator password.

2. At the command prompt, type "cd \" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

3. Type "ren ntldr ntldr.old" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

4. Type "map" (without the quotation marks), and then press ENTER.

5. Note the drive letter assigned to the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD. It is displayed in a format similar to the following: D: \Device\CdRom0

6. Type "expand <drive>\i386\ntldr._" (without the quotation marks) (where <drive> is the drive letter of the CD-ROM drive that contains the Windows XP CD), and then press ENTER. For example:

Expand d:\i386\ntldr._ <ENTER>

Note the underscore character after the "."

The following message appears: ntldr, 1 file(s) expanded.

7. Type "exit" (without the quotation marks). The computer restarts.

8. Remove the Windows XP CD and start the computer normally.
hope this helps
 
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Its xp desktop. I DO have the recovery disk but what im not understanding is the part where I choose my options?? When the computer boots with the cd THE ONLY 2 options I have are recovery - destructive OR recovery - backup. No repair, nothing else at all? Is this the right cd/dvd? It says "System Recovery CD/DVD" The steps you've given me are the EXACT steps Ive found through searching and googling the web. Should I be pressing Fx something or??
 
The discs we are on about are the actual xp o/s discs and not the recovery discs supplied with a prebuilt pc, which make is the pc? and is the original hard drive in the pc?
 
Think you need to get hold of a xp installation disc m8, cant seem to think of another way round it sorry
Im sure others will be along shortly to help
You could try typing fixboot in the recovery console and see if it helps
 
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Deviousmind said:
Think you need to get hold of a xp installation disc m8, cant seem to think of another way round it sorry
Im sure others will be along shortly to help
You could try typing fixboot in the recovery console and see if it helps
Click to expand...

Tried everything.. Thanks anyway
 
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