Here's a problem. Without my Vista install disk in my DVD drive, I get an error NTLDR missing. However, when I put it in, the operating system boots up fine.

Why could this be?

Originally Posted by uncdog

Here's a problem. Without my Vista install disk in my DVD drive, I get an error NTLDR missing. However, when I put it in, the operating system boots up fine.

Why could this be?

the ntldr on your HD is either corrupt or missing. Have you done any deleting, or editing of the C drive? When your finished booting you can copy the ntldr from the dvd to the HD. It goes in C:\, or c:\boot (which may be hidden)

hope this helps and let us know if you need help with any of this


ken

Originally Posted by lemur

Originally Posted by lemur

Okay, I'm confused. I thought Vista did not use ntldr. Did you have XP on this system and performed an upgrade?

If this is correct, you can do a startup repair and that should fix the problem.

The answer is yes, I did. And yes I did do a start up repair, and yes it did work once!

Then it went back to the same error.

Originally Posted by uncdog

Originally Posted by lemur

Originally Posted by lemur

Okay, I'm confused. I thought Vista did not use ntldr. Did you have XP on this system and performed an upgrade?

If this is correct, you can do a startup repair and that should fix the problem.

The answer is yes, I did. And yes I did do a start up repair, and yes it did work once!

Then it went back to the same error.

Since NTLDR is a system file if you run a system file check it should verify it, or repair it.

Start>search>type cmd>right click and run as admin>sfc /scannow

let us know the results

ken

Originally Posted by zigzag3143

Originally Posted by uncdog

Originally Posted by lemur

If this is correct, you can do a startup repair and that should fix the problem.

The answer is yes, I did. And yes I did do a start up repair, and yes it did work once!

Then it went back to the same error.

Since NTLDR is a system file if you run a system file check it should verify it, or repair it.

Start>search>type cmd>right click and run as admin>sfc /scannow

let us know the results

ken

Thanks for the advice. Came back with Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.

I don't really want to go all the way back to reinstall, as a repair only temporarily works.

Originally Posted by lemur

Originally Posted by uncdog

Originally Posted by lemur

If this is correct, you can do a startup repair and that should fix the problem.

The answer is yes, I did. And yes I did do a start up repair, and yes it did work once!

Then it went back to the same error.

Aha!

Please do it again. It may take more than one time. I believe that startup repair will fix ONE problem at a time. Lemme know...

I did it three times - same error each time.

DVD in drive at boot up (or indeed any bootable disk), fine - boots to the o/s.

No disk, NTLDR missing.

UNCdog

have you tried this.

Boot with dvd in and when booted drag the iso to desktop and extract (with something like poweriso). take the folder "boot" and the ntldr and drag them to the root of the OS drive.

Dont know if it will work but cant be worse


good luck

Ken