Emergency: Missing NTLDR - Tried many things!

[unknownman_007]

Okay, I'm in a really big problem here.

I need to be using my computer ASAP, but now it doesn't work!

It reads:
NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

Now, I've tried the following things"
fixboot
fixmbr
bootcfg /rebuild

I've even tried the common solution of restarting my bios, and copying over the NTLDR files from the CD.

Finally, I've EVEN tried a windows XP repair! Then, as soon as it restarts to continue the repair process, NTLDR shows up AGAIN.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciate as I am in a crunch for time.

Thank you SO much in advance!!!!! Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[GX1_Man]

Is there a floppy disk in the drive?

[unknownman_007]

No, the computer only has a CD Drive.

Will offer a $10 paypal reward to one who can fix the problem!!!

[Dusty]

PC details (partitioning, file system, multi-boot :-?) - OS details (Home or Pro :-?) - OS disk details (is it full version, update, genuine :-?)

What was done immediately prior to the problem manifesting itself (downloads, installs etc...) :-?

Is your backup up-to-date :-?

Also your inside leg measurement - well, not quite - but we need details...

[unknownman_007]

Currently, I deleted my extra partition leaving only the windows XP partition.

Now, I get:
No bootable devices--strike F1 to retry boot, F2 for setup utility

I've tried everything like I did above, except fixboot won't work.

Any ideas?

[GX1_Man]

What was on the extra partition? Was it another operating system?

[Dusty]

[highlight]How[/highlight] did you "delete" your 'extra partition' :-? :-?  Did you use a re-partitioning tool, if so which one :-?

I get the feeling you will now have to slave your hdd on another machine to recover files then reinstall your OS.

[unknownman_007]

Here is what happened:

I installed linux on a separate partition on the drive

Then, XP didn't show up on the Linux boot menu so I did:
fixboot
fixMBR
bootcfg /rebuild

Then, that's when I got the missing NTLDR error

At that point, I deleted the other linux partition in hopes of that fixing it, by only giving the computer one partition to boot off of.

Now I'm at the point where it doesn't even find the XP partition bootable, even though it hasn't been touched.

[Dusty]

Now I'm at the point where it doesn't even find the XP partition bootable, even though it hasn't been touched.

Ahhhh Linux.   Did you use Grub :-?  Did you try to protect the MBR when installing Linux :-?

[unknownman_007]

Previously I did but that's long gone now.....

[Dusty]

So the Linux install over-wrote your MBR - that's probably why the XP boot option didn't show on the 'Linux boot menu'.  Now having 'deleted' your 'extra partition' there's no possibility of booting unless the MBR can be rewritten.

Perhaps someone with more knowledge & experience than I have will pick up your thread and come up with a brilliant answer to your problem.  Meantime I recommend you consider slaving as in Reply #6

Good luck

[unknownman_007]

I can still boot off my CD drive.

What if I installed Linux or something like that?

Any sugestions to rewrite the MBR?

[street1 (RIP)]

Have you tried the repair install mentioned at below website?


http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/483/xp_repair_fix_master_boot_record_recovery_console

[unknownman_007]

Yes,

As I mentioned I've tried it numerous times.

[Dusty]

You already stated you tried FixBoot, FixMbr and BootCFG so I guess you ran them in the Recovery Console which would have been my answer to your latest query.

I strongly recommend that you do not even attempt to install any Operating System until you have scrutinised your partitioning and the condition of your data files unless you are prepared to lose the lot   That was my reason for asking if your backup is up-to-date.  If it's not up-to-date you should try to recover critical files before taking a chance on their being over-written.

You didn't respond to the query about your partitions and whether a partitioning tool was used to 'delete' the 'extra partition' (Replies #3 and #6), it's possible that no partitions now exist, not even the partition on which XP was originally installed.

The Diskpart utility [highlight]might[/highlight] be of some use but I have never used it so cannot comment on its suitability.

Sorry, I'm out of steam on this one, someone else might step in

Good luck