NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM Not Found or Missing Error Message

Free Computer Help By Mitz

If you get an error that the NTLDR is not found during boot up there can be a number of causes. People automatically think this is a terrible error that cannot be fixed. Sometimes this is true, however most times it can be solved.

First thing I do is check where the computer is trying to boot from. If it is trying to boot from the cd rom and not the hard drive, of course the file would be missing. If this is the case you should change your boot sequence in the bios.

This message also comes up when I leave my external usb hard drive connected to the computer. I am too lazy to change the settings in bios, so I restart the computer with the external drive off. Then it boots as normal.

Another rumor is that this error message comes up when you use a copied version of Windows. Sometimes I think this is also true.

If it is definitely trying to boot C: drive then try the following steps below.

For FAT32

If you have FAT32 partitions, it is much simpler than with NTFS.
Just boot with a Win98 floppy and copy the NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM files
from the i386 directory to the root of the C:\ drive.

For NTFS:

1. Insert and boot from your WindowsXP CD.
2. At the first R=Repair option, press the R key
3. Press the number that corresponds to the correct location for the installation of Windows you want to repair.
   Typically this will be #1
4. Enter in the administrator password when requested
5. Enter in the following commands (X: is replaced by the actual drive letter that is assigned to the CD ROM drive.
   COPY X:\i386\NTLDR C\:
   COPY X:\i386\NTDETECT.COM C:\
6. Take out the CD ROM and type exit

Another way is to put your hard drive into and external drive and copy the file from the cd that way.

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Mitz Pantic wrote this article and others for http://www.tips4pc.com  Browse Tips4pc.com for more articles that are written in an easy to understand interface and FREE computer help.

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