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Pc died, getting funny message anyone know what it means?

8 replies

Linnet · 02/09/2008 12:46

My Pc died and kept asking for the windows restoration disk. I have hunted high and low and we don't have a windows restoration disk, but did find the recovery disks for the pc, so last night we decided to just go ahead and recover it knowing that this would wipe the hard disk and we'd lose everything.

So Dh did this last night followed all the instructions, put in the disks etc then got a message saying... NTLDR is missing press Ctl, Alt, Del to restart, so we did but nothing happens it just comes back to the same page.

does anyone know what NTLDR is? What if anything we can do to fix it?

OP posts:

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IdrisTheDragon · 02/09/2008 13:04

Have no idea what this means but have googled if this is any help.

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TheHerdNerd · 02/09/2008 13:31

It sounds as if your hard drive has gone kaboing.

Did you start getting the NTLDR error after reinstalling Windows?

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sweetgrapes · 02/09/2008 14:24

You need a Booting/Setup cd. No idea where you would get it. Work? Friends?

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singleWhiteMale · 02/09/2008 20:04

ntldr is the program which loads the rest of windows ("NT loader"). Either that file is missing or can't be found. First thing I would do is to go into the BIOS options (aka machine setup screen) and make sure your PC is configured to boot from the Hard Disk Drive.

To get into the BIOS options you hold down a key (often or ) while the PC is first starting up. You're looking for a setting for 'Boot Order' or something similar.

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EvelynsDad · 02/09/2008 21:08

Does this help?

www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

It sounds as though you've already gone through the recovery. If not and your hard disk hasn't failed, you can use Knoppix to copy off your files before doing the recovery.

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PinkTulips · 02/09/2008 21:20

dp is almost an IT tech and says to try pressing F8 during start up to access the boot menu and try 'last known good configuration'

i shouldn't have asked him, he's run off to get his course books now to guide you through it if that doesn't work

guess my pc time is over!

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PinkTulips · 02/09/2008 21:31

do you have the windows disk? if you do follow these instructions;

when the pc loads up enter the BIOS or CMOS

look for Boot menu

there should be an option to boot form cd-rom, floppy, etc

stick in the windows xp disk

click 'boot from c-rom'

follow instructions

you'll lose everything but you already said you're not pushed about that.

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Linnet · 02/09/2008 23:07

thanks for your advice everyone. I will try the F8 and last known config, hopefully that might work and also other suggestions.

The last resort is to take it to the little computer shop in town and see if they can do anything with it, but that will have to wait until after our holiday as I've no money to do it just now.

I definitely don't have a windows XP disk, I can't find one, I've hunted high and low in every hidey hole in this house and there isn't one. I've asked friends and family and work collegues if they have one but nobody does. My dad, who I was 100% sure would have one says that with Windows XP it shouldn't do anything but go to the safe screen. So I'm at a loss.

I'm really annoyed, with myself in a way, as it seems that I should have a windows XP disk and I can't find it. I can find disks relating to our first computer that we bought 10 years ago but not this windows disk which makes me think that we never had one to start with. I wouldn't have thrown something like that out, never!

oh well, will keep trying thanks again.