NTLDR is Missing

[joshuah2003]

This is what comes up when I restart my computer into my windows 7 partition. My hard drive had 2 partitions on it. One contained a Windows XP install that I never used and then Windows 7 which I always use. I used Partition Magic to format the Windows XP partition and to also switch my Windows 7 partition from being a logical drive to a primary drive. It then required that I restart my computer. i did so and it came up and successfully formatted the XP partition to a clean slate. I was planning to install Linux Mint 8 on that partition instead. It then restarted one more time and..."NTLDR is Missing, Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart". It does this every time. I've partitioned a lot and never had this problem. I'm thinking it is because I was dual booting XP and 7, so it would ask me at start up each time which I wanted to boot into. I was hoping someone knew how I might be able to goes into the bios...or do something to get back into Windows 7. Please help. I really need to get back into that install.

So I just booted into my old hard drive which I still have installed in the computer. It is also windows XP. I went to my computer and the drives are currently like this: Local Disk (C: ), DVD-RAM Drive (D: ), Linux (E: ), Local Disk (F: ).

Right before I formatted my Windows 7 install was under the (C: ) drive, now it is the (F: ) drive. Maybe this is the problem? Maybe I need to set in the bios or something that it should be (C: )? I dunno, please someone help me.

---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:07 PM ----------

After doing some research It seems that NTLDR is only for windows XP and that Windows 7 uses a file called BOOTMGR, so it must still be trying to dual boot with XP as well? please help.

 

[whs]

Partition Magic is a poor choice. It is long outdated. Who knows what it did. Have a look at this method. Maybe it helps.

 

[SIW2]

Partition Magic is not compatible with the new Vista/7 partitioning rules.

Please post a screenshot of your Disk Management Window

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

You could see if running this will do the trick:

should work fine from within XP - just dble click on sispar.cmd.

Input the drive letter of your 7 partition as seen from where you are ( i.e. F) - only takes a couple of seconds.

 

[joshuah2003]

i'm trying that now SIW2, if not i'll post the image.

---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------

Or maybe I meant partition wizard
I Used: Free Download Partition Wizard

because it said it worked for 7. I was going to try what i normally use: Easeus , but they make u pay for 64bit 7.

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 PM ----------

after running that it says: "A disk read error occured Press Ctrl alt del to restart"

---------- Post added at 09:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:01 PM ----------

Wait....it worked! Kind of... It boots from my IDE HD though, but all the files are still on my sata hd.... How can I make it boot using the hard drive that Windows 7 is actually installed on?

 

[SIW2]

Partition Wizard is fine.

This is the one that should work from XP ( rather than adding bootmenu to XP ) - sorry posted the wrong one.

Run the new sispar.cmd in this:

View attachment sispar.zip

Easeus are doing the Pro version Free ( works on 64 bit )

http://partition-tool.com/giveaways/epmpro/

 

[gregrocker]

We can advise you better after seeing the Disk Management screenshot. Use the Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attaching file using paper clip in reply box.

It is likely a matter of marking Win7 partition active using Partition Wizard bootable CD or Diskpart, then booting the Win7 DVD Repair console to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots, to repair or rewrite the MBR to Win7.

You can then deal with any partitioning or dual boot issues.

But let us see the screenshot first to be certain of any advice.

 

[joshuah2003]

Okay here is a screenshot.

 

[joshuah2003]

SIW2, do I have to run that FROM xp? I just tried and it did the same thing, but i ran it from my 7 install.

 

[SIW2]

No, you can run it from XP /Vista/7.

If you are getting a disk read error - that is something else. I just recreated all the boot critical files and the boot sector and disk code on your 7 HD.

I see you are now able to boot either XP or 7 from the XP HD.

 

[joshuah2003]

Correct. I now get the disk read error on the 7 HD. So basically, I need to figure out what is causing the disk read error and get it so 7 boots from my sata hd.

 

[Saltgrass]

When I was experimenting with installing XP with the Win 7 System Reserve Partition, I got a lot of "Can't find NTLDR" type messages. I could always fix it by booting to the Install DVD or Repair CD and going to command prompt and using the Bootrec /fixmbr then the Bootrec /fixboot commands.

As I understand it, a startup repair should do this, but my way is faster.

 

[joshuah2003]

I am no longer getting the NTLDR message after following SIW2's instructions, but now it is "A disk read error has occurred press ctrl + alt + del to restart"...

 

[SIW2]

Sispar will run fine from within 7 - but if you are wanting to use it on the same partition you are booted into ( which you are ) it may not be completely successful because the volume cannot be dismounted.

Try running this new sisparV5.cmd from within XP - input the 7 drive letter - that should do the trick.

View attachment sisparV5.zip

 

[gregrocker]

Do you still want XP or just plugged it back in to boot Win7 since it was System HD?

If not I would unplug it, boot the Win7 DVD Repair console to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the MBR to Win7 which is already active.

 

[joshuah2003]

i'm trying that to see if it works. It takes forever since I'm doing this all from my old xp install which is so so so slow and so unupdated that windows decided to take the liberty this very second to do 39 updates before it restarts

edit: yeah I don't want that xp that i just got rid of. I wanted it gone. So yeah, all I want on my sata hd is windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

Then unplug XP, boot the Win7 DVD, select Repair on second screen, click through to Recovery tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the MBR to Win7.

 

[SIW2]

TRY SISPAR V5 run it from within XP - no need for all that multiple running of startup repair.

Then remove the old XP drive - you should then boot straight to 7 without a boot menu.

btw greg , the mbr is just fine as it is.

 

[joshuah2003]

i'll take a look at that if my old hd with xp that I'm using here ever finishes its updates. Hopefully before the end of the century.

 

[gregrocker]

Si, is this a batch command to bootrec and/or bootsect Win7? Marks active too? (I know his already is).

 

[joshuah2003]

TRY SISPAR V5 run it from within XP - no need for all that multiple running of startup repair.

btw greg , the mbr is just fine as it is.

I just did. However, i am still getting the "A disk read error occurred Press..."

Any idea what I should do about that? Looks like it might be working though since it didn't give me the NTLDR message.