Restore boot manager when NTLDR is missing

25 February 2006 by Snakefoot | Comment » | Trackback Off

The NT Loader (NTLDR) is part of the Windows NT boot files. If the NTLDR becomes corrupted, then Windows NT will fail to boot and give messages like:

NTLDR is missing

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR. Please insert another disk.

Usually this problem can be solved by checking the boot devices. If no problems found then one can try to restore the boot manager files in case they have become damaged:

Ntldr
Ntdetect.com
Boot.ini

If using Windows 2000/XP then one can restore the boot files using the Recovery Console, and copy the NtLdr and Ntdetect.com (NOT Boot.ini) from the Windows 2000/XP install CD to the boot partition. And if using Windows XP then one can try to rebuild the boot.ini file using the recovery console command "bootcfg /rebuild". More Info MS KB Q318728

If using Windows NT4/2000/XP then one can create a custom bootable floppy containing the boot files. Where the Boot.ini points to the boot partition, so when booting from the floppy it will load Windows NT from the boot partition and allow one to repair the boot files within Windows NT. More Info MS KB Q119467

Note the chance of damaged boot files is higher if the boot partition is using FAT16/FAT32, where the filesystem is easily damaged compared to NTFS. If using NTFS, then it can be a sign that the hard disk is starting to fail, and one should take a backup of important files and acquire a disk diagnostic utility from the hard disk manufacture.

More Info MS KB Q100312
More Info MS KB Q124550
More Info MS KB Q320397

Note if the NT Loader (Ntldr) have become compressed, then it will fail because all features of NTFS is not available during booting and give the error "NTLDR is compressed". To decompress the Ntldr use the Recovery Console and execute these two commands:

CD \
ATTRIB -C NTLDR

Credits ComputerHope.com

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Updated: 27 November 2008

Comments:

Comment by melbert - 15 February 2008 @ 4:58 Reply

my problem is missing ntldr and when i type copy d:\386\ntldr C:\ it said that access denied ,, what should i do? please help me

Comment by Rajesh Kumar - 5 September 2008 @ 9:22 Reply

Dear sir
My 2k3server gives a messege of NTLDR is missing.Plz give me suggestion.

Comment by Snakefoot - 15 September 2008 @ 20:55 Reply

Rajesh Kumar wrote:
My 2k3server gives a messege of NTLDR is missing.Plz give me suggestion

If having checked the boot devices, then you can try the recovery console like with Windows 2000/XP

Comment by baskar - 31 October 2009 @ 8:34 Reply

i am using xp and i am unable to boot it as i deleted a file(i thought as virus) and it displays “NTLDR missing
press ctrl+alt+del to restart.But if i press it ,it again displays the same.please help me sir…

Comment by Teshager Belay - 9 October 2010 @ 14:37 Reply

“BOOTMGR Missing. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart”

My Toshiba laptop with Windows Vista on it is not starting. It displays the above message. I tried to boot from Recovery CD. It does not recognize any operating system. I was able to get to the command prompt. I see nothing on the C:\ drive. I am not worried about the content of user files as I normally use the laptop for internet browsing and of course my photos. How can I make my laptop usable? Any help is appreciated?

Comment by superuser - 5 November 2010 @ 15:31 Reply

I was getting the same message on bootup on one xp system:-
“BOOTMGR Missing. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart”.

I could still access the bootscreen, so I restored the systems boot settings to default, and the message disappeared. Even if that works, just in case its a failing drive, I would back up all important folders/files onto another storage device

Comment by Nihar - 8 November 2010 @ 8:22 Reply

Heyy i have a windows xp in my netbook and i want to install windows 7 through usb but whenever i plug in my pendrive to format i get an error “BOOT MNGR is missing” press ctrl+alt+del to restart please help me what to do

Comment by Mayu - 18 March 2011 @ 21:14 Reply

hi,
i had system in which, there were 2 os loaded, 1 is winxp and win vista both are in different partition, in which everytime is used to ask to which os to go for (i.e. boot manager), now i had formated my vista partion and installed win7,
now the thing is it do ask which os to go for bujt when i go to winxp it gives the error message: ntldr
MSGcode: 0×000000f
kindly help me with the same my imp data and softwraes are loaded in winxp drive out of which many softwares setup files i do not have so can not even format it.
kindly gv some suggestion wht do i do and how do i proceed.

thanks
Mayu

931

Comment by rene - 8 February 2012 @ 2:35 Reply

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