Hi everybody,

My dilemma may be a real simple one but I really need help.

My laptop had two systems on it: an original Windows XP version and a windows 2000 version (that was added on later).

I recently wanted to get back the windows xp version so I started deleting files that were associated with the 2000 system. Foolishly I deleted the ntldr file and then tried to re-boot the computer. Now it says ntldr file is missing press ctrl alt and delete. So now I cannot get back in to the computer. The problem is is that I don't have the original installation cd for the windows 2000 version. The ntldr file is in the recycling bin, but I can't start the computer without the message coming up. What can I do to resolve this? I really need help!

thanks

Paul

Maybe it will start in Safe Mode.

DerekW

Run a repair using the XP Installation CD.

Life is more painless for those who are brainless.

If that file is gone, you can forget safe mode too. Why can't you boot to XP if both OSes are there?

I have just been told that there is only the windows 2000 operating system on the laptop, so I don't think the XP installation cd will work.

I don't have the original windows 2000 installation cd so I can't use that either. Is there anyway I can get the ntldr file (in the recycle bin) restored???

I'm much more familiar with W9x. On that there is a long winded procedure to retrieve stuff from the bin, see here:

RESTORE FROM BIN 9x

It would appear that you would need to invoke DOS somehow and I've no idea how to do this with ME, or whether ME & 9x are similar enough for the procedure to work anyway.

So, this might be a ruddy great red herring but perhaps some ME expert can work out a way forward with this style of approach (or anything else for that matter).

Wowee, it's always risky deleting files but even worse with no DOS and no CD.

Good luck

DerekW

OOPS, THERE's A NEW LINK

DerekW

Bit of a misconception - this is Win2K, so it's NT, not DOS based, unlike WinME - plenty of other differences too. I don't think you can apply any of those techniques

From ComputerHope:

Copy the NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM files from another computer using the same Operating System. Both of these files are located in the root directory of the primary hard disk drive. For example, C:\NTLDR and C:\NTDETECT.COM

... as well as some other suggestions

Kind of pointless if you don't have the CD (or something) to boot from. Running any version of Windows without access to the installation disc is just a disaster waiting to happen.

Possibly you can d/l & make use of the set of boot floppies

"I have just been told that there is only the windows 2000 operating system on the laptop"

You seem kind of confused - I thought it was your laptop?

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock

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What file format is the c: partition; do you have a built-in (or docakble/swappable) floppy-drive for this model Inpsiron?

Do you have the XP CD?

Given the information you've provided, here is what I would do. I'm assuming you have a floppy drive or CD drive to boot from. If not, see #4.

1. If your partitions are FAT32, I'd boot from a win98 bootdisk, commandline it to c:\recycler, perform a "copy c:\recycler\ntldr c:\".
http://bootdisk.com

2. If your partitions are NTFS, use a BartPE CD to boot from and move NTLDR from the recycler to the root of the drive.
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

3. or use an ERD Commander CD to boot from and move NTLDR from the recycler to the root of the drive.
http://winternals.com/Products/AdministratorsPak/Default.aspx#erdcommander2005

4. or I'd take the drive out, slap it into a usb case, plug it into another machine and move the NTLDR that way.
http://www.byteccusa.com/product/adapter/BT-300.htm
http://www.byteccusa.com/product/enclosure/HD-201.htm

Ooops, sorry about ME stuff. Seems I lost track of which forum I was on.

W2k is quite different as jboy said.

DerekW

thanks for that, OK......

well 1. is out because when I used the wind 98 boot disk it said something about not having FAT32...

3. Looks like it's out as I can't seem to find any download link there.

2. looks good but you have to build the installation files using another comp. I don't have another comp that has windows 2000, just windows xp so will it still work if I build the cd from my computer?

4. well I'm no comp. expert so there's no way I'm gonna start taking drives out etc!!

"H" in post-9 has covered most of the viable options... (not necessarily all - depends on exact situation you may have as to what may be best overall.?).

#1, #2, #4 are likely the three to look at; and again it all depends on the file format for the c: partition as to which of the three to use...?

so back to #2 again, will this work if I run the cd builder on my other laptop using win XP, and then insert it on the one that has the ntldr file missing (using a win 2000 system)????

so ok #2 doesn't work for windows 2000!!

I'm gradually running out of options here!

I don't have another computer that runs windows 2000 to copy the ntldr or ntdetect.com files from!!

can I download the installation from the web?

You can get the 4 setup CDs for 2k from bootdisk.com

I have 4 bootable floppies, but they ask you for the installation cd for wind 2k, which I don't have. Won't the 4 cds do the same?

Just mulling over your predicament and came upon another option. I haven't tried this program before so I don't know if it will work though.

5. Create a win98 bootdisk, download ReadNTFS.exe (it's freeware) and put it on the bootdisk (follow their instructions). Format a secondary blank floppy disk. Boot from your bootdisk, run ReadNTFS.exe, copy NTLDR from your recycler & NTDETECT.COM to your second floppy disk (ReadNTFS description says it allows you to copy from NTFS to FAT). Now, what you want to do is boot from the secondary floppy disk (the one with NTLDR & NTDETECT.COM). It should boot into XP. Once there, you can move/copy your NTLDR file to where it needs to be.
http://www.ntfs.com/products.htm

(Post-17 is equally viable... See comments later)

Also as you have a floppy drive in this system; and you have the 4 W2K floppies...(?)

I seem to recall that to resolve your missing ntldr file... you don't actually need the CD - that file is on the first W2K floppy.

Presuming the grey cell recall is correct...
Boot up with the W2K floppies and choose the Repair option. At this stage you could safely then reboot - removing floppies before it tries to read it/them again. All things being equal you will boot up OK...

Once the W2K floppies are accessed - the boot/start-up files (which naturally includes ntldr) are transferred to the active Primary. Thus you can drop out of the boot sequence almost immediately or during repair process at the above/initial stage - as the missing file will now be back where it "orta to be..."

Otherwise go thru' the fixboot routine via the floppies boot.

And this link has an interesting set of approaches:

http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldris...

Your comment:

"well 1. is out because when I used the wind 98 boot disk it said something about not having FAT32..."

seems to suggest c: - ntfs?

If you boot with a '98 floppy and run Fdisk and inspect partitions then it would confirm what the format of c: is. If it's fat32 '98 Fdisk will see it accordingly; if it's ntfs '98 Fdisk will see it as non-dos partition. If it is ntfs then the route in pos-17 is viable... but I think you can do all that's needed with the 4 W2K floppies you have...? Won't hurt to try - as you do no more than boot up and cancel out almost immediately.

H!,

I followed up your advice and used the NTFS.exe program and managed to copy them over to another floppy and got back in to my computer!!! I also managed to restore the original files that I had deleted from the recycle bin and the computer works just fine again! Thanks so much for your advice! I would have been stcuk without it.

All I wanted to do originally was to take off the old windows 2000 system on the laptop and replace it with windows xp, from my installation cd for my other laptop...and all these problems!

Then all of this has been pointless - you could've gone ahead and installed XP days ago(!)

I believe it's called an 'exercise in futility'

Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock

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