Hello everyone. I had Windows XP Pro (with SP1 and most updates) up and running OK on a 127GB partition of a 160GB S/ATA disk. The rest of the disk was set as a second partion as WinXP couldn't use the whole 160GB as one partition on setup. I had all my work files on the second partition. Yesterday I turned on the PC and faced the "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart" message. The PC was working super-OK just the day before, nothing strange installed or changed. I was frustated, checked knowledge base and tried recovery console tricks (copy NTLDR from CD, fixboot, fixmbr et al) but I couldn't boot for the life of me. So, I re-installed WindowsXP using the repair option and finally I got the PC working, settings and programs good as before. BUT NOW THE SECOND PARTITION IS GONE! On Windows exprorer the partition appears as D:, but its properties say the file system is RAW and there is 0GB used and 0GB capacity. If I try to explore the partition (double click) I get the message "The disk is corrupted". But, on the Disk Management utility the partition appears as 27GB capacity (correct size) and is marked Healthy! None of the data recovery programs I tried (EasyRecovery Pro included) can even identify this 27GB partition, it's like it just doesn't exist. I can't CheckDisk or generally do anything with the second partition anymore and the recovery console says that D: has "A serious error" and can't even access it. I believe I can format it as format options appear as normal, but if I do I will certainly lose any hope of getting its contents back. Any advice on how I could make that second partition accessible again and get my data back would be so much appreciated... I had a backup taken some time ago so it's only half a disaster, but how did this happen? It happened so out of the blue, one night the PC was working fine, next morning "NTLDR is missing" and the second partition disappears... Many thanks for any help offered .

Try this.. Start >> Run chkdsk TheDriveLetter: /r Since you said the drive letter is D: in disk management then the command should be chkdsk d: /r If you get any message popup choose yes If the above does not work the try the same command from the recovery console. Goodluck.

Thanks, I'll try that

Nope, it didn't work. =8-(

@ this point you may have to format the drive.."Quick Format" You can then use a data recovery program to retrieve the data you had on it.. I recommend GetDataBack (FAT) or GetdataBack for NTFS. Make sure you have the same file system you had before it makes the recovery easier. Goodluck.