What is NTLDR, exactly? Is it computer-specific or just a general file used to start WinXP? I'm asking because my brother deleted it somehow (yes, it's really him, not me!) and I'm wondering if I could replace it with a copy from my computer (exact same OS) or if it's got specific information for his computer. Anyone know?

Boot from an XP CD and enter the rcovery console and run the repair utility. "Fixboot" Or boot from the XPCD and reinstall XP over the top of itself. This is called an inplace upgrade. As long as you don't format the drive. You should loose any of your programs, files or data that you want to keep.

*Correction As long as you don't format the drive. You should loose any of your programs, files or data that you want to keep. Should read as follows: As long as you don't format the drive. You shouldn't loose any of your programs, files or data that you want to keep.

I seems to get the impression that ntldr is a boot loader from microsoft.

Short for NT Loader, a program loaded from the hard drive boot sector that displays the Microsoft Windows NT startup menu and helps Windows NT load. Often a user will see the message "NTLDR is Missing" after attempting to install Windows 2000 or Windows XP, or upgrade a Windows 95-based or Windows 98-based computer to Windows 2000 or Windows XP. The message appears after the first reboot. This occurs only if Windows 95 or 98 has been installed on a drive with the FAT32 file system. To correct the problem, the user must boot the computer with a Windows 95 or 98 Startup diskette or another bootable diskette with sys.com on it. Then, at the "A:\>" prompt, type "sys c:" and press "enter." A "System Transferred" prompt should appear and then the user must reboot the computer without the diskette Manish

The above info is not correct, pls see www.sft-cyber.com and look at the repair boot info

Oooh, I have never heard of the "sys c:" command. I have always done what I think you are saying a harder way. What exactly does "sys c:" do?