ntldr missing error message Windows xp home

Thank you for this update, I checked the Bios setup and my hard drive is showing, what next? 

 

I have sp3 loaded.

As both Tech-Geek and Wunders correctly pointed out, since you are running XP at the SP3 level, you do NOT need to pay attention to the advice to run BCUpdate2.exe.

The first thing you should do is boot off the Hiren's CD and go into Recovery Console. Then select your installation (probably "1") and enter the password for the "Administator" account (probably no password, so just press the enter key). At the C:\WINDOWS prompt, enter the following command"

chkdsk /r

(there is a space before the slash)

This will take a long time to complete, so be patient! Also you might even need to run it a second time.

If that does not solve the problem, you will need to rebuild the boot.ini file (the following is based upon instructions from regular contributor JoseIbarra):

cd \   [if you are not already at the C:\ prompt]

attrib -shr boot.ini      (removes the System, Hidden, Read Only attributes)

ren boot.ini  boot.ini.bak     (rename the potentially afflicted file; THIS IS CRUCIAL!)

bootcfg /rebuild    (run bootcfg /rebuild and create a new c:\boot.ini file)

The reason you need to rename the current (potentially afflicted) boot.ini is so that when you run the bootcfg /rebuild command, you do not build on top of the current suspicious boot.ini file.

Hopefully there will be ONLY ONE identified Windows Install:

(If not, let us know!)

When you are asked "Add installation to boot list?" enter Y (then press Enter key)

When bootcfg /rebuild asks for Load identifier enter whatever text is appropriate (this is strictly for show), in your case:

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition (then press Enter key)

When it asks for load options enter:

/fastdetect /noexecute=optin

Press Enter to create the new c:\boot.ini file.

When you get done, you can see the contents of your new c:\boot.ini file by entering this command:

type boot.ini

If the c:\boot.ini file doesn't look right, just delete it and start over.

This is what your boot.ini file will hopefully look like:

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect  (this is one line [beginning with multi]; watch the wrap!)

Note that this part of the instructions above is CRUCIAL:

ren boot.ini  boot.ini.bak

This command accomplishes two things:

1. It backs up your messed-up boot.ini file. It is always prudent to make backups!
2. It effectively deletes boot.ini from your system. If you do not delete boot.ini, you will wind up with that big mess you described where you have seven or so operating systems to choose from! Once your boot.ini file is deleted, you can then run bootcfg /rebuild and your new boot.ini file should be perfect and sleek and clean. :-)

Thank you for this update, I checked the Bios setup and my hard drive is showing, what next? 

I have sp3 loaded.

While it is possible that a fragmented MBR is the issue, I doubt it is. And, as noted above by Wunders, if your computer has sp2 or later it is not the issue as a fix for the issue was added to sp2.

There are a number of thing which can cause the NTLDR missing error, including, but not limited to, the hard drive. To fix this issue, one must usually use the process of elimination.

Personally, I would first have you go into the bios (system setup) and make sure the hard drive is listed. If not, you have found your problem. If it is listed you can move on to the steps I have provided above.

thank you for that information, I have run the mini windows xp and have exported the bcupdate.exe into the C drive, unfortunately when I try and run it in dos prompt I get the message that C: is running and I cant run the Bcupdate any ideas?

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD drive and restart your computer. If you are prompted, select any options required to start (boot) from the CD. Follow the instructions at the end if you do not have a Windows disc.
2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts. Select the repair or recover option by pressing R.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiboot system, select the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If you have not set a password for the admin account simply press enter
5. At the command prompt, type fixboot > press enter. Confirm at the prompt you may receive.
6. Next, on the command prompt type fixmbr > press Enter. Again confirm at the prompt.
7. You should receive a message after typing the above commands the action was successfully completed.  Type exit > press enter.
8. Restart your computer.

If you do not have a Windows Xp disc, follow the instructions HERE to create a Windows Xp Recovery Console.