How to Fix a Missing NTLDR on XP With a 98 Disk

You can fix a NTLDR file error in Windows XP.

The NTLDR file is part of all NTFS file systems made by Microsoft. The NTLDR file is responsible for loading the operating system at start-up, or loading a option screen for dual start-up computers. Sometimes the NTLDR file can become corrupted by a virus or other computer error. If the NTLDR file is corrupted or missing, Windows XP will not be able to start. It is possible to fix a NTLDR file error in Windows XP by retrieving the file from a Windows 98 installation disk.

Things You'll Need

• USB flash drive
• Functional computer

Instructions

1. Insert the Windows 98 installation disk into a functional computer. The Windows XP system that you are trying to repair will work for this, if it can start Windows. Open "My Computer" from the Start Menu. From "My Computer," open the CD drive folder containing your Windows 98 installation disk and enter the "/i386" folder. Browse this folder to find the NTLDR file, and copy it using Ctrl+C along with the "Boot.ini" and "ntdetect.com" files.

2. Plug any USB flash drive into the computer that has the NTLDR file copied. Open the flash drive's folder from the "My Computer" folder. Paste the three files into the flash drive using Ctrl+V. Power on the Windows XP system that you are repairing, and press the BIOS key before start-up occurs. Most computers use "f1" as a BIOS key. This will enter the computer into the BIOS settings screen, where you will need to find the boot options. Set the BIOS to start the computer from the USB drive or "Removable Devices" first. BIOS navigation and changes are done by using arrow keys and the plus or minus keys. Save your settings and turn on the computer.

3. Turn the computer back on, with the USB device inserted in the computer. Windows will recognize the USB device and prompt for Windows System Repair start-up. Choose this option and wait for Windows to detect a NTLDR error. Windows will then prompt to repair this error by transferring the NTLDR file from the USB drive into the Windows XP i386 folder. Restart the computer upon instruction by Windows System Repair, Windows XP will now load with the new NTLDR file.

Tips & Warnings

• Computers made before 2001 may not have an option to boot from removable devices in the BIOS. If this is the case, burn the three boot files onto a CD instead of using a flash drive. All that is needed for this is a blank CD and a CD-RW drive.

• Find the cause of the Windows XP NTLDR file error as soon as you are able to boot the system again. A virus is likely to corrupt the file repeatedly until the virus is removed. Use a free anti-virus program or Windows Malicious Software Removal software to eliminate the root cause of NTLDR file corruption.

References

• Microsoft: "NTLDR is missing" error message when you install or upgrade Windows XP
• Microsoft Tech-Net: How NTFS Works
• Microsoft: Windows may not start and you may receive an "NTLDR is missing" error message

Resources

• Microsoft: How to troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" error message in Windows 2000
• Microsoft: An NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM Not Found Error
• Microsoft: The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool