How to Extract the CAB File: System32\Drivers\Ntfs.sys

If you receive the error message "Missing or corrupt c:\windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys" some program or recent action deleted, moved or corrupted the ntfs.sys file in your Windows XP installation. There are several things that can cause this issue such as a virus or unintentional action, but in order to fix it you must extract a copy of the ntfs.sys file from your Windows installation CD to the Windows installation on your hard drive. You can do so using the Windows recovery console.

Things You'll Need

• Windows installation CD

Instructions

Windows XP

1. Insert your Windows installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Restart the computer. The computer will automatically recognize the CD when booting.

2. Press the "Enter" key on your keyboard when "Press any key to boot from CD" appears on the screen. The computer will load a series of files from the installation CD then the Windows XP setup screen will appear with a set of options.

3. Press "R" on your keyboard to select "Windows Recovery Console." Allow the computer to launch the recovery console. The recovery console is a command prompt that allows you to enter text commands. Note that the computer may ask for the Windows XP serial key at this point; if so, enter your 25 digit serial key found on the Windows XP sticker on your computer tower or laptop.

4. Input "cd \windows\system32\drivers" into the recovery console and press "Enter:" This navigates to the "Drivers" folder where the ntfs.sys file is located.

5. Input "ren ntfs.sys ntfs.old" into the recovery console and press "Enter." This attempts to rename the corrupted ntfs.sys file to ntfs.old, if the file exists. Note that if you receive an error message, if the ntfs.sys file is missing.

6. Input "copy D:\i386\ntfs.sys C:\windows\system32\drivers" into the recovery console and press "Enter." Replace "D" with the drive letter of your CD drive and "C" with the drive letter of your hard drive. This copies the ntfs.sys file from the installation CD onto your computer.

7. Open the disk tray, remove the installation CD and input "quit" into the recovery console to restart the computer.

References

• Microsoft; "Missing or Corrupt Ntfs.sys" Error Message when You Restart Windows XP After You Convert Your Hard Disk to the NTFS File System; June 2004
• Computer Hope: Missing or Corrupt c:\windows\system32\drivers\ntfs.sys