Problem running 'Missing NTLDR' fix BCUPDATE2

[tdan]

Hi. This is my first post on this forum so I have my fingers crossed here!!!

I ran Partition Magic on my PC and when I came to reboot I was hit with an error message that prevented me from booting into Windows. I booted with my recovery CDROM and entered the emergency DOS console. I then ran FIX BOOT and FIXMBR and then tried to reboot. Now I receive the orror message 'NTLDR MISSING, PRESS CTRL ALT & DEL TO REBOOT' .... or something to that effect.

I know from various resources that I need to run the utility BCUPDATE2.EXE and I've managed to find that and download it using my laptop. I was told to run this utility on the faulty PC HOWEVER . . . . The emergency DOS console doesn't support the 'run' function so I can't seem to run the utility from the CDROM I copied it onto from my laptop.

So, my question is . . . . how do I run the BCUPDATE2.EXE utility when in the emergency boot dos console?

In anticipation.... thanks,

Tdan

[Sterling_Aug]

Are you running Windows Vista?

It sounds like you need an update to Partition Magic. Vista require PM version 8.05 or higher.

[G]

Very simple to fix.

"NTLDR missing". The boot loader was unable to locate NTLDR. Very often this indicates a corrupted file system. (Solution: Using the RC, copy a new NTLDR file from directory \i386 on the Windows XP/2000/Server 2003 Setup CD-ROM using CD \, then ATTRIB -C NTLDR. Otherwise use the bootcfg /rebuild (Windows XP Recovery Console command)).

[ATI RADEON 8500]

Alternatively if you have another PC. Plug the hard drive with NTLDR missing to the other PC and copy the NTLDR from that PC to the hard drive. *Shrugs* Thats how I did it.

[tdan]

Hi everyone, thanks for the information. Unfortunately I'm not really DOS literate so I don't understand exactly what I need to do to run the BCUPDATE2.exe file that I have.

Would you mind explaining what I need to do in non-techno speak?!

Thanks again,

Dan

[Rocketmech]

You cannot run it from the Recovery Console . You would need to boot from an XP bootdisk . Did you run the command: bootcfg /rebuild from the R/C as suggested ? If that didn't work , then it would be simple to run a repair install ,

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[tdan]

Hi. Thanks again for the advice.

I tried running bootcfg /rebuild and received an error message saying that bootcfg cannot run due to a corrupt file system - the error message suggested that I run chkdsk to establish the problem (it also said that this must be completed successfully in order for bootcfg to run). So, I ran chkdsk /p and received the message that it found 'one or more errors on the volume' but didn't go on to let me know how to fix them!!!!!

Aaarghhhhh...... I almost give up, but here's a question. How can Symantec sell me a product that can do this to my system? Presumably this must happen to a lot of people.

Regards,

Dan

[Rocketmech]

The repair switch is /r ... chkdsk /r .

[G]

I gave you the simplest solution to the problem:

(Solution: Using the RC, copy a new NTLDR file from directory \i386 on the Windows XP/2000/Server 2003 Setup CD-ROM using CD \, then ATTRIB -C NTLDR.)


To check a volume for errors using the following switch from the RC.

Firstly, use this command and switch

chkntfs.exe /r (the default is c colon and so is not necessary to include c colon)

Parameter: r

Fixes errors on the hard disk drive or volume. The volume must be locked. If Chkdsk.exe cannot lock the volume, it offers to check it next time the computer restarts. If the /f switch is not initially used, Chkdsk.exe alerts the user if it detects a file that needs to be fixed by indicating that it needs to rerun with the /f switch to fix the error. It is wise not to use the /f on Chkdsk.exe’s first run until the report is consulted.


If errors are found, use this command and switch:

chkntfs.exe /f (the default is c colon and so is not necessary to include c colon)


Parameter f

Locates bad sectors and recovers readable information (implies /f). If Chkdsk.exe cannot lock the volume, it offers to check it the next time the computer restarts. Because NTFS also identifies and remaps bad sectors during the course of normal operations, it is usually not necessary to use the /f parameter useless there is a suspicion that a hard disk drive has bad sectors.


I never gave you the follow instructions for bootcfg /rebuild (Windows XP Recovery Console command)) as it is more complicated and convoluted to use.

As I have said use the first suggestion first.

[G]

How did you get on?

[tdan]

Hi, thanks for asking for the update.

I didn't get on too well. I tried the things mentioned and couldn't seem to get it to work (maybe I'm a newly discovered technophobe!).

I still have data on my hard drive that I don't want to lose so would really like to recover the system intact. Any further advice would be very much appreciated.

Dan "technophobe".

[Sterling_Aug]

Maybe you should take it to a repair shop and save the headaches, hair loss, and stomach upsets.

[Ol'Tunzafun]

The irony is that if Windows won't start then you cannot run bcupdate2 because it cannot run from DOS and it cannot run from the Recovery Console. If you can't get into Windows, then get an XP Quick Boot diskette image from Bootdisk.com. Unless you have more than one operating system installed, use xpquick.exe. When you execute the downloaded file, it will ask for a floppy disk on which it will write the image. When it is finished writing, you can copy bcupdate2 to the resulting floppy boot disk. Make sure that the BIOS is set to boot from floppy first, and reboot with the bootdisk in the floppy drive. If that gets you into windows then you can run bcupdate2 C: /f from the command prompt.

Let's get you into Windows first and then if you need help at the command prompt, we'll be here.

[frozen]

good day sir...
I have this problem too... missing ntld... im using samsung n150p running in xp sp3 os.... before this happens Im trying to delete my files in my drive d wich is my partition and I accidentally deleted a "I dont know what it is" file... then after I restart my computer error came up... im trying to run my recovery but failed to run it... I dont have cd drive... or floppy drive... so I made a usb flash drive to boot.... and I put a dos command there also yhe bcupdate.... but when I run it it says that it cant be run in dos.... and also when I check my drives I cant find them.... my usb boot is labeled c:... when im trying to copy it to d: or different drive it just says its invalid path spec.... I dont know what to do... I want to put in my desktop to copy the files written in this forum but unfortunately im the only one who is using xp.... I have importanbfiles in my hdd so I really wanna recover it.... sorry for my bad english... hope you understand what im trying to say.... and get a reply soon...

[Train]

This will work from a bootable USB Stick to.
o create a Windows startup disk, insert a floppy disk intothe drive of a similarly configured, working Windows XP system, launch MyComputer, right-click the floppy disk icon, and select the Format command fromthe context menu. When you see the Format dialog box, leave all the defaultsettings as they are and click the Start button. Once the format operation iscomplete, close the Format dialog box to return to My Computer, double-clickthe drive C icon to access the root directory, and copy the following threefiles to the floppy disk:

• Boot.ini
• NTLDR
• Ntdetect.com

You can get them off of any XP computer.
And when it gets to the desktop, copy and replace the three files on your hdd.

Now you know why I have a USB floppy and cd/dvd burner.