Installing new HDD, get 'NTLDR is Missing'

Question

Finally found my Windows XP reinstall CD, and was trying to install onto a new hard drive so I wouldn't have to worry about losing data on the old that had its Windows install corrupted and could recover files at my leisure once I get it running.

Here's the problem... I can't get it to boot from the reinstall CD, and get the dreaded "NTLDR is Missing, Press CTRL-ALT-DEL to Restart" message. Is it just that I need to do a simple "Format [Drive]: /S" on it while it's in the caddy, then stuff in something like oakcdrom.sys and edit autoexec.bat to load it, or is there something else I need to find a way to put on there?

Or is this one beyond user recovery and time to call in Geek Squad?

jackshack · Accepted Answer

You may need to zero out the disk so that there are no partitions.  Windows Setup can refuse to initialize a disk if it discovers unknown (to it) partitions on the disk.  Does the diagnostic partition occupy the entire drive?  If not, you can perform a custom installation and use Windows setup to create a partition, then direct setup to place Windows in it.

jackshack · Answer

It would help us help you if you let us know what computer model you have. Most Dells support two methods of booting from a DVD/CD ROM drive. The first is to go to System Setup (F2 during the self test while the Dell logo is visible) and set the DVD/CD drive to the first boot position. The second is to press F12 during the self test to bring up the one time boot menu, and select the DVD/CD drive as the boot device.

A report of missing NTLDR suggests that the drive being used to boot does not have an operating system on it. This is obviously impossible for the Dell reinstallation CD. I don't think you are getting the computer to look at the DVD/CD drive as the boot device.

There is usually no difference between the first and second options of booting from the DVD/CD drive, but on occasion, using the F12 method has helped. First, use System Setup to place the hard drive into the first position in the boot order, and then use F12 to boot the installation disk. Doing this simplifies the reboot process after Windows installs the operating system files to the hard drive.

Diamondback.Six · Answer

Addendum, no floppies or USB devices of any kind connected, internal HDD and optical only.

jackshack · Answer

It appears that Windows Setup is searching for a driver for a device it doesn't recognize. Remove any card readers or other USB devices and see if that helps. If you have any other devices that could serve as a boot device, you should remove those as well.

P.S. Make sure there is no disk in your floppy drive; I haven't had to worry about those for quite a while!

Diamondback.Six · Answer

System's an Inspiron XPS Gen 2 (upgraded from an I9300). I had BIOS set to 'Floppy, CD, HDD'-changing to 'Floppy, HDD, CD' just got me to a 'Setup is inspecting hardware' message... which is a little farther, but then the screen goes black, with no activity indicated by either the HDD or optical drive status lights.

Diamondback.Six · Answer

Only other thing I can think of is that I do have a Diagnostics partition copied onto the new drive--I was in the process of a full drive-clone when a fool relative yanked a plug mid-write and FUBARed everything, which was what killed the install I'm replacing. Think if I nuke the DIAG partition it might solve the problem?

Diamondback.Six · Answer

Will kill the DIAG partition in overnight's stab at things, then, and post an update tomorrow. Thx for all the help so far... :)

Even though I'm looking at a $600-ish refurb Inspiron 17 through Best Buy as a "bridge system" until I can muster the $3000 to build Suitcase Monster 2.0, I'd still kind of like to get this thing back into service so that it can act as a backup system when the replacement's down for maintenance. Besides, it's been with me for most of my digital life, so I'm kinda attached to the ol' clunker... LOL

Diamondback.Six · Answer

Case closed! Killing the Diagnosting partition and reducing everything except Primary to "Unallocated Space" did the job.

Now to get the WiFi driver reinstalled so I can get it onto the Internet, activate Windows and get it finished updating...

jackshack · Answer

Excellent news!  Glad to learn you have it working. Best of luck to you!

Storage, Drives & Media

Installing new HDD, get "NTLDR is Missing"

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