NTLDR missing: tried re-copying, fixboot, fixmbr

One day I was online and all of a sudden things started acting screwy.

When I started internet explorer a window would pop up that said that there were files missing that were needed to install microsoft money. And then another window popped up that said some files were replaced and it needed to replace them to maintain system integrity so i needed to insert the windows cd.

I inserted the cd, and the windows went away, so I figured things were fine. Then I turned off the laptop and the next time I turned it on, I got the message "NTLDR missing"

So I tried doing the usual things... copying NTLDR and NDetect.com to the c drive... i tried running fixboot and fixmbr...

..but i still get the same message "NTLDR missing"

can someone help? I have some files on the computer that I need for school so I'd rather not use the system restore disks that came with the computer.

[Jason425]

sounds like a virus wrecked havoc. Try booting off another drive and see if you can get the files off of the messed one. Let this be a lesson that you should have stuff backed up.

Is there anyway to stop the NTLDR is missing thing from happening, after doing the FIXMBR and FIXBOOT and putting the ntdetect.com etc on the PC, and it still doesn't work? I try to reinstall Windows XP, but right around 20% it starts to not be able to install certain files. Can anyone provide me with some help??

[vee_ess]

Did you format your drive?

Originally Posted by vee_ess

Did you format your drive?

Yes. I deleted the partition on there, and reformatted. When I go in to install Win XP, it seems to work fine, but then around the 20% mark, it comes up file after file of it not being able to install it. I don't know what to do!

edit: I tried it with an older Windows XP cd, and I got to 70% before it started erroring on me.

[vee_ess]

Are the CD's burned? Or could they be scratched? If different CD's make a difference, that's just weird.

Originally Posted by vee_ess

Are the CD's burned? Or could they be scratched? If different CD's make a difference, that's just weird.

CDs are the ones that came with my tower(s). They don't appear to be scratched. I was able to get through the initial file copy thing, with a few files not being able to copy, and the PC restarted --- I got the "Windows XP Home Edition" screen to come up, but when it goes to the screen to start the installation, it errors. Has anyone seen this before?

After searching multiple forums/sites, some people say this might be a problem with either the RAM or the motherboard on the infected PC. Could this be true? Do you have any idea how much replacing either the RAM or the motherboard would cost?

I'm on a Dell 8200 right now, and anytime I have talked to Dell about this problem, they give me the runaround, so I don't want to go through them.

[vee_ess]

It could possibly be the RAM, but I'd set the BIOS to default or fail-safe settings first, and try re-partitioning and re-formatting before installing Windows again with the new settings.

unfortunately, i don't have any insight to your problem, but huey is the shit!