Re: unable to install XP on new HD


On 11 Dec 2007 elly <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello,
After installing a new HD to replace non-working HD on an older PC I
proceeded to install XP Pro but a few minutes into setup I got a
message
that
a file could not be extracted from the cd I think it was cab.driver
or
something like that I cannot acces that information now, I retried
but
could
not be done so the next option was to exit setup and try again which
I
did,
here comes the problem when I tried to reboot to start XP set up
again
the
system will go past the bios boot but stops before loading XP from CD
rom I
get a black screen with the following message NTLDR missing press alt
ctrl
del to restart, but It will not work I keep on getting the same
message
everytime, I have tried a different CD rom but the same, I am stuck
not
being
able to get past this problem. My PC is a pentium 4, bios seems to
be
working ok I setted it up to boot from cd and the new HD has been
detected.
Thank you for your support
Elly


"Homer S." wrote:

The boot sequence in your motherboard's CMOS settings is set to boot
from
>> the hard drive before checking the CD-ROM drive for a bootable CD.
Since
your hard drive now has an aborted installation of Windows XP, the
boot
process is getting hung up there before ever going out to try to boot
from the >> CD. Go into the BIOS, find the setting for boot sequence
and
make the CD-
ROM drive the first boot device. I always set the
following sequence: #1. CD-ROM Drive(s) #2. 3.5" Floppy drive (or USB)
#3. >> Main Hard Drive.

It would also be a good idea to clean the XP CD and run a cleaning CD
in
the >> CD-ROM drive you're trying to boot from. After that's all done,
restart and see if >> the installation continues. If not, just delete
the
partition you created, reformat it
and start all over again.

Have fun!
HJS


"elly" <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3CE5334F-E16E-41DC-AF57-5A5F9B8F1936@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you I will try it and let you know if it worked.


elly:
Assuming the problem you've described still exists after following
Homer's
suggestions...

During the boot sequence involving your XP OS installation CD, a message
will (or should) appear on your screen to the following effect...
""Press any key to boot from CD"
Is there any possibility that you may be overlooking that message during
the
bootup process? If you don't "press any key" shortly after that message
appears, the system will boot to whichever other device your BIOS
indicates
is next in line in the boot priority order, presumably your HDD in most
cases.

I realize you've stated that you were (at least at one point) able to get
into "setup", which of course indicates that you were able (again, at
least
at one point) to access the XP OS installation CD to undertake a fresh
install of the OS. So it may be the above is not relevant. However, you
now
indicate you continually receive that infamous "NTLDR is missing" message
so
it's apparent the system is attempting to boot to your HDD and not the XP
installation CD.

While the problem *may* be a defective XP installation CD, you say you've
experienced the problem with two such CDs. Assuming one of those CDs is
not
merely a copy of the original CD that you or someone else previously
created, it's unlikely two different XP OS installation CDs would be
defective.

Anyway, should the problem still remain, give it another shot along the
lines I've described above.
Anna


"elly" <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:F5B5A9A9-CDEB-4083-BC40-81661FC99299@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello,
I have tried everything suggested changing Bios boot to CD ROM as 1st etc,
I
have made sure I press any key when prompted to boot from CD rom but I
still
get missing ntldrmissing, I have checked the connections to HD it all
seems
in place, the HD is detected by Bios but it does not detect the full
capacity
it is a 160GB but bios only detects 136GB. I have only used one CD with
many
attempts, the CD is a good original one, I have not have any problems with
it
before, and yes I was able the first time I tried to install XP to start
setup and aborted because of a file that could not be extracted, that's
when
my problem started, I have carefully cleaned the CD but it has made no
difference.
Thank you for your support
Elly


Elly:
Please understand that when the "NTLDR is missing..." error message appears
on your screen, it means that the system is *not* booting to the XP OS
installation CD you have inserted. The system has attempted to boot to your
HDD, but because it detects a corrupted XP OS you get the "NTLDR is
missing..." error message.

Whenever we come across this problem, i.e., the system won't boot to the XP
installation CD, we invariably find one of the following reasons for it...
1. The BIOS boot priority order setting indicates the system will boot to
the HDD (or some other device) *before* the bootable CD inserted in the
user's optical drive.
2. Should the BIOS setting indicate that the CD-ROM is first in boot order
priority, the user has failed to notice the "Press any key..." message
during the bootup so that the system attempts a boot to the HDD. Or doesn't
press the key immediately following the message.
3. A defective optical drive that doesn't "read" the CD or a defective XP
installation CD (the latter an extremely rare occurrence in our experience).
4. A defective HDD.

It's possible there might be other hardware issues involved that are causing
this problem but they're so rare that at least for the moment they can be
disregarded (although I do note that you originally stated that the current
HDD is "to replace non-working HD on an older PC" indicating previous
problems with the system which always arouses suspicion that there might be
other hardware problems with the system that's causing your present
problem).

Anyway...based on the information you've provided it would seem no problem
exists with respect to 1. & 2. above, nor does there appear to be any
hardware problem involving the XP installation CD or the optical drive or
your HDD. And I'm assuming there's no hardware-type problem with your HDD.
So I'm at a loss as to what to suggest next.

Are you *absolutely* sure that when you've changed (or verified) the BIOS
setting involving the boot priority order so as to ensure that the
CD/DVD-ROM is first in boot order priority that you've exited from the BIOS
*only* after you've clicked on the "Exit Saving Changes" (or similar) BIOS
menu item terminating your session with the BIOS? And that you're absolutely
sure you've clicked on a key immediately following the "Press any key..."
message?
Anna


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