Re: NTLDR File is missing Msg upon Windows startup

Hello thecreator,

Each HD is 240 GB. Thanks for showing me how to unhide system files, I
believe I will invest in the Acronis software & also the director which
allows for disk optimization. I previously used Symantec Norton for that, but
over the years, Norton got too expensive & required a newer, faster & more
expensive machine just to run its software, so I dumped Symantec & replaced
w/Zone Labs internet suite. However internet suite doesn't clean windows
registry like Norton WinDoctor or perform disk optimization. So I will still
be on the hunt for a good registry maintenance product. I will also look for
the diagnostics tools from the hardware manufacturers from their web sites.
After I change the memory, & if I get good reports from the HD diagnostics, I
should be in good shape. The other thing I never did was flash the bios. It
was always presented to me that flashing was only required to address a
specific concern, whereas flashing was not necessarily the equivalent of
upgrading in order to avoid future problems(like going to VISTA when XP drops
support). I haven't seen any bios-related issues for this motherboard(SOYO)
regarding "NTLDR file missing", but there is a later version of bios out
there. Any thoughts on any of the above would be appreciated.

"thecreator" wrote:

Hi CF,

How large are your Hard Drives? I ask because, while not necessary to
have, you always need extra space for holding Drive Images, which are
actually partition images. A good program to have is called Acronis True
Image 11 Home and you need the extra space to hold these images.

This link tells you about it:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/ However, lots of
store sells it, and often is cheaper than buying directly from the
manufacturer, like Newegg.com .

And don't forget about BootIt NG also has the ability to image the Hard
Drive Partition.

However, in order to manually back up your System Files on Drive C:\ you
need to be able to see them.

Start > Control Panel > Folder Options and click View. In Hidden files
and folders, Dot "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "Hide
protecting operating system files (Recommended)". Click Apply then OK.

But you can also simply image Drive C:\ and there would be no reason to
disconnect anything. If it get's corrupted, just restore the image.

One other thing to do, is know your Hard Drive Manufacturer and download
its Diagnostic Tools and run it. If you have bad sectors and the diagnostic
tool repairs them. Repeat the test and if they come back, the Hard Drive
needs to be replaced.


--
thecreator



"CF" <CF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:E05D8F91-3FBC-4434-9895-B9274EBD13ED@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello thecreator,

I have great news(thanks to you). I partitioned the primary HD as follows:
C:\ partition - 8 MB - formatted as FAT- used for system files
D:\ partition - 40 GB - formatted as NTFS - used for Windows XP
all system-related functions(printing, Anti-virus, sound drivers,etc.)
are installed in D:\ partition
E:\ - this is my CDROM
F:\ - this is secondary HD - used for documents, user applications

Since I had another physical HD, there was really no need to create a 3rd
partition
in the primary HD. Now I have just a couple of more questions:
1) I still cannot locate system files in C:\ partition. I know they are
there but are still hidden. Once I find them, I will copy them as .sav

2) I will get new memory as this was another task left after clearing the
CMOS Bios

3) Should the infamous "NTLDR File is missing" situation happen again, I
will do the following:
a) Rename the .SAV members & try to reboot
b) disconnect the primary HD & connect the secondary again as C:\, boot up
the system & find out what the problem is with system partition in
primary HD
c) Reformat system partition if necessary

Is there anything you would add or change to the above?

Thanks in advance

"CF" wrote:

I'll try first w/CD, & use Win'98 dos system disk as backup. I'll keep
you
posted.
Thanks for everything

"thecreator" wrote:

Hi CF,

The option to format with FAT and FAT32 are there. However, you
could
use Windows 98 SE Startup Diskette and also BootIt NG program from a
Floppy
Diskafter downloading the program from
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-bootit-next-generation.htm .
As
long as you don't install BootIt NG, but run it from Maintenance Mode,
you
can work on Partitions, including imaging them from DOS.

Actually BootIt NG, when it creates partitions, doesn't leave any
unused
space available. A program like Acronis Disk Director Suite 10, does.

It also has the ability to create Partition Images.

SPECIAL BUNDLE PRICING Purchase BootIt NG and Image for Windows
(includes
Image for DOS/Linux and the OSD Tool Suite) together and receive over
40%
off the normal price from RegNow or BTSoftware.
All five products for only $49.98!

This is not a Sales pitch, because I don't work for TeraByte. I am
unemployed.



--
thecreator

"CF" <CF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7404F355-9C61-4202-940A-34A5C9FDF308@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello the creator,

After creating a 40 GB partition for windows, I will format the
unformatted
8M partition & I wil make the following assumption that the 8MB
partition
will be used for the system files(NTDETECT, NTLDR, BOOT.INI, etc.),
unless
there is something I missed. Otherwise, I may have another issue:
Each
time I
have used the XP CD, I don't believe I have ever had an option to
format a
partition in FAT or FAT32. I believe NTFS is the only option(but then
again,
I have not partitoned a hard drive into several partitions as you are
describing).

If NTFS is not an option for the soon-to-be-created C:\, should I
find a
Windows'98
system disk & create partitions in that manner? or is NTFS for C:\
okay?

Thanks in advance

"thecreator" wrote:

Hi CF,

Ideally, when you use Windows XP Pro Ed CD to partition, format
and
install the operating system, you want to start with an unpartition
or
new
Hard Drive.

For Example: If a brand new Hard Drive was 320 GB in size, you
want
to
use the XP CD to create a partition size of 40 GB in size. After it
is
created, you will notice an unformatted partition of 8 MB in size.
Format
that space using either FAT32 or FAT. This will be Drive C:\. Next
format
the 40 GB in size with the NTFS File System and install Windows XP
Pro
Ed.

You do not have to finish partitioning the Hard Drive all at
once.
Within Windows XP, you can use the operating system to partition the
rest
of
the Hard Drive, or you can use, if you have it, Acronis Disk
Director
Suite
10. You never ideally want the operating system partition to be
larger
than
40 GB in size. Maintenance takes forever with large partitions. You
want
a
seperate partition for your Documents. Why? You don't need to worry
about
losing the Documents partition, if your Operating System partition,
becomes
corrupt and unbootable. You can reformat and reinstall the operating
system
or even restore an image file of the operating system, when it was
working.
Now, you can also create a seperate partition that holds your Drive
/
Partition images, but ideally, you want a second Hard Drive to store
the
image on, if possible.

Let's not forget about Outlook Express Store Folders, or the
Briefcase
Folder. The Briefcase Folder, itself, does not need to be locate on
the
Desktop, but can be located on the Documents partition, but not
within My
Documents folder. Just create a shortcut of My Briefcase Folder on
the
Desktop.

True, it is complicated, but well worth the hassle, if your
operating
system becomes corrupted or unbootable. It is the User's Decision on
how
to
proceed. Note: Manufacturers create one Large partition and place
the
operating system and everything inside it, because it is real fast
getting
it out the door. As a User, you want a safe system, because problems
do
occur.

To reply directly, take out "ofXuxa". :)

Both Hard Drives, do not need to be partitioned the same, unless
you
are
using RAID configuration.



--
thecreator

"CF" <CF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:7D869B52-4E43-4AE7-8280-578DC853494B@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello thecreator,

After reading up on the subject, I can have 2 partitions: the
system
partition which contains the boot files(NTLDR, NTDETECT, Boot.INI)
&
the
boot
partition which contains Windows.
1) Is this what you were referring to?
2)If this is what you meant, is there an option that allows me to
create a
system partition while installing windows in the other partitions?
3) If 1 & 2 are true, if I were to create a system backup from the
working
'C' drive
do both drives need to be formatted/partitioned/created the
same
way?

Thanks in advance
Regards,

CF

"CF" wrote:

Hello thecreator,

Curently the large HD has 8 meg unpartitioned space while
everything
else
is
inside one large partition, so I basically created one very large
partition(by the way, this is XP Pro). What would I gain by
reformatting
&
partitioning the HD into 2 logical drives as it pertains to the
boot.ini,
or
for that matter, any file needed during booting of system?

Regards,
CF

"thecreator" wrote:

Hi CF,

That's okay.

Just remember, if you are starting over, try partitioning
your
large
Hard Drive. I don't have Windows XP Home Edition on any Hard
Drive
as
C:\, I
have it installed as E:\ and G:\ on this computer. Partition /
Drive
C:
actually holds the Boot information, where you will find the
Boot.ini
file.
Each time, you make a change, the working Boot.ini is renamed
Boot.ini.saved.

This is a normal working Boot.ini Configuration File on my
system:
[boot loader]
timeout=6
.

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