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Message "NTLDR is missing" is stopping the boot process

Hi. Prior to having problems with my motherboard I (foolishly) neglected to backup any files on my hard drive. I've since had to install a new (2nd hand) motherboard (DFI with a Celeron 333 processor). I have Win2k installed on my 6.4 GB hard drive on the first 2GB partition. All drives (HD, CD-ROM, CD-RW) are being detected on power up, but the message "NTLDR is missing" is stopping the boot process. I guess my questions are will I need to re-install Win2k via the CD-ROM, or can I somehow save a copy of NTLDR (which I have on floppy) to wherever it needs to be in order for the system to detect it? And if so, how? Many thanks for any help you can provide.

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I would first try building a boot floppy, see Knowledge Base article Q301680 -- this would allow you to boot then copy the NTLDR file from within Win2k.

If that fails, try the R for repair option by booting off the CD -- this may create the NTLDR file for you. If that fails, grab the NTFS4DOS tools from SystemInternals (www.sysinternals.com or www.winternals.com) -- this tool grants you read/write access to a NTFS partition when booting from a DOS floppy.

This was first published in February 2002

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