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Windows 7 wont boot, says NTLDR is missing on startup...

Anonymous
2009-11-03T09:48:41+00:00

So I recently upgraded from windows xp to windows7, I went about installing well the wrong way. I Installed windows 7 from the downloaded file onto a empty hard drive I had attached to my computer. I did this all while xp was still running. Anyway it worked and windows 7 always booted up and worked just fine.

So now I had a bunch of xp files and programs associated with my old operating system taking up about 80 gigs or so

But I couldn't delete the partition or format this drive in windows7 using administrator tools. So I stuck a xp disk in and told the computer to boot from that and waited till it came up to screen that would let you choose which partition to install windows xp on.I used this method to delete the partition on the drive. So after exiting the xp setup up with out installing it I told the computer to boot from the drive were win 7 was located and now I keep getting NTLDR is missing errors.

I know win7 does not use NTLDR so I am guessing that the drive I have win 7 installed is not designated as having a boot partition on it? right?

So any ideas?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-11-04T00:52:39+00:00

    Hi zbinxsy,

    I would suggest you to try Startup Repair.

    Startup Repair is a Windows 7 recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting correctly. When you run Startup Repair, it scans your computer for the problem and then tries to fix it so your computer can start correctly.

    If you have a Windows 7 installation disc, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the installation disc. If you do not restart your computer from the disc, the option to repair your computer will not appear.

    If you have a Windows 7 installation disc:

    1: Insert the installation disc.

    2: Restart your computer.

    3: Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then click Restart.

    If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.

    4: Choose your language settings, and then click Next.

    5: Click Repair your computer.

    6: Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.

    7: On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might

      prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might

    restart your computer as it makes repairs.

     If Startup Repair is a preinstalled recovery option on your computer:

     1: Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your

    computer.

     2: Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then click Restart.

    Do one of the following: 

    If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as

    your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the

      Windows logo appears, you will need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon

    prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.

      If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the

    operating system you want to repair, and then press and hold F8.

    3: On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your

    computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option,

    then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a preinstalled recovery option.)

    4: Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.

    5: Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.

    6: On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might

      prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart

     your computer as it makes repairs.

    For more details follow this link: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Startup-Repair-frequently-asked-questions

    Once problem is solved you can use the other hard disk back again.

    Regards,

    Bharath

    Microsoft Support

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-05-27T17:12:24+00:00

    I'm using NNTP answers bridge and posts are going haywire.  You're last one disappeared.   I think this answers your last question (and hopefully will go to the right thread.)

    Assuming that you have a running XP system in the C partition that you want to retain, you could open a command prompt and run

    convert C: /FS:NTFS  to convert the C partition to NTFS.  Reboot when it's done and you're so advised.  Then retry the Win 7 dual boot installation.

    If you try this, please let us know the result.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-05-27T16:09:05+00:00

    Try making both partitions NTFS.  I realize you're probably installing the XP on the FAT 32 partition (Why?) and the Windows 7 on the NTFS partition, but that may not be workable.  Windows 7 requires NTFS and may not be able to handle the boot process it will set up on the first partition formatted FAT 32.   (One would think there'd be some kind of warning when installing, but I've never seen this tried...)

    "Robo-Tech" wrote in message news:a32bbca4-e452-4838-ab52-92b487e27638...

    I am hopeing you can help me with a problem I have which is driving me mad over the last 4 days.....

    Quick History - Media PC dual boot system Maxror 200Gb PATA Win XP (first partion) & Win 7 Beta - Running lovely

    Changed mother board (Quad Core) but kept same Maxtor drive (200Gb running with Win 7 - why change)

    Wiped all partions as I have purchased a new copy of Win 7 Home Premium and just wanted Win 7 (no need for XP any more)

    Insert Win 7 DVD - Unable to find any hard drive

    Use Maxtor MaxBlast 4 and partion drive into 2 partions - (1) = Win (25Gb) FAT 32, (2) = Data (175Gb) NTFS

    Restart, Win 7 DVD - No hard drive found

    Use Maxblast again - all partions there

    Insert Win XP and install - no problem (SP2)

    Insert Win 7 and try to update - Error message on restart NTLDR missing

    Insert Win XP - Only sees 32Gb

    Re-insert Maxblaster and re-configure to 3 partions (1) = 5Gb (Win XP) FAT 32, (2) = 30Gb (Win 7) NTFS, (3) = 165Gb NTFS

    Install Win XP to (1) - All good

    From Win XP install Win 7 (2) - Restart and error message NTLDR missing

    Maxtor driver set to master and DVD rom set to Slave (I have also tried 3 DVD drives and all the same problems)

    I have also tried other partion software and starting from scratch to re-set up the hard drive and install Win 7 but I just keep hitting the same brick wall.

    The Bios on my motherboard is set to Auto and the drive is visible during the start up process so I cannot understand where I am going wrong.

    Any suggestions?

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-05-27T12:53:02+00:00

    I am hopeing you can help me with a problem I have which is driving me mad over the last 4 days.....

    Quick History - Media PC dual boot system Maxror 200Gb PATA Win XP (first partion) & Win 7 Beta - Running lovely

    Changed mother board (Quad Core) but kept same Maxtor drive (200Gb running with Win 7 - why change)

    Wiped all partions as I have purchased a new copy of Win 7 Home Premium and just wanted Win 7 (no need for XP any more)

    Insert Win 7 DVD - Unable to find any hard drive

    Use Maxtor MaxBlast 4 and partion drive into 2 partions - (1) = Win (25Gb) FAT 32, (2) = Data (175Gb) NTFS

    Restart, Win 7 DVD - No hard drive found

    Use Maxblast again - all partions there

    Insert Win XP and install - no problem (SP2)

    Insert Win 7 and try to update - Error message on restart NTLDR missing

    Insert Win XP - Only sees 32Gb

    Re-insert Maxblaster and re-configure to 3 partions (1) = 5Gb (Win XP) FAT 32, (2) = 30Gb (Win 7) NTFS, (3) = 165Gb NTFS

    Install Win XP to (1) - All good

    From Win XP install Win 7 (2) - Restart and error message NTLDR missing

    Maxtor driver set to master and DVD rom set to Slave (I have also tried 3 DVD drives and all the same problems)

    I have also tried other partion software and starting from scratch to re-set up the hard drive and install Win 7 but I just keep hitting the same brick wall.

    The Bios on my motherboard is set to Auto and the drive is visible during the start up process so I cannot understand where I am going wrong.

    Any suggestions?

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-11-12T08:22:36+00:00

    Try this solution by moil4gold49, http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7install/thread/4be5f11e-75a5-4a55-b734-dd3dc2ea6dba

    If you have multiple HDDs, the system partition was probably created on the wrong drive. Sounds like you'll have to disconnect the other drive and run a startup repair off the win 7 installation disc. I'm too lazy to do that right now so I changed the disk boot order in the bios, setting my storage drive as first priority since Win 7 decided to create the system partition there.

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