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Missing ntldr

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JeffPr

Technical User
Sep 3, 2003
78
CA
I recently installed windows XP Pro on another hard drive and installed programs that I have and everything was working fine, I downloaded all the services packs and life was good. I installed partition magic and I noticed under my computer that the drive letters were changed around, I have C: D: E: and F: and D: and F: were switched for some reason when I ran XP Pro. So I decided to use the program that comes with partition magic called drive mapper that is supposed to collect references to each drive and "switch" them I guess. So I ran this program and little icons started disappearing from my desktop and then it said I must restart my computer for the changes to take effect, so I thought it was just part of the process. Anyways, now when I boot into Windows XP Pro using the boot manager that windows has (the one where you edit the boot.ini file to give you the different OS and timed out), it boots to the welcome screen and stays there for about 30 seconds and then says "A problem is preventing windows from accurately checking the license for this computer" and gives an error code.

So when I go to BIOS and switch hard drives and try to load windows XP Pro directly it just says missing ntldr, press ctrl+alt+del to restart. So I checked under the F:\ drive and made sure all the hidden files were showing and none of them are there that are supposed to be there (I only have a vague idea of what some of them are like boot.ini and other configuration and system files). So anyways, I have no experience with using recovery options on the CD and I don't want to reinstall windows again and all the programs because it took me about 3 hours to do everything. Is there anything I can do like make recovery diskettes at microsoft and restore the missing files that way?

Do you think your friend could feed my cat? Heisenberg wasn't sure. ~ Erwin Schrodinger talking of his revolutionary paradox
 
JeffPr

Install XP from DOS ontop of your current XP installation.

In the setup, it will ask you if you would like to repair an XP installation, choose "No", then windows will detect your current installations and will again ask you if you would like to repair, here you choose "Yes".

Windows will install ontop of the old one and all your apps and programs will still be there, installed and functioning.

REMEBER: Don't choose the first "Repair" Option, wait for the second and use that

**********************************
May the Code Be With You...
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x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)
 
Changing the drive letter for the boot and system volumes is just simply never going to work under XP.
 
I learned that the hard way, I did what you said about the repair option and a new copy of windows was installed and all my new programs were still installed. Thanks x508 and bcastner for your replies.

regards

Do you think your friend could feed my cat? Heisenberg wasn't sure. ~ Erwin Schrodinger talking of his revolutionary paradox
 
PLS

**********************************
May the Code Be With You...
----------
x50-8 (X Fifty Eigt)
 
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