Old Dell laptop problem, NTLDR missing?

corcaigh07

got an old dell 8000 inspirion, yep, im a cheap ass student but i need this laptop for Word and internet. It was accidently plugged out while scanning for spyware(was using ad-aware). now, all i can get is NTLDR is missing. i can turn off the HDD in the boot menu but then, it says no bootable devices available.

am i screwed?

MunsterCycling

Not in the least. This is a common problem and can be fixed by five minutes in the hands of those who know what they are doing, or anybody with good instructions and the right CD.

MC

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318728 For Win2000 but the procedure is the same

For XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555304/en-us

corcaigh07

sweet, think a visit to Pc World is in order though, i wouldnt have the patience to do it. cheers

corcaigh07

Pc World said i need the original Windows Me disc to obtain a Product Key and with that, they will re-install XP. does that sound right?

Username!

Don't bring it to PC World to repair, you can easily do it if you get your hands on a Windows CD for 5 minutes. It just requires the use of two commands, FIXBOOT and FIXMBR.

Is it Windows XP? Me? 2000?

CHW

Sounds right, but Dells often have the product key on a sticker on the case, desktops and laptops, but you probably would have noticed if this was on it?!

seanybiker

dont bring it to shop. Its simple to fix.

MunsterCycling

Can do it for you if you're in Cork, as above its just a quick boot with a system cd to set this right. Has it ME on it (shudders)?

BTW PC WORLD are mostly monkeys when it comes to hardware support.

MC

Ricky91t

MunsterCycling wrote: »

Can do it for you if you're in Cork, as above its just a quick boot with a system cd to set this right. Has it ME on it (shudders)?

BTW PC WORLD are mostly monkeys when it comes to hardware support.

MC

Don't say that!
They gave me a replacement pc when i broke our one
I said "it just wouldn't turn back on...
I like them alot

corcaigh07

Just to clarify-
it had windows Me on it when i bought it second hand last year. The usb were not working so i got a gang to have a look at it and they put XP onto it.

the product key is actually on the case, seems to me PC world are talking rubbish and may be trying to extract more cash from me than is necessary. they told me i had to get the original windows me disc(which is back home) to get the product key in order to re-install XP.

Munster Cycling, id love for you to see it but im actually based in Swansea for college. i may try to do without my laptop until Christmas and get it sorted when i come home so i might still take you up on that offer.

any other ideas? could i burn athis system cd you're on about?

carveone

I managed to get myself original Dell XP SP2 CDs, the ones that come with shipped machines (as long as you are a business usually) from EBay. From a guy in the UK actually. Made my life an awful lot easier as they install on any Dells without any activation hassles (I do have a laptop with an XP licence btw!). I paid a tenner including shipping...

Any corporates which buy from Dell will be drowning in the things (which is why they end up on ebay.co.uk) so if you have a sysadmin friend get them to check for you.

I used mine to fix windows 2000 machines too....

CHW

corcaigh07 wrote: »

any other ideas?

Might be worth trying this, if you have access to a floppy disk (remember those yokes?).

http://www.tinyempire.com/shortnotes/files/ntldr_missing.htm

EDIT: Have you also checked in the BIOS that the HDD is set up to boot from? Might be worth checking that, usually a prompt to press F2 starting up to enter BIOS.

corcaigh07

that sounds really interesting CHW, it also provides a method using a cd-r or a usb stick. I have a floppy disc drive but its in ireland and im in Swansea!

CHW

Surely you have access to make a CD-R, or the USB option is probably the easiest if they're functioning since ME was installed on it. If it's quite old though, it mightn't be possible to boot off USB, you can check that if you can get into the BIOS.

Let us know if you try it - haven't had to do it myself, but would be interested if it does work.

MunsterCycling

http://tinyempire.com/notes/files/fixntldriso.zip

BUrn with this http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

or another disc image program, isert cd into machine and follw instructions, no prob if you decide to wait, just PM me when back to the Real capital...


MC

corcaigh07

cheers for that chw but unfortunately it didnt work. i got one of the housemates to have a look and he couldnt figure it out. he might re-install XP for me but thats a last resort as finding drivers etc would be a nightmare and it wont be a genuine version either...