What does NTLDR Error means?

What does NTLDR Error means?

NTLDR stands for New Technology Loader.

It is a program or software loaded onto the hard disk drive of the boot sector that displays the start-up menu for Microsoft Windows XP as well as Microsoft Windows TN Operating System and Windows Server 2003 and allows them to load. In some cases, it can also run from portable storage devices.

If the necessary boot sector is available, then NTLDR can also load a non NT-based Operating system.

Note that ntdetect.com must be available to enable NTLDR load a NT-based Operating system.

For NTLDR to operate efficiently and effectively, the system volume i. e. the disk volume that contains hardware specific files necessary for starting windows, needs to have:

-Ntldr which contains the main boot loader.

-boot.ini which contains the configuration choices for a boot menu.

IMPORTANCE.

NTLDR helps users by giving them the choice of which Operating System to boot from the menu which is normally stored in boot.ini located in the same disk as NTLDR.

It is normally not easy for users to configure boot.ini because of features such as “System hidden” and “Read only”. However, these can be disabled either through a bootcfg command from the console or within Windows using a Text Editor under the “Folder view” option.

Whenever you restart your computer, software referred to as BIOS (Basic Input Output system) begins preparing your computer for the tasks it will be performing. In some cases, when booting your computer, you will get an NTLDR error message, the most common one being:

‘NTLDR is missing

Press any key to restart’

Or even

‘NTLDR is missing

Press CTRL ALT DEL to restart’

CAUSES OF ‘NTLDR IS MISSING’ ERROR

There are various causes of this error message. Some of them are:

1. In case BIOS (Basic Input Output System);

• Is out-dated,
• Did not look for the right file,
• Did not find the right partition,
• Was not active,
• Did not find the MBR (Master Boot Record).

2. MBR did not list NTLDR in the right place.

3. NTLDR location changed.

4. One of the Windows boot files i. e. Ntldr, Ntdetect.com or Boot.ini could be misconfigured, missing or damaged.

5. Also when you try to install or upgrade to Windows XP when your computer normally runs on Microsoft Windows 95 or even Microsoft Windows 98.

6. When the computer tries to boot from a hard drive or flash drive which is not properly configured for this purpose i. e. a non-rebootable source.

7. When you have damaged and loose IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) cables. These are the cables and ports that connect the hard drives and optical drives as well as the Motherboard.