Operating system missing Windows XP

Operating system missing Windows XP

I am sure, you are more than frustrated with this error. You took the right step, in upgrading to the Basics from Windows 98 and now have run into this error. There are a few things that could be causing this and it will take some time to determine, which one is the cause of the issue. It can be more than one of these that has led to this.

The root causes of this issue are listed below.

The basic input/output system (BIOS) is not detecting the hard disk.

The hard disk is damaged.

The 0 sector of the hard disk has incorrect or malformed master boot record (MBR).

Some third party programs can cause this.

An incompatible partition is listed as active.

The partition containing the MBR, is no longer active.

The first option I would try, in an effort to save time is, to contact the manufacturer of your hard disk. Some manufacturers will have utility available, that allows you to scan the disk, for specific areas of damage as well as verifying the BIOS settings. Any damage can be potentially serious and may result in having to replace the hard disk, as the only method to repair.

There may be some cost involved with this, as the PC is no longer under warranty. It will be minimal for something of this nature. The second option would be to attempt, to verify and repair some of this information manually. This is going to be time consuming. You will need to have all specs from the manufacturer and may need you original installation CD/DVD as well.

1. Verify the BIOS settings. Ensure that the BIOS is detecting the hard disk and the settings are correct, based on manufacturer specs. Restart the PC and see if the issue persists. If so, then the hard disk itself is most likely to be damaged. If you are able to get Windows XP to launch successfully at all, you can also use the Recovery Console.

If you choose to use this, please keep in mind that if there is any virus present or a hardware issue exists, then you can permanently damage the partition table, as well as, create unusable partitions on the hard disk. Perform a complete backup, of all data before completing this. This fix will also only work on X86-based systems.

You will need your startup disks to complete either of these steps.

If Recovery Console is installed:

1. Log into the PC as the administrator.

2. On startup, select Recovery Console from menu.

3. If dual booting or multi boot, select the installation you want.

4. Type the admin password when prompted.

5. Type only Recovery Console commands while here.

Typing Help will give you a list of available commands. If running Recovery Console from Windows XP-CD:

1. Insert the XP disk and restart PC.

2. When the text portion of setup begins, type R.

3. If dual booting or multi boot, select the installation you want.

4. Type the admin password when prompted.

5. Type only Recovery Console commands while here.

Typing Help will give you a list of available commands. Keep in mind that, you will have access to certain folders while in Recovery Console. If you attempt to access certain areas you will receive an error that says, "access is denied." This does not mean that this is a corrupt area. This is only a feature of the operating system, some areas are inaccessible when in Recovery Console.

You cannot copy information to a floppy disk while in recovery console. The fixmbr command will ask for your permission, before any changes are completed. You may also just have an issue with the NTLDR. This causes a failure during the launch of Windows XP and can, at often times be repaired.

You will need your startup disk to complete this as well. This is created when XP attempts to launch from a hard disk, that is not setup correctly to launch it. Verify the start up disk and ensure that it not pirated or corrupt; this also can cause this error.

1. Make sure all drives are empty in the PC.

2. Install only the start up disk, restart the PC.

3. Press any key to enter the start up process.

4. Press R to launch the Recovery Console.

5. Type copy d:i386ntldr c: , press enter.

6. Type copy d:i386ntdetect.com c:, press enter.

7. Recovery Console will detect and repair any NTLDR files that are corrupt or missing.

8. If prompted select Y to grant permission for the changes to be made.

9. Eject the Windows XP disk.

10. Type exit, Windows XP should launch.

If these are not the steps you are prepared to take, especially if your startup disks are missing, I recommend seeking help from an IT professional.

If there is any additional information I can help with or if you decide to replace the hard disk and have questions about your specs, please let me know. I will be happy to provide additional information on where to purchase and installation instructions.