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101RRS
10th December 2007, 06:04 PM
Computer recently stopped on starting windows leaving a black screen.

After a couple of goes, I decided that Windows XP Prof was corrupting so attempted to do a reinstal.

Formatted the drive and started the reinstal. Went through the instal process and know the files loaded on the hard drive - however at the first restart during the installation process the system wasn't identifying the harddrive at boot time and rebooted from the XP disk - so starting the reinstal again. Thinking the hard drive or cables might be at fault I have checked them and they are all OK - the files had copied from the XP disk to the harddrive - hmmm - maybe a bios problem

Tried going into bios to check the boot etc and it is now asking for a password and there never has been one so it looks like aspects of the bios might be corrupt and is not allowing the system to boot from the HD.

If I do not have the XP boot disk in the CD the computer it cannot find a boot system and it says that NTLDR is missing.

I think that I have corrupt bios so can someone tell me how I would reload it, noting that I cannot get into it and the hard drive will not read.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Garry
WhiteD3
10th December 2007, 07:45 PM
Gaz,

Its a common problem and one which I've had on my HTPC a few times. Go to this site and have a read.

Simple "ntldr is missing" fix with boot floppy, CD-R, or USB flash (http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm)

Basically you've got to boot off the CD, run "repair" and follow the instructions.

If you do a search on the net for "NTLDR is missing" you'll get hundreds of hits.

Cheers.
dmdigital
10th December 2007, 08:13 PM
On the PC motherboard there will be a flat Li-ion battery (probably, but not always - a CR2032). I would also replace this as I suspect it is running out of power and not saving your BIOS settings.
101RRS
11th December 2007, 12:31 PM
Gaz,

Its a common problem and one which I've had on my HTPC a few times. Go to this site and have a read.

Simple "ntldr is missing" fix with boot floppy, CD-R, or USB flash (http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm)

Basically you've got to boot off the CD, run "repair" and follow the instructions.

If you do a search on the net for "NTLDR is missing" you'll get hundreds of hits.

Cheers.

Thanks for the link - gave it a try but unfortunately didn't work - would boot from the floppy but didn't fix even trying in "safe mode" - I think I have a dying motherboard (bios) so I will just replace it I think.

Thanks for the help.

Garry
101RRS
11th December 2007, 12:32 PM
On the PC motherboard there will be a flat Li-ion battery (probably, but not always - a CR2032). I would also replace this as I suspect it is running out of power and not saving your BIOS settings.

Will give this a go - otherwise out with the matherboard and in with a new one.

Thanks

Garry
101RRS
11th December 2007, 10:49 PM
looks like it was the motherboard battery as I was able to reload windows but I still have a bios problem that is not letting the system now start - I cannot get into the bios because it is asking for a password but here has never been one set. If the system is not running - is there a way I can bypass this password so I can go in a reset the Bios back to the default.

Thanks

Garry
HangOver
12th December 2007, 09:35 AM
is there a way I can bypass this password so I can go in a reset the Bios back to the default.
Thanks
Garry

Yes there is there is a jumper switch on your motherboard you can reset and it will clear your bios, either look in your motherboard manual or maybe post the make & MODEL number here I might be able to tell you where it is.

Failing that, unplug your system, remove the round "watch" battery from your motherboard for 5 mins and it will clear your bios settings. Then restart your computer enter the BIOS and set hard drive detection to AUTO.

You say your BIOS will not let your system restart, what is the exact error message?
OR is it just getting to the BIOS and asking for a password?
101RRS
12th December 2007, 08:39 PM
All is well - thanks to everyone.

The bios obviously needed power and had corrupted - including asking for a password. I pulled out the battery and left it out overnight and that reset the bios back to the default and got rid of the password requirement.

I put in a new battery and the system allowed me to reinstal Windows no problems.

As always you nice people of the forum know a lot more than just landies :)

Thanks

Garry