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HDD not booting
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chrisj26
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15. June 2007 @ 09:05 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
I have a Maxtor Fireball 3 HDD with a clean install of XP on it.i now want to use the drive as a portable HDD but after i tested it in another system it fails to boot from the drive. the PC says drive read error. is there any way i can format it to make the drive usable once more be it external or internal. XP does not allow me to format it as it has system files. However it does boot up fine in my old computer which it was in before but this is useless to me!
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ddp
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15. June 2007 @ 09:57 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
windows can't be on an external hd if used on different computers. if current computer is not using that maxtor then delete the partition, make a new partition & format the drive.
jony218
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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15. June 2007 @ 23:12 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
on the computer that you want to use the drive on do following
1. install hard drive
2. turn computer on, press the "del" key, when it's booting up, this will get you into the bios.
3. go to the boot sequence section. Choose to boot from cd first, hard drive second. (before you save/exit, put the windows installation cd in your cd drive).
4. When computer reboots , it'll start loading the pre-install files to hard drive. The first screen will show all partitions on your hard drive. Now you can reformat whatever partition you want. You can use the "quick format" function. This will remove all trace of your operating system. This is the way to do it, if you don't have any partition tools. (you can also use the hard drive installation cd)
But I would recommend a pure partition utility(that works on all brand's of hard drives), that way you have more control of how you want your hard drive will be setup.
AfterDawn Addict

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16. June 2007 @ 02:05 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Or on an internal drive as I seem to be finding out. Note to self (and to others), installing xp on an Intel CPU, nVidia chipset board does not mean the same install works on an AMD CPU, ATI chipset board.



Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
PC Specs page -- http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/11247
updated 10-Dec-13
chrisj26
Junior Member
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17. June 2007 @ 09:42 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
i have tried booting and formatting with the XP cd. The formatting works fine and I then power down my pc. however now attaching it to my existing computer setup the pc gives the error message "NTLDR is missing". I tried entering my system's bios to change the advanced bios setting of hard drive priority boot to boot from the hard disk with XP installed but it appears i cannot. Using an Intel D945GNT mobo with Intel bios.
i do not wish to use the hard disk with an operating system but simply as an additional internal hard disk. would putting an external enclosure solve the problem
AfterDawn Addict
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17. June 2007 @ 09:50 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
also more info here
How to fix: NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart

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


Quote:
NTLDR is Missing.

Related errors:

Below are the full error messages that may be seen when the computer is booting.

NTLDR is Missing
Press any key to restart

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR
Please insert another disk

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl Alt Del to Restart
Cause:

1. Computer is booting from a non-bootable source.
2. Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.
3. Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.
4. Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file.
5. Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32.
6. New hard disk drive being added.
7. Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.
8. Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
9. Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.

Solutions:
Computer is booting from a non-bootable source

Many times this error is caused when the computer is attempting to boot from a non-bootable floppy disk or CD-ROM. First verify that no floppy diskette is in the computer, unless you are attempting to boot from a diskette.

If you are attempting to boot from a floppy diskette and are receiving this error message it is likely that the diskette does not have all the necessary files and/or is corrupt.

If you are attempting to install Windows XP or Windows 2000 and are receiving this error message as the computer is booting verify that your computer BIOS has the proper boot settings. For example, if you are attempting to run the install from the CD-ROM make sure the CD-ROM is the first boot device, and not the hard disk drive.

Second, when the computer is booting you should receive the below prompt.

Press any key to boot from the CD

Important: When you see this message press any key such as the Enter key immediately, otherwise it will try booting from the hard drive and likely get the NTLDR error again.

Note: If you are not receiving the above message and your BIOS boot options are set properly it's also possible that your CD-ROM drive may not be booting from the CD-ROM properly. Verify the jumpers are set properly on the CD-ROM drive. Additional information about checking the CD-ROM drive connections can be found on document CH000213.

Additional information: This error has also been known to occur when a memory stick is in a card reader and the computer is attempting to boot from it. If you have any type of card reader or flash reader make sure that no memory stick is inside the computer.
Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS

Verify that your computer hard disk drive is properly setup in the BIOS / CMOS setup. Improper settings can cause this error. Additional information on how to enter the BIOS / CMOS setup can be found in document CH000192.
Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file

Windows 2000 users
Windows XP users

Windows 2000 users

If your computer is using Microsoft Windows 2000 and you are encountering the NTLDR error. Create the below boot.ini file on the floppy diskette drive.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Copy the NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM files from another computer using the same Operating System. Both of these files are located in the root directory of the primary hard disk drive. For example, C:\NTLDR and C:\NTDETECT.COM should be the locations of these files on many computers.

*

Please keep in mind that these files are hidden system files, if you need additional help with viewing hidden files in Windows please see document CH000516.

Once these files have been copied to a floppy diskette reboot the computer and copy the NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM files to the root directory of the primary hard disk drive. Below is an example of what commonly should be performed from the A:\> drive.

copy ntldr c:
copy ntdetect.com c:

After the above two files have been copied, remove the floppy diskette and reboot the computer.

Windows XP users

1. Insert the Windows XP bootable CD into the computer.
2. When prompted to press any key to boot from the CD, press any key.
3. Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.
4. Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.
5. You will then be prompted for your administrator password, enter that password.
6. Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk. In the below example we are copying these files from the CD-ROM drive letter "E". This letter may be different on your computer.

copy e:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy e:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

7. Once both of these files have been successfully copied, remove the CD from the computer and reboot.

Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file

Edit the boot.ini on the root directory of the hard disk drive and verify that it is pointing to the correct location of your Windows Operating System and that the partitions are properly defined. Additional information about the boot.ini can be found on document CH000492.
Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32

If you are getting this error message while you are attempting to upgrade to Windows 2000 or Windows XP from Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME running FAT32 please try the below recommendations.

1. Boot the computer with a Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows ME bootable diskette.
2. At the A:\> prompt type:

sys c: <press enter>

3. After pressing enter you should receive the "System Transferred" message. Once this has been completed remove the floppy diskette and reboot the computer.

New hard disk drive being added

If you are attempting to add a new hard disk drive to the computer make sure that drive is a blank drive. Adding a new hard disk drive to a computer that already has Windows installed on it may cause the NTLDR error to occur.

If you are unsure if the new drive is blank or not try booting from a bootable diskette and format the new hard disk drive.
Corrupt boot sector / master boot record

It's possible your computer's hard disk drive may have a corrupt boot sector and/or master boot record. These can be repaired through the Microsoft Windows Recovery console by running the fixboot and fixmbr commands.

Additional information and help in getting into the Microsoft Windows Recovery console can be found on document CH000627.
Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP

If you have tried each of the above recommendations that apply to your situation and you continue to experience this issue it is possible you may have a seriously corrupted version of Microsoft Windows. Therefore we would recommend you reinstall Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

If you are encountering this issue during your setup you may wish to completely erase your computer hard disk drive and all of its existing data and then install Microsoft Windows 2000 / Windows XP. Additional information about erasing the computer and starting over can be found on document CH000186.
Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable

This issue has been known to be caused by a loose or fault IDE/EIDE cable. If the above recommendation does not resolve your issue and your computer hard disk drive is using an IDE or EIDE interface. Verify the computer hard disk drive cable is firmly connected by disconnected and reconnecting the cable.

If the issue continues it is also a possibility that the computer has a faulty cable, try replacing the hard disk drive cable with another cable and/or a new cable.

This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 17. June 2007 @ 09:55

chrisj26
Junior Member
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18. June 2007 @ 03:00 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
the problem is i do not wish to use it as a sole hard disk but an additional disk for my current rig.will i still have to reinstall windows in order to do this?
ddp
Moderator
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18. June 2007 @ 11:53 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
no, just partition & format the hd if that hasn't been done yet. i do that all the time with my 2.5" hd or 3.5" hd hooked externally via usb.
chrisj26
Junior Member
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18. June 2007 @ 22:39 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
what i actually meant was do i have to reinstall windows if i wish to use it as an additional internal disk in my current rig?
Senior Member

5 product reviews
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18. June 2007 @ 22:51 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
No anything partitioned to NTFS will be seen and run by windows!
ddp
Moderator
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19. June 2007 @ 07:33 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
or fat32 which is seen by win98 & above with no problem.
Senior Member

5 product reviews
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19. June 2007 @ 14:56 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Ahh ye forgot! Out of inttest does vista actively support fat32? Or do they force you to "upgrade" Filesystems?
ddp
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19. June 2007 @ 18:21 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
don't know as haven't done 1 yet.
AfterDawn Addict
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19. June 2007 @ 18:41 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
Originally posted by lecsiy:
Ahh ye forgot! Out of inttest does vista actively support fat32? Or do they force you to "upgrade" Filesystems?
I haven't seen that question asked, and I don't know the answer right now, either.

But the only thing more moronic than putting Vista on your computer would be putting it on and formatting your hard drive as FAT32. :(

Life is good!
GrandpaBruce - Vietnam Vet - 1970 - 1971
Computer: Intel Core i7-920 Nehalim;Asus P6T Deluxe V2
Senior Member

5 product reviews
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20. June 2007 @ 08:29 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
^^ True,true
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chrisj26
Junior Member
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20. June 2007 @ 10:35 _ Link to this message    Send private message to this user   
NOTHING seems to work!a fresh install of windows appears the only solution. will try goin external if all else fails...
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