RE: Re: [OT] but might be important

["Kenneth Watt" <kwatt@xxxxxxx>]

> My main machine just failed to boot with a NTLDR NOT FOUND message.

I've had that a few time and I've yet to suss what it actually is but I
suspect it is something to do with the little boot sector on the drive
created by an XP install, of course I could be talking crap and be totally
wrong here. ;)

TBH, I don't care I had to find a real world cure for it, as follows.

> I don't know what this is, but when I saw it before it meant
formatting
> and reinstalling XP from scratch.

No, fire up the machine from a bootable CD with XP on it, ask it to install
and 8/10 it will give you the option to repair by pressing "R".
Someone in
Redmond had a sense of humour obviously. :P

Most times this will suffice and will repair it, if it doesn't then it's a
re-install I'm afraid...but fear not, the same comedian from Redmond has a
trick up his sleeve...

If the HDD is still healthy select install but DO NOT ask it to format the
disk but do ask it to delete the previous Doze installation and this will
limit the data loss by not deleting anything other than what was in the
actual Windows directory.

If it's still not playing ball then the chances are that the HDD is goosed
I'm afraid.

> I have taken a ghost image of the drive (it booted at the second time
of
> asking)

That's the next option if all else fails!

> Are there any sensible precautions I can take - anything I can do to
fix
> it - is it doomed?

See above, but if it works and saves you a sh*tload of hassle my fee is one
JD & Coke at UKHA 2004 ;)

All of the above (JD included) from painful, bitter experience.

K.