What can I do now to get the system up and running?
Full Version: Ntldr Missing
I just formatted the drive in my older Dell omniplex and thought I could just reinstall the OS (win 98 then upgrade to xp). Problem is, now I'm getting the "NTLDR is missing" when I try to boot from the win 98 disk. I think I should have gone into the BIOS and set the boot priority before formating the drive but I forgot. What can I do now to get the system up and running?
What can I do now to get the system up and running?
Hi flyinlion.
You can't boot from a 98 CD. You need to use a floppy boot disk. You boot to A:\> (with CD support) and type the following commands:
CD X: (where X is the letter for the CD drive)
setup
and its that easy.
If you need a 98 boot disk you can get one from www.bootdisk.com. The last screen you see when you boot with one of those boot disks will tell you the drive letter that has been assigned to the CD drive. Its usually R: for some reason.
You can't boot from a 98 CD. You need to use a floppy boot disk. You boot to A:\> (with CD support) and type the following commands:
CD X: (where X is the letter for the CD drive)
setup
and its that easy.
If you need a 98 boot disk you can get one from www.bootdisk.com. The last screen you see when you boot with one of those boot disks will tell you the drive letter that has been assigned to the CD drive. Its usually R: for some reason.
You CAN boot from a Win 98 CD and any subsequent Windows CDs, see http://www.windowsreinstall.com/win98/inst...dexfullpage.htm.
But...NTLDR is not a Win 98 file. See http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm.
Louis
But...NTLDR is not a Win 98 file. See http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm.
Louis
I may be mistaken, but can't you just boot from the XP disk in your CD drive - and then insert the qualifying media (the original 98 CD) when prompted for it.
Thanks for the help guys. Seems the problem was between the keyboard and the chair. 
I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get into setup and BIOS to set it to boot from the CD. Well, everytime I tried to reboot, the F-lock turned off on the keyboard and the F buttons wouldn't work. I kept pressing F2 to get into setup until I finally noticed the little light on my keyboard wasn't on. I had to hit the F-lock button when the keyboard activated and quickly hit F2 to get into setup/BIOS and change the setting. After that, it booted from the XP upgrade disk and it was off to the races. I feel like a real idiot about now. 
Anyway, everythings working now and the kid won't be hogging my machine anymore. Thanks for the responses.
Steve
I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get into setup and BIOS to set it to boot from the CD. Well, everytime I tried to reboot, the F-lock turned off on the keyboard and the F buttons wouldn't work. I kept pressing F2 to get into setup until I finally noticed the little light on my keyboard wasn't on. I had to hit the F-lock button when the keyboard activated and quickly hit F2 to get into setup/BIOS and change the setting. After that, it booted from the XP upgrade disk and it was off to the races. I feel like a real idiot about now. Anyway, everythings working now and the kid won't be hogging my machine anymore. Thanks for the responses.Steve
Thanks for posting back and letting us know you cured the "problem between the keyboard and the chair". 
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