Windows XP

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Guest

I have a E-Machine PC running Windows XP. This AM I was in process of running
a down load of music. When I came back to the PC the only thing on the PC was
a DOS screen with NTLDR on it. I was unable to type in anything. I re-booted
the PC and it comes back with the same prompt and will not allow anything to
be typed in.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rick
 
rick said:
I have a E-Machine PC running Windows XP. This AM I was in process of
running a down load of music. When I came back to the PC the only thing on
the PC was a DOS screen with NTLDR on it. I was unable to type in
anything. I re-booted the PC and it comes back with the same prompt and
will not allow anything to be typed in.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you either downloaded something that wiped Windows or you had
hardware failure. Things to try:

1. Boot with Knoppix or a Bart's PE cd to see what is on the hard drive.
2. Hardware troubleshooting - see this link for general steps:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Troubleshooting

Your next step depends on what you find out from #1 and #2. You know your
computer skill level best; if this isn't something you can do take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local version of
BigStoreUSA).

Malke
 
Rick, I would like to add for the benefit of other readers of this post,
would you be so kind and to tell us where you were downloading
music from. Some will surely benefit from the info.
 
rick said:
I have a E-Machine PC running Windows XP. This AM I was in process of
running a down load of music. When I came back to the PC the only thing on
the PC was a DOS screen with NTLDR on it. I was unable to type in
anything. I re-booted the PC and it comes back with the same prompt and
will not allow anything to be typed in.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Rick
Click to expand...
I would also try to run system in place repair. Insert the original
installation cd, skip the first prompt for repair, and see if windows
discovers your old installation. If it does, select R for repair mode, and
follow the instructions.
--
-E-
Download my free home PC Basics guide.
http://www.conejonetwork.com
Bottom of the page, PDF format.
Tell us what else you would like to see.
 
Have no idea if it will do you any good. If you really did come back to the
computer and see the ntldr missing messge the computer must have rebooted
but can't find ntldr. Boot from the XP CD recovery console and see if you
can repair it from there.

You receive an "NTLDR is missing" error message when you start your computer
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320397
 
I would also try to run system in place repair. Insert the original
installation cd, skip the first prompt for repair, and see if windows
discovers your old installation. If it does, select R for repair mode, and
follow the instructions.
Click to expand...

Good idea generally, but in this case the computer is from eMachines.
That means no Windows XP installation CD, just a "System Recovery"
disk that will wipe out the hard drive completely and put down a fresh
copy of Windows exactly as it was the day the computer left the
factory. All user data files, installed programs, emails,
configuration settings, etc will be totally wiped out and will be
beyond recovery except by the most extraordinary methods.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."
 
Rick what was the exact message on the screen? Was it NTLDR not found or
NTDETECT.COM not found?

If it was any of these visit my website http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Clickt he Win XP Faq button and take a look at question 37.

You might also like to take a look at question 10 in case anything like this
happens again.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

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