This error when starting our Windows computer can be indicate in various ways and they all represent the same problem. Therefore, the messages that we can find in this regard are these:
- Missing NTLDR. Press any key to restart
- Missing NTLDR. Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart
- Boot: Could not find NTLDR. Please insert another disk
As you can imagine, they all refer to the same failure to start the operating system. Therefore, to say that the most frequent reason for which this error can appear is because our computer is trying to start with a hard disk, DVD, or flash drive, which is not configured to be able to start. It can also be due to a virus that has corrupted the files. Thus, it has managed to get into the Windows boot record and damage it. Therefore, we are going to see what are the possible solutions that we can use.
On which systems does the NTLDR file work?
This file mainly works on older Windows operating systems such as Windows NT, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. Also, since these systems have been around for a long time, and computing has evolved, it is relatively easy to get this error. In modern systems, it does not happen as much anymore, so if you are currently using Windows 10 or Windows 11, the chances of this error being displayed are almost zero if not non-existent.
For versions of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8, and 10, the NTLDR file has been replaced by the Windows bootloader, also known as bootmgr, or bootmgr, which brings together all the important files so you can perform boot. This system improves, in every way, Windows boot fails less and has much more possibilities.
NTDLR is now obsolete, and not worth using.
Solutions for Windows NTLDR is missing problem
Once we have known what the Windows NTLDR file is and what it is for, we will now learn about the possible solutions that we can find when the system cannot boot due to an error in the file.
Disconnect external storage drives
The first thing we can do in this regard is, with the computer turned off, disconnect all external drives and remove removable media. Here elements such as the DVD drive, memory cards or USB devices come into play. As we said before, the “NTLDR is missing” problem is usually caused by a problem in the BIOS that tries to boot the computer from drives that are not configured to boot, so you must avoid that it does not try to load from any of them.
Check boot disk status in BIOS
Next, we must access BIOS and verify that the system will try to boot from the drive where the Windows operating system is installed. To access the BIOS we must turn on the computer while holding down the F2 or Delete key, depending on each brand, it can also be F5 or F8. Once inside this section, we will click on the tab Bootsfrom the top and it will take us to the configuration part of the start of our computer.
Here we will verify that the drive where the operating system is installed (for example, C:) is located in the Boot Option #1 or similar at boot time. Once verified, we exit the BIOS, turn off the computer and reconnect the external drives that we had previously removed. We try to start the computer and check if we can boot normally, if not, we will update the BIOS.
Try to recover disk partitions
This error message may appear because, for some reason, the partition table of our hard drive has been damaged. In that case, although the fastest and easiest way is to format, we can choose to try to recover it, making Windows reload without problems and, in addition, all our data is back on the disk.
To do this, what we must do is use a program that allows us to analyze the disk, detect possible partition marks and, with them, rebuild them. There are many commercial programs that allow you to do this, but if you don’t want to pay anything, you can use a tool called “Testdisk”. This program allows us to analyze the PC’s hard drives to recover data lost or deleted due to a partition failure. The tool is completely free and open source.
Of course, to run Testdisk we will have to use a second operating system. And the best way to do it is to resort to a Linux Live that can load from the USB.
Update the BIOS of the PC
The Missing NTLDR error may be due to the fact that the BIOS of our computer is outdated, so we must visit the manufacturer’s website to make sure that we have the latest option installed, although this process carries some risks, so you should only go through it if you have the necessary knowledge. If there is a new version we must download it from another computer. This file must be a ZIP file that we must unzip and save on a FAT32-formatted flash drive.
Next, we will turn on the equipment again and enter the BIOS with the pendrive inserted. Now we will go to the option «Advanced» and we will see an option called “Start Easy Flash” or similar because it depends on the manufacturer’s model. From here, an assistant will allow us to find the file that we have downloaded, we select it, we accept the process and the update will start. Finally, if everything went well, the computer will restart and we will have the new version of the BIOS that can solve the problem and start the computer normally.
Repair Windows boots
When it comes to solving boot problems with Windows, we have different methods, methods that vary depending on the version of Windows we have installed, since, as we have mentioned above, the NTLDR has disappeared in the most modern versions of Windows.
Repair BOOT.INI and MBR in Windows
In order to fix this error that we are referring to on system versions after Windows 7, including Windows 8 or Windows 10, we first need to have a bootable DVD or USB with the operating system in question. Then we connect it and start the PC with it until we reach the first window of the Windows installation process. Next, we select the language and we continue to select the option to Repair the equipment.
In the next window that appears we choose Command Prompt reach a new window from which we will repair the equipment. We do this through Command Prompt commands. That is why we are going to show you the ones you must type in order:
- bootrec /fixmbr
- bootrec /fixboot
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
The first order is responsible for repairing the MBR, while with the second we reinstall Windows boot. At the same time with the last one what we achieve is to make sure that there are no incompatibility issues in the process. To end all this, we type the Exit command to exit the wizard and restart the PC. Now all the OS It should work normally again.
How to repair BOOT.INI and MBR in Windows XP
In the unlikely event that this is a bug found by those still using Windows XP. Well, to repair this we need to have the original cd of the Windows XP operating system and that it is self-booting. Therefore, we put it in the drive and restart the PC by changing the boot sequence in the BIOS.
Once it has been changed, having the CD of Windows Xp auto bootable when restarting the PC we find a window from which we can access the recovery console through the R key.
From this we will find a command prompt window in which we execute the following two commands:
It is worth mentioning that each of them requires our confinement and will help us solve the problem we have had.
Startup Repair feature in Windows 10
The function called “Startup Repair” is a Windows recovery tool that can help us fix some system problems that can prevent you from logging in, such as the missing NTLDR file. This function will handle examine the whole team looking for the mistake in trying correct the error so that the computer can restart correctly.
We will find the “Startup Repair” tool in the “Troubleshooting” menu of the system that we will find in the Windows installation menu. To do this, we will need to download and create our own installation media by following these instructions.
- Download and create your Windows 10 installation media.
- Boot the computer from the DVD or USB
- Choose the Language and keyboard layout.
- Choose the “Repair your computer” option.
- Click “Troubleshoot”.
- We select “Advanced Options” and then click on “Startup Repair”.
- Choose your Windows 10 operating system.
Reinstall Windows or change the hard drive
Another option is to go back to reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11 on our computer from scratch, so we will lose all the data saved in case we did not have any backup made. If the error still appears after reinstalling it, it may be due to a hardware problem with our hard drive. Therefore, we must replace hard drive and reinstall Windows 10 or Windows 11. With everything and with this, these last two are the most radical solutions that we are going to use.
And it is that the failure that we have been talking about, in the worst case, can be caused by a physical failure in the storage unit. That is why, if this is the case, no matter how many changes we try to make, none of them will be effective, so we will have to change the disk at the hardware level. If we want to avoid losing our data before a problem of this type or similar, where the hardware is the problem, we should always make a regular backup of all our data.
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