"Ntldr is missing"

[eray.atil]

My harddrive was broken. I've just bought new one and I have installed into my VAIO. Then, I try to install Windows by my recovery cds. Unfortunately, always I am recevinig "Ntldr is missing". How can I solve this problem. I need to help.
Thanks.

[Blencogo]

Hi Eray,

The most common reason for this message is that your new drive has a different geometry from your old drive. Are you using the Sony Recovery Discs or are you using a cloned image from something like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost?

On your old drive, Partition 1 was the Recovery Partition and Partition 2 was the Windows Partition.

The boot.ini file points the system to the right partition (here it is partition 2)

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

It is likely that on your new drive you are recovering the Windows Partition to Partition 1 because the Recovery Partition no longer exists. This means boot.ini cannot find ntldr because it is looking for it on Partition 2.

boot.ini needs to be edited to point the system to Partition 1: -

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

This is not usually necessary if using the Sony Recovery Discs - only if you are restoring a full image onto a drive with different geometry from the old one.

[eray.atil]

I think I've found the problem where it is. The problem is in CD-ROM driver. Cause it can't read or play any discs. I had better it a new one. Thank you for your attention.