Please help ntldr is missing

About a month ago, my laptop (with vista as OS) started acting up, giving me error messages such as “windows\system32\boot\winload.exe missing or corrupt” as well as “windows\system32\stsem missing”. I tried everything I could in vain, and I decided to go ahead and format my hard drive, through another computer using an enclosure kit since I couldn’t even get into safe mode or any other mode without getting the error screen right away. I seemed that the problem was getting worst as I restarted my computer.
As I mentioned above, I formatted my disc, thus lost all data, hoping to be able to install a clean version of VISTA. I reinstall my hard drive in the laptop, and just to make a quick test, I started the computer without the VISTA DVD in and I got the error “NTLDR is missing Press CTRL+Alt+Del to restart”, and wondering what that was about, I looked it up on the internet, and most people seemed to say that error message was a typical windows XP type of error. But I never had XP on this computer. So I didn’t do anything about and put the VISTA DVD in the drive and restarted the computer. I got the message “press any key to boot from CD or DVD…” When I didn’t push any button, I got the error message “NTLDR is missing Press CTRL+Alt+Del to restart”, and then I restarted it and pushed a key to boot it from the VISTA DVD. I then got the “windows is loading files” screen. Once it was done loading files, it went straight to the error screen “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause …windows\system32\boot\winload.exe missing or corrupt … status 0x0000001…”.
At this point I really don’t know what to do, and I’m totally confused, since my hard drive is totally empty and I still get those error messages.

I got a tip from somebody telling me the reason i get that message is the fact i formatted the disc using and XP machine,implying that XP leaves codes specific to XP in the drive,thus the error message. But i don't have access to any other Vista machine, Does anybody know to get a clean format from XP?

Please help

It sounds like you probably have a bad hard drive or other hardware
problem. The original symptoms may well have been due to a failing drive.
This should have been checked before trying to reformat and reinstall Vista.
When you formatted the drive did you run a full format or a quick format?
Were any bad sectors reported?
It would be advisable to check the drive either by downloading the drive
manufacturers utility to make a bootable media or connecting it to another
computer. It wouldn't hurt to also run a RAM test.

I did do a full formatting just today using a vista computer,but when i put the HDD back into my machine,the new error message i got is: BOOTMGR is missing, type ctrl+Alt+delete to restart.
And when i restart,booting from my vista DVD to install a clean copy it shows the "windows loading files" screen then crashes again giving me the old message "winload,exe missing or corrupt"
Now i'm just way confused,the HDD is totaly empty,but my computer keeps looking for files that don't exist and give error messages.
I've started to wonder if there is some kind of memory system built in the BIOS(sorry guys i'm not really into computer so i don't know much about BIOS and stuff like that)
If anybody can come up with some answer,goodness,i'd greatly appreciate it.
(by the way.is thate a command that helps complete reset a computer(BIOS)?)

yes i did format the HDD using another vista machine. And i thought my computer would see it as a brand new(empty) HDD and just go ahead and install VISTA but it's not the case.
The problem with formatting during the Install is that my computer won't even let me get to the point were the install starts. It goes staright to the error message "winload.exe missing or corrupt"

When i set the HDD as first to boot from,i get the "bootmgr missing" message,
When i set to boot from DVD first, after the windows loading files window,it goes straight into the "winload.exe missing" error screen

I don't really understand this whole thing but my computer acts as if i have some other hard drive(cause i shouldn't be getting the winload error message in an empty HDD,right?)
I'm wondering,is there a way to reset the BIOS(i'm too sure exactly what this is) in such way that it doesn't pop up old error messages(you know a way to erase its internal memory) i got when i actually had something in the HDD?

I don't believe my vista install DVD is faulty cause before i totaly erased everything from my HDD,i was able to run the DVD up to the blue screen giving options to repair,start with command promt... but when i chose repair or the cmd options,the repair option would crash right away,and the command prompt one would crash after i entered a few code to check or rebuild the missing registries.
I'm so confused about this,i've never seen anything like this before,my computer literally can't do anything,and i've even thought about taking it apart and reset it by removing the little battery that help keep some memory or whatever that's called.

I have tried to install it as i've done before with my other computers,but right after the "windows loading files" screen,the computer gives me the error message "winload.exe missing or corrupt" and that's why i get so confused,cause i assume it shouldn't be looking for that anymore since the HDD has been formatted,but sure enough it gives me that error message.
Do you think taking the computer apart and removing the

As i stated before when i boot form the windows DVD,it gives me the black screen with the ssage at the bottom"windows loading files as the cursor loads" as soon as it's done loading it goes staright into the error screen "winload.exe missing or corrupt" giving me the options of restarting by typing pushing the "esc" button or F8. When i choose F8 it send me to the screen with options "safe mode","safe mode with cmd prompt",safe mode with network...,start with last good setting...

I guess i'll try to make a short youtube video of this problem showing all the different things i've been doing,and maybe this will help better explain what i'm experiencing.
I'll post that link later on tonight

That's what has e totally confused. The CPU should see it as a new HDD,but sure enough it gives me the "winload missing error" message. I guess i'll try formatting it again tonight

If you formatted the drive on a Windows XP computer, the boot sector
that's written on the drive will be for Windows XP. So if you try to
boot the computer from that drive, Windows XP ntldr will be executed.
Since there is no operating system installed, ntldr will be missing.

Sounds like you have hardware problems. Try doing a system memory test
(memtest86+ utility).

Normally, formatting of the drive is performed during installation of
the operating system. So, if you're installing Vista, do the
formatting during Vista setup.

I experienced this with my XP machine after every format. What I found was
the BIOS was trying to boot to something other than a CD or hard drive. I
think it was trying to boot to a USB port (can't remember-was a long time
ago). Try to get into your BIOS and check the boot order and select your CD
drive first, then your active hard drive.

Huh??? You need to explain this. Are you saying you formatted a drive with
Vista on another machine, then you took the drive and installed it in your
machine? If that's the case the OS won't boot because all the hardware is
different.

You need to include what you're replying to. You're posting to a Usenet
newsgroup and all I'm seeing is your current post. As I previously stated,
you need to get into your BIOS and check the boot order. To do this you
need to start pressing, either, Delete, F10, F8 or F2 when you boot to
access the BIOS screen. Different manufacturers use different keys. If you
reply to this make sure you include this and any other response. As I said,
we're posting from "microsoft.public.windows.vista.general", not techarena.

I believe on the right side of your BIOS screen there's an option to reset to defaults. Something is seriously screwerd up. Is it possible your Windows disk is scratched or damaged in any way? When you initially boot to the DVD you should be given the option to install and to choose the partition on which to install. If your disk gets that far, delete the existing partiton, then create a new partition. Do a full format, then try to install. Other than that, I'm out of suggestions. Can you get your hands on Vista_Repair/Vista_Recovery_Disc? If so, boot to that and try a repair.

You said you formatted in a different (but Vista) machine, is it
possible your DVD player has a fault or that it simply "Doesn't like"
your DVD - this happens sometimes.

Could you maybe copy the DVD using the other machine and then try the
copy in this affected machine. I've had 2 DVD players act up this way
recently... ended up replacing both.

You can get DVD cleaners from most video stores but that didn't work for me.

Before you give up try the Vista repair disk.

You don't want to repair the operating system or use the Command Prompt
options, there is no operating sytem to repair! You need to select the
proper option to *INSTALL* the operating system.

There is nothing on the disk and there is nothing in the memory that has
to do with Vista or any other operating systems! What you are seeing
about "bootmgr missing" is perfectly normal even if the disk is empty!

You have to understand how a hard disk is organized and how the first
sector on the disk (the Master Boot Record, or MBR) is executed when the
computer attempts to boot the disk and how the MBR then attempts to pass
the boot sequence to the boot sector of the active partition, this is
where the "bootmgr missing" error comes from, the boot sector on the
active partition is looking for this file and because it isn't there it
trows up the error. The disk was formated so there is nothing on it
*other* than the MBR and the partition structure which includes the boot
sector. Unless the disk is brand new or unless it was zeroed out there
is *always* an MBR on the first sector and if there is an active
partition on the disk there is *always* a boot sector. Earlier you were
getting the ntldr is missing because the boot sector was prepared
(formated) by Windows XP, now you are seeing the "bootmgr missing" error
because the disk was prepared by Vista, these error messages are normal
and expected.

You have mentioned that this is way beyond your know how. So this might be
relevant..

You said you formatted the drive. There's normally no reason to format drives
today. Resizing, and creating partitions yes..

I'll assume you have a 300 gigabyte main drive..and you have a vista install
disk. size is irrelevant, other than the need for enough space to installthe
system.

Fire things up, go DIRECTLY to setup in the BIOS, and have it boot fromthe CD.
reboot if necessary.
Now when the install disk says hello, go the partitioning section of the setup.
You just may have screwed the HD. Now create an 80gig C:\partition. or
partition the whole drive. You don't really need more than 80 gigs for the OS,
But if you do, having the entire drive as 1 partition would be better than
needing more system space later.
The setup will ask you quick or full format. I'll assume the drive isn't
totally screwed. Select quick format.

After this, it may want another reboot. Now install Vista to the partition that
you just created. C:\windows
That should pretty much do it.

Ok, if it fails with quick format, chances are you did scramble something
trying to format the drive. Repeat the above, but use full format insteadof
quick, and go take a nap. This will take awhile, possibly hours.
now do your install.

Once the OS is working go back into setup, and have it boot from C:\ instead of
the CD.

It won't hurt anything to try it. At the same time check the battery or
replace it with a new one to eliminate a dead battery as a possible
cause of the problem.

Is your hard drive properly detected in the BIOS?

If your drive was formatted correctly you shouldn't see any of these
options. It should be clean. Apparently the DVD is detecting a Windows
install.

Keep in touch. This is a weird one I've never heard of. Good luck.

Hi guys,as promised earlier today,here is teh youtube link of the video,please let me know what you think:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiQcnRK4f5M

Try the following:

1) In your BIOS, disable "Plug and Play Operating System"

2) Clean your Vista disc with a mild solution and soft cloth - make
sure no scratches exist.

3) Make sure no devices are connected to any USB port

Another problem that I have on almost EVERY DVD. Grab yourself some toilet
paper, and wipe all the fingerprints off the DVD. It'll load much faster also.
use a light bulb at an angle to the DVD to see if you removed all the dust,
dirt, thumb prints, grease etc...

Then reboot.

also you said your booting from the HD, but your bios disagrees. it says the
main is a HD. Go to boot like I said and set the DVD as the MAIN Boot drive.
Install your OS and when you're done, set the BOOT MAIN back to the C:\windows
on the HD.

Will do,as soon as i get home. A question tho,does that explain the winload.exe error message? or will this bypass it and just install vista in a new partition?

i tried cleaning the install DVD,and i get the same result.
If there is any step(that i missed in the video) any of you would like me to follow,please let me know.
I'll try downloading the memtest86 tomorrow at my job(i don't have a burner on my mini laptop)
By the way,i also tried installing XP,and it failled as well

this time i restarted the computer pressing F12 several times,this is the message i got:

yukon pxe v5.0.4.3 (20060307)
(c) COPYRIGHT.......
pre-boot execution environment (pxe) v2.1
(c)copyright...intel copr....
pxe-e61:media test failure,check cable
pxe-m0f:exiting pxe rom
operating system not found

Does this mean anything to anybody?

Error message "winload.exe" the DVD doesn't have a single scratch. Thru some reading i found out that some people advise to just get a new HDD assuming that the old one is dead,but i'm not sure mine is dead cause i've able to store files in it as a usb drive,but i guess i dont really know much about how an HDD operates

Is it possible to install Vista in this hard drive using an enclosure kit and another vista computer?

By memory modules,do you mean the rams?

ok guys,i'm starting to think that i just can't format this disc the right way. I'm getting error messages as if the bios was looking for some missing files that are supposed to be existing. I removed one of the RAM bars(a 512MB) and tried the install procedure,and the new error message i'm getting is:

windows\system32\ntkrnlpa.exe
status: 0xc0000098
and when i press "enter" at that screen it sends me the the windows setup [EMS enabled]...window that give me the option of pushing F8 and when i do,it sends me to the advanced boot options windows with options:safe mode,safe mode with netw...,safe mode with cmd p...,enable boot logging.....start normally
Seriously,what am i doing wrong here?how do i properly format a disc,i feel real real stupid right now

just as a quick question,what are the typical hardwares which will cause an install to fail. I keep getting this message about a possible new hardware or driver could be the problem and it asks me to contact the manufacturer

Problem Solved

I disconnected the network card(realtek....) and restarted with the vista dvd,and bingo,it worked. I guess the hardware change was probably talking about that little devil device.
I don't know how to thank you guys for the help,and time you spentto help me. I had almost given up until you guys started guiding me,and that really motivated to do something so i don't waist your time.

No, you are already set up to boot from the DVD. It just looks funny on the
screen, because of the highlighting; at first it fooled me too, so I went
back & looked.

The video is good enough, don't apologize :-)

The [WinXP/Vista] label merely says the plug&play in the BIOS is compatible
with those two OSes, not that you ever had XP installed. It has nothing to
do with what's actually *in* in the computer, and it is not to worry about.

Since you do have the CD as the first boot device, it is acting like the
CD's boot sector is also be messed up. Or else the CD is trying to boot
from the HD, but I don't expect or understand that...

If nothing else helps, maybe your dog can fix it (just kidding!).

Oh yeah - I wouldn't use toilet paper on the CD, I'd use microfiber cloth.
Or get or borrow a new CD...

I watched and took shots of your OS. The long 'loading' points to a dirtyCD.
Taking extra time to read that particular file over and over again, and
eventually giving up with the corrupted error. This problem can also occur
AFTER the installation. setup disks sometimes just copy verbatim what's on the
CD, errors and all. I had a program ALWAYS fail at the same place. I had a
thumb print on the CD. It wrote a bad sector to the HD.
Cleaned the CD, removed the program and reinstalled, and it worked.
The odds that you have a bad CD compared to all the working ones is miniscule.
And not a reason to get a new drive, unless you know something about thatdrive
we don't.

As for using toilet paper to clean a CD, I've been using it for eyeglasses and
CD's for years. DRY TP, not wet. You can wet what you're cleaning. But a single
ply of TP won't clean much moisture. It works just fine. And much cheaperthan
high cost TP with a fancy name. Actually I use single ply. If you have money to
burn, by all means get the fanciest named paper on the market. Do not use
Kleenex. I found the hard way why my eyeglasses never stopped blurring when I
used Kleenex. Kleenex comes with lotion in it.

I think a quick clean of the CD may fix everything.
Then again, you also have a dog. Dog hair gets into everything. You mightneed
to get some of that aerosol in a can[I have tech spray FREON], and blow the
insides of the drive out. Or vacuum the drive door.

When Windows is loading files..., it is copying files from the Vista
DVD to the motherboard system memory. If winload.exe has checksum
errors, that means the copying process is introducing errors into the
copied file. Possible causes include system memory problems, or the
DVD drive having problems reading the DVD.

I would suggest you start by running a comprehensive memory test using
memtest86+ <http://www.memtest.org/#downiso>.

What is not causing the problem: bios boot order; at this stage of
setup, all you need to do is boot from the DVD, which is what is
happening.

Same result as what?

the next step would be to install from a different CD. But 1st, I'd take that
CD back where you got it for a full refund.

The hard drive doesn't get into play until setup tells you to specify
where to install Vista. You should be able to get to this point in
setup even without any connected hard drive.

My new opinion is that your CD/DVD drive is dead, based on your report of
the failure of an XP installation too.

Note that I said the DRIVE, not the cd or dvd disk.

I don't know.
Have you checked the memory ?
Can you try unplugging the modules and re-seating them.
If you have got 2 modules can you try removing one and see if you can
install from your known good XP cd using one memory module at a time.

he has one file that can't be read. That's the DVD, not the drive.
Assuming it's a store bought, he should return it for a replacement CD.
If it's ebay, I'd say kiss your bux goodbye. And buy a CD from Walmart

He reported being unable to install XP as well.

Apparently, the Windows Vista installation disc you are using is
defective and should be replaced. For a replacement, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

Interesting to see that everyone who posted to this thread, apart from the OP,
was posting to the newsgroup and not the crap techarena forum.
If you try and follow the thread on the forum all the quotes have been
deleted making it impossible to follow logically.

I was impressed too. Usually the forum posters are your run-of-the-mill
cubicle monkeys that think their post takes presidence over everything else,
especially when they reply to a 3 year old thread without quoting any of the
original text. akumageorges posted in a professional manner even though
he's green around computers. He replied to everyone who tried to help, even
though it must've been frustratiing because nothing was working, and kept
his composure. I feel bad because after he posted his fix, I remembered
that's exactly what I did with my old XP machine.

Hmm. Maybe *that's* the real reason MS decide to go to a forum for 7,
(instead of doing it to avoid the plague of trolls we see here, as I and
others had presumed)...