I have a problem and I am not sure wether it is a software or a hardware problem so I have posted it here. When I try to boot up the BIOS start up gets as far as this:-

Verifing Pool Data
Boot from CD
Boot from CD
NTLDR is missing
Press CTrl+ALT+DEL to re start.

I have been into the BIOS settings and checked it does not does the C drive but it does see the D drive which is empty. I have checked the power connections to the C drive and changed the SATA cable but no joy any help welcome. I am running XP Pro 32bit

Is this a new problem?

Was the computer working previously?

If the BIOS can't see C: and that is the only root drive of an operating system then there is nothing for it to boot.

If this is a new drive it might be a SATA I vs SATA II issue. If it is an old previously working setup the drive could have failed. See if the diagnostic boot tool sees the drive.

Here is the Samsung diagnostic tool:

SAMSUNG Hard Disk Drive - support - utilities

Yes this a new problem. Although the BIOS shows my D drive when I tried to boot from Bart PE disc it still would not boot into the virtual environment, and still giving the same message (NTLDR is missing).

What is NTLDR?

The C drive is a 500GB Seagate Barracuda SATA2 16MB and I understand from the net there is a problem with some Seagate hard drives is this one of them?

Any help appreciated. Thanks

Hey Bootneck, the Seagate recall seems to be only on their 1 TB and 1.5 TB drives. They are failing in a matter of weeks or days. You have had yours I think for longer than that.

Don't know if you read this so I'll post the link for ya.

NTLDR is missing

Definition of NTLDR

What is NTLDR?

Good Luck

Thanks for the info rokytnji have read both links, I am not sure I understood some of the first one as I am only a blundering amiture, also what I do not understand is why the BIOS is not seeing the drive?

PS perhaps I had better go to Linux and have tried to dual boot with XP but more comfortable with XP. Perhaps I will have another go. but only have Linux on the C drive.

Seagate diagnostic for DOS:

Seagate Technology - SeaTools

Thanks for that jephree.

The Seagate Tools should be able to tell you if the hardrive has failed. If you wish to rule out cables and connections, I see by your specs that you have other hardrives on your box. You can try switching drives after making sure jumpers on drives are also switched to rule out connections and cables if you wish to try that. Bios not seeing a hardrive has been a ongoing thing for me this year in the Linux forums. Sometimes just unplugging and replugging in the back cables has fixed this kind of problem. Like vibration from the drive running has loosend the back connections. Jephree is real good at finding the source of these problems. I'd follow his lead on this one. And Linux won't fix a bios not seeing a hardrive anyhows. Before any operating system will boot or work off a Hardrive, Bios has to recognise there is one first.

Hi rokytnji and jephree thanks for your help. I did try Ubuntu last night and ran it from its installation disc could not download Ubuntu but ran it from the DVD, Ubuntu recognised the drive and the XP Files files on it. Once I removed Ubuntu it went back to the original boot up message. I am perplexed.