Windows 10: NTLDR missing on USB boot

Why is it when I try to install Win 10 from a boot USB onto an old desktop which currently runs XP SP3, I get an error "NTLDR is missing" ? (Yes, I set the boot order to USB first). *Sad

The target machine has an ALiveNF6G-DVI mobo with legacy BIOS at v2.2

The bootable USB stick was prepared on my UEFI desktop using MS media creation tool. 64 bit option selected. I tested it there and it boots fine.

:)

 

Windows 10 removed ntldr how do I get it back

Chances are the bootloader on your hard drive is corrupted. Download a copy of Hirens Boot CD and boot your pc. There is a section for NTLDR missing to repair it.

 

not loaded windows 10 - ntldr is missing

ntldr is missing

 

You may have to set the BIOS in the target machine to UEFI defaults and then try to boot from that USB drive. See post #5.

 

I dont remember seeing that option in the target machines BIOS. Will have another look. I suppose if it cant be set to UEFI then I need to build the boot media using the target machine?

 

I looked at your BIOS and it does have a UEFI option:

Note from link below:
Please update to the latest BIOS with Instant Flash or Internet Flash in the UEFI setup if you are using Windows® 10. See post #5.

ASRock > ALiveNF6G-DVI

And yes, if you want to stay with the legacy option, it would be more appropriate to create the boot media directly on the target machine so it will boot as Legacy.

Good luck,

 

UPDATE: I looked at your owner's manual and I agree that you do not have UEFI capabilities. Moreover, your latest BIOS is from 2007 so I don't know how they could have issued such an advisory:

Please update to the latest BIOS with Instant Flash or Internet Flash in the UEFI setup if you are using Windows® 10.

Actually, I think that is/was just intended to be a global advisory and does not apply to your specific BIOS. With that said, I would simply just create the media on the target machine (as you had suggested).

Good luck,

 

Using the XP machine to create the usb media, it told me that the media creation tool was not supported - I should go to a Win 7/8 or 10 machine (Going round in circles!).

So what I have managed to do is download the Win 10 iso on the XP machine and now need to make this into a bootable USB. Can I do it so that it will work with both BIOS/UEFI setups?

 

I use Rufus for this and select MBR partition scheme for BIOS and UEFI.

I'm sure some folks will chime in with ways to do this without Rufus too.

 

I downloaded Rufus and selected MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM. Created a new boot usb. However I find it still will not boot, giving NTLDR missing error. Any clues?

 

Is your older PC capable of booting from USB? Are you using the F8 key to select the USB flash drive as the boot device?

 

I'm entering BIOS using f2 at powerup, then setting boot order.

I have just discovered there are issues with NTFS large files on XP USB, done some tweaks and hoping for better result. Watch this space!

mmmm - no improvement *Mad

 

Your USB flash drive should not be NTFS. It should have only a FAT32 partition marked as active.

 

Using Rufus, if I select Fat32 I get an error "The file system currently selected can not be used with this type of ISO. Please select a different file systm or use a different ISO". Thats why I used NTFS. Do I need to get a "different" ISO?

 

No, your ISO is fine. You don't need to use Rufus. Format the USB flash drive as FAT32, mark the partition as Active. Mount the ISO file, copy all the files and folders from the mounted ISO file to the FAT32 flash drive.

See here:
Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive

At step 9 make sure to read the important box and use FAT32.