Aaaaaaargh! Missing NTLDR

[KasinoKing]

I somehow got a stupid little non malicious virus on my Laptop - a browser hacker called Conduit Search.
After wasting 3 hours of my life I will never get back trying to remove it with a tool I found after a web search which totally failed, I looked again and decided to have one more try with some info I found on malwaretips.com

All was going well & looking good until, as advised I ran another removal tool called AdwCleaner - but when it re-booted my computer it would not boot up. Instead I just get a "NTLDR is missing" message - and I haven't got the faintest idea what that is!

I don't think I can run my recovery discs, because they are Vista ones which was the OS on my Laptop when I bought it - but I "downgraded" it to the far superior XP Professional - so I think basically I am shagged

I guess I'll have to take it to a local repair shop and fork out a load of £ to get it fixed - but it makes my blood boil that people can create & recommend these "repair tools" which only go and break your computer.
I wonder if I can sue them for damages?
It's my work computer and even being without for half a day is a major pain in the ass.

KK

 

[Tirilej]

That conduit search is something you probably have installed when you downloaded something else. It's suppose to protect you as far as I know.
I uninstalled it the normal way since it was amongst all other programs.
With that I wanted to say that you maybe destroyed your computer for no reason, which is sad

I found this link for you. I hope it will help.

 

[dunover]

KK - NTLDR (abbreviation of NT loader) is the boot loader for all releases of Windows NT operating system up to and including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. NTLDR is typically run from the primary hard disk drive, but it can also run from portable storage devices such as a CD-ROM, USB flash drive, or floppy disk.
To access the System Recovery Environment in Windows 7, simply boot your PC, just before the system loads the Windows operating system; hit the [F8] Function 8 key on your keyboard which will launch the Advanced Boot Options Menu. There you will see a new option 'Repair Your Computer', select this option and hit 'Enter' on your keyboard.

If this doesn't work (it should) try this KK:

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:

1.Put the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2.Press a key when you are prompted.
3.Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4.Click Repair your computer.
5.Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6.In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7.Type Bootrec.exe, and then press ENTER.

If you have dual OS then this should come up and you can use whichever you prefer. (see 5)

 

[miso]

I am sorry KK, hope you can get it fixed.

Regarding the Conduit, I have it on my laptop at all times, it is pointless trying to remove that.
It will download again with the next torrent, so the best thing people can do is re-install the
browser, to get the search bar away. Because the program itself is harmless, as far as I know.

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Take this as a shot across the bows KK, as XP goes out of extended support in April at which point MS will stop patching even critical security weaknesses.

You need to be off XP by April, to continue to use this operating system on a PC that is connected to the internet will be inherently and fundamentally unsafe, and also borderline reckless if you're using said PC for important work or business. (I'd also expect financial institutions (banks/credit card companies etc) to adopt a 'wash their hands' approach if you suffer any financial loss as a result, get your bank account hacked or suchlike.)

If NTLDR is corrupt and you don't have an XP disc to boot from you are in a pretty bad place TBH. One thing to check is that your laptop is still trying to boot from the primary hard drive, you can check this in the BIOS, but I can't imagine it having been changed.

But yes, the fixes basically depend on having an XP disc -

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I'd be loathed to spend any money on getting it fixed TBH, assuming that you've got a backup of all the important data on there.

 

[silcnlayc]

Just fixed mine with this error. Change your boot option to your cd drive, put in the Hirens disc, let it run and then I used Hirens disc to locate my files in the mini xp window it offers. Once I found the files, I backed it up onto a flash drive. , I then installed the os cd and when it comes to the window to repair or complete install, do a repair. It takes a few minutes for it to load the essential files. This will save a lot of your information but very few files. It took 2 days to figure it out,, but I am now up and running with all my files and drivers. Good luck! Hirens is one of the best for these things IMO.

.

 

[KasinoKing]

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys, but unfortunately nothing worked.
The F8 key doesn't do anything, and nor does putting the Vista recovery disc in the CD drive.

So off to the repair shop it is - I'm praying they can sort it.

KK

 

[KasinoKing]

So off to the repair shop it is - I'm praying they can sort it.

Though I would rather try to forget all about this very painful episode as soon as possible, here's the update of my Laptop nightmare week:

Took the PC in to the shop Monday morning. Told them that it was originally a Vista machine which I had "downgraded" to XP. They said they could fix it, and asked me which OS I wanted installed - so I said XP if possible. They said OK and it would take 2-3 days due to workload. I asked if they could do it quicker for more money and they said yes, for £25 they would "queue jump" it - so I said yes please! They said they would phone me when it was ready...

Tuesday 3pm: Not heard from them, so rang for a progress report - "It's still on the bench, but nearly there - we'll phone you when it's ready"
How hard can it be?

Wednesday 3pm: Not heard from them, so rang for a progress report - "We're having problems - do you want to speak the the engineer? YES! He said he made a slight mistake and had reinstalled Vista on Monday, no problem at all. But then saw on the worksheet that I wanted XP, and had been trying to install that ever since - but it would not work. They apparently tried 6 times with different XP discs. (Why didn't they ring and tell me that???). So I said "Look, I don't care what OS you put on, as long as it works and I can copy all my data files off" (I had already gone out Tuesday and bought a replacement Windows 8 Laptop - I just needed my old files).
So he says "OK, can have it done by end of play today - we'll phone you when it's ready"

Thursday 2pm: Not heard from them So I got in the car and went to the shop. "Is my laptop ready?". "Oh yes, here it is" (Thanks for ringing me - NOT!).

So finally got it back & got the files I needed. But now I have a laptop with stupid Vista on it, which I have no experience of using, but better than nothing.

As a warning (hopefully Google will pick this up) NEVER run a program called AdwCleaner - it could totally wreck your computer

KK

 

[ChopleyIOM]

Vista should be on Service Pack 2, if it isn't then get that downloaded ASAP.

You can actually make Vista (and Windows 7 for that matter) look and behave very much like XP if you want it to, loads of guides out there on how to do that if you have a Google around.

And you are actually on a mainstream supported OS now KK, and also one that won't be cut loose in April from even extended critical security support!

 

[vinylweatherman]

It seems the problem is down to a buggy installer, and when this crapola is uninstalled, it cleans out EVERYTHING in the root of the C: Drive, including 2 important files for Windows XP.

The fix should be relatively simple, copy the 2 files back into the root.

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I suspect another working XP machine could have resolved this easily, simply by copying those files and inserting them into the buggered PC's hard drive. This could be done by having DOS on a floppy (remember that), booting to it, and then using DOS commands to replace the files.

I have done this kind of thing twice on Windows 98, and all it takes is to get an old copy of DOS onto a bootable disk, CD, or USB stick in order to get this to work on newer machines. Another solution would be to take out the drive and connect it as an external to a working machine, and then copy over the necessary files.

The repair shop took a week and an extra £25 to achieve this, and still managed to screw up a little by getting Vista working, rather than XP.

 

[silcnlayc]

Didn't work. Would not recognize the files when copied/installed. Tried it numerous times, numerous ways.

It seems the problem is down to a buggy installer, and when this crapola is uninstalled, it cleans out EVERYTHING in the root of the C: Drive, including 2 important files for Windows XP.

The fix should be relatively simple, copy the 2 files back into the root.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

I suspect another working XP machine could have resolved this easily, simply by copying those files and inserting them into the buggered PC's hard drive. This could be done by having DOS on a floppy (remember that), booting to it, and then using DOS commands to replace the files.

I have done this kind of thing twice on Windows 98, and all it takes is to get an old copy of DOS onto a bootable disk, CD, or USB stick in order to get this to work on newer machines. Another solution would be to take out the drive and connect it as an external to a working machine, and then copy over the necessary files.

The repair shop took a week and an extra £25 to achieve this, and still managed to screw up a little by getting Vista working, rather than XP.

 

[bet4fun]

I know it sucks when your OS crashes but when that happens, a sure fire way to get the files is to use a Linux boot disk which will mount an OS, you can then retrieve most or all of your files and then you can reformat and reinstall the software. Windows Vista Sucks and you will definitely have issues in the future, it is slow and sluggish which is why it was taken off the market so fast. If at all possible Windows seven will run much better.

Rod

 

[catapultaudio]

know this is a bit old now but cant believe they reinstalled your whole laptop over a missing NTLDR ... and took a week to do so! its literally one file that can be replaced in less than five minutes if you know what your doing, as you would expect a repair shop to.

There really are some cowboys in the IT industry !!