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Q100312: Error Messages During Boot Sequence on Intel x86 Machines

Article: Q100312
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbother
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
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The following error messages may be displayed during the boot process
of Windows NT on an Intel x86 machine. Error messages are listed with
possible causes and resolutions.

Error Messages During Boot Sequence
-----------------------------------

  BOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR Please insert another disk.

The NTLDR program has been deleted from the boot drive or is not
located in the root directory.

  Error Opening NTDETECT Press any key to continue

The NTDETECT program has been deleted from the boot drive or is not
located in the root directory.

-or-

The timeout option for the Boot Loader in the BOOT.INI file may be
set to 0.

-or-

The path of the default operating system in the Boot Loader section of
the BOOT.INI file is different than any of the paths listed in the
[operating systems] section.

  OS Loader V2.10
  The system did not load because of a computer disk hardware configuration
  problem.
  Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check the boot path and disk
  hardware.
  Please check the Windows NT documentation about hardware disk configuration
  and your hardware reference manuals for additional information. Boot failed.

The device or partition component of a path is incorrect in the
[operating systems] section of the BOOT.INI file.

  OS Loader V2.10
  loading file
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnx\system\ntoskrnl.exe
  The system did not load because it cannot find the following file:
  <sysroot>\SYSTEM32\NTOSKRNL.EXE
  Please reinstall a copy of the above file.
  Boot failed.

The directory component of the path is incorrect in the [operating
systems] section of the BOOT.INI file.

-or-

Ensure that both NTLDR and BOOT.INI are in the system root directory
on the bootable logical drive.

  Couldn't open boot sector file
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\bootsect.dos

The BOOTSECT.DOS file is lost or damaged. The only way to restore this
file is from a backup. This file contains information about the
physical heads, tracks, and cylinders and partition table information;
it is unique to each machine.

Additional query words: prodnt

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Keywords          : kbother 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search
Version           : winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0

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