8 Ways to Fix the “NTLDR is Missing” Error on Windows 10/8/7

There are several tried-and-tested tricks to fix the "NTLDR is missing" problem. Here's a quick rundown.

Windows 10 fails to start with an 'NTLDR is missing' error

Case 1: “I tried to update my Windows 10 to the latest version, but it failed to load. An error message pops up saying 'NTLDR is missing'. What should I do?”

Case 2: “My computer won't turn on. I've tried several times, and I always get the message, 'NTLDR is missing.' How can I fix this problem?”

When Windows 10 fails to load or boot and shows the "NTLDR is missing" error, serious problems arise. You can't work or enjoy your internet life, lose clients, money, and even your job. What is NTLDR missing? Why does Windows 10 show the NTLDR is missing error and prompt you to press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart your computer?

What is the "NTLDR is Missing" Error?

"NTLDR" stands for "NT Loader," and it is the boot loader for all versions of the Windows NT operating system, including Windows 10. NTLDR typically runs from the primary hard disk drive but can also operate from portable storage devices like USB flash drives or CD-ROMs. It also has the capability to load non-NT-based operating systems with corresponding boot sectors.

The NTLDR file contains three main files:

• NTLDR, the main boot loader
• NTDETECT.COM, sometimes referred to as just COM, which is required for booting Windows NT-based operating systems, and detects base hardware information needed for a successful startup
• boot.ini, which contains system configuration details

When your Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 PC won't start, you might see an error that says:

• NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.
• NTLDR is missing. Press any key to restart.
• Boot: NTLDR not found. Insert another disk.

There can be several reasons for the NTLDR missing error in Windows 10, including configuration issues, damage to the hard drive/solid-state drive (SSD):

• The computer is started from a non-bootable source.
• NTLDR-related files are damaged or missing.
• The active partition on the boot volume is not set correctly.
• Your BIOS version is out of date.
• There is an issue with your system upgrade.

Regardless of the reason behind the issue, the solutions below should effectively fix the “NTLDR is Missing” error that appears when Windows 10/8/7 is loading or starting up.

8 Ways to Fix the “NTLDR is Missing” Error on Windows 10/8/7

When you encounter the NTLDR is missing error on Windows 10, try restarting your computer first to see if that resolves the issue. The NTLDR missing error could be a one-time occurrence. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart, and if that doesn't work, try the solutions below to fix your problem.

1. Remove all removable media

The "NTLDR is missing" issue typically occurs when the BIOS tries to load from an external non-bootable drive, such as an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or CD. Therefore, remove all unnecessary external accessories and peripherals that are not required for booting the computer. Certain peripherals might interfere with the boot process.

Removing the external drive forces Windows 10 to look to the primary drive, where it should find NTLDR and boot up normally. Restart your computer.

2. Change the BIOS boot order

If you can't remove the external drive or removing it doesn't work, you can manually change the boot order in your computer's BIOS/UEFI to ensure that your computer tries to boot from the internal bootable hard drive first.

First Step: Restart your computer.

Step 2: Press and hold the F2, F8, F10, or Del key to enter the BIOS environment.

Step 3. Use the arrow keys to select the “BOOT” tab. Move the bootable HDD drive containing the NT Loader file (the one where you installed the Windows operating system) to the top of the priority list.

Restart your computer and see if the "NTLDR is Missing" error returns.

3. Replace the corrupted NTLDR or NTDETECT.COM file

If the NTLDR file is corrupted or missing, your Windows 10/8/7 will fail to boot and display the "NTLDR is Missing" issue. To fix the Windows 10 NTLDR missing error, you need to use the Windows installation CD/DVD. The problem is that many users downloaded Windows 10 from the website and therefore have no bootable disc. Or they cannot find the installation disc.

So, how to fix Windows 10 and the missing NTLDR issue without a CD? Don't worry; there's an easy way to create a bootable Windows USB drive.

You can use tools like the Professional Partition Manager to easily create a bootable drive from your USB or CD. After that, you need to replace the correct NTLDR file to ensure it loads properly.

In addition to creating a WinPE bootable media, the partition/disk management utility also offers an all-in-one solution for disk/partition management, such as resizing partitions to speed up Windows 10 by allocating space from D drive to C drive, cloning disk, merging partitions, creating/deleting/formating partitions, wiping data, converting disk/partition, and migrating system to a smaller SSD, etc.

Now, download this ultimate partition manager to create Windows 10 bootable USB.

Step 1. To create a bootable Partition Master tool disk, you will need a storage media like a USB drive, flash drive, or CD/DVD disc. Connect the drive to your computer properly.

Step 2: Launch Partition Master and look for the “Bootable Media” feature on the left. Click it.

Step 3. If you have a drive available, you can choose USB or CD/DVD. If you don't have a blank drive, you can also save the ISO to your hard disk and burn it to media later. Click "Create" after making your selection to begin the process.

• Read the warning, and then click Yes.

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< strong > Step 4. When the process is complete, a pop-up will ask you if you want to restart your computer from the bootable USB device.

• Restart Now: This means you want to restart your computer immediately and boot from the installation media, so you can manage partitions without an operating system in the way.
• Finish: This means you do not want to restart your current computer, but instead want to use the bootable USB device on a different computer.

Note: To use the bootable disk on a new computer, you need to restart the target computer and press F2/F8/Delete to enter the BIOS, and set the USB bootable disk as the first boot device.

Wait patiently, the computer will automatically boot from the USB boot media and enter the WinPE tool desktop.

Now you can use the WinPE boot disk to restart your computer and fix the “NTLDR is missing” error.

Step 1: Insert the bootable disk into your computer and restart your PC.

Step 2: Choose to boot from the WinPE bootable USB drive. The computer should then start up smoothly.

Step 3: Next, copy the Ntldr and Ntdetect.com files from a healthy computer running the exact same version of Windows as your machine to the root directory of the local hard drive that contains the system partition.

Alternatively, you can copy these files from the installation CD to the computer's system partition.

4. Reset the Active Partition

The "NTLDR is Missing" error can occur if the active partition on a bootable disk is not set correctly. If the partition that is marked as active does not contain the Windows NTLDR boot loader file, the computer will not start up, and you may receive the error message: "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart."

You can resolve this issue by resetting the active partition using the WinPE bootable disk utility that you created with the above method. Start your computer from the WinPE bootable disk utility, and then set the partition as active by following these steps:

Step 1: Run the partition manager. Right-click on the target partition in the disk map and choose “Advanced”.

Step 2: Then, from the drop-down menu, select “Set as Active.” Click “Yes.” Choose “Run 1 Task” and click “Apply.”

5. Update the outdated BIOS

You may also get the NTLDR missing error if you have an older version of BIOS on your computer.

You can check your BIOS version and update it. Just be careful when updating the BIOS! If your computer crashes, shuts down, or loses power while the update is in progress, your BIOS or UEFI firmware could become corrupted. This can prevent your computer from booting.

6. Use Windows Startup Repair

Windows Automatic Repair is a built-in tool that users can utilize to try and fix some common issues with their Windows PC. You might also want to try this method to fix the Windows 10 boot error – NTLDR is missing.

Step 1. Boot to Windows from the installation media.

Insert the Windows 10/8/7 installation CD/DVD or USB into your computer. Restart your computer and boot from the CD/DVD or USB.

Step 2: Enable the Automatically fix file system errors option.

2. On the Install Now screen, click Repair your computer.

On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot > Advanced options.

Use the "Automatic Repair" option to fix UEFI boot errors.

On the “Auto-Fix” screen, select an account from the list to proceed, then wait for the process to complete.

When finished, you can restart your PC to see if the missing NTLDR problem goes away.

Check the SATA cable

Another way to fix the NTLDR missing error is to check your computer's SATA cable. Open up your PC case and ensure that your SATA cable is properly connected. If it is, then the problem might be something else.

8. Seek assistance from professionals or technicians.

If none of the above solutions fix the NTLDR missing error, you can seek assistance from professionals or technicians to resolve the issue. Our One-on-One Remote Assistance tool is designed to help users with any system boot issues. Consult the tool's experts for an affordable manual service.

Final Award

This tutorial covers 8 ways to fix the "NTLDR is missing" error in Windows 10. If you have any questions while troubleshooting this issue, feel free to contact our Support team for immediate assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions about NRLDR Missing in Windows 10

In the above content, we discussed some effective methods to resolve the missing NRLDR error. Here are more related issues about NRLDR being missing. Read and check out the brief guide.

Where is NTLDR located?

NTLDR, short for "NT Loader," is the boot loader for all versions of the Windows NT operating system up to and including Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. NTLDR is typically located on the primary HDD/SSD, but it can also be run from portable storage devices like CD-ROMs, USB flash drives, or floppy disks.

What does "NTLDR missing" mean?

What does "NTLDR is Missing" mean? You might receive an error message, "NTLDR is missing. Press any key to restart," or "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart," when you start a Windows-based computer.

The “NTLDR is missing” error typically appears during startup, preventing your computer from booting correctly. This issue can be caused by an outdated BIOS, or one or more missing or corrupted Windows boot files. There are several other reasons for the “NTLDR is missing” error, such as misconfiguration or damage to your hard drive/solid-state drive (SSD).

How to fix the "NTLDR is missing" issue?

You can try the following methods to fix the "NTLDR is missing" issue on Windows 10:

• Disconnect all removable media
• Change the BIOS boot order
• Replace the NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM files
• Reset the active partition
• Rebuild the boot.ini file
• Change the boot sector code

How to Repair Windows 10 Without a Disc?

There are possible ways to fix Windows 10 boot without disk. When you need to repair Windows 10, the computer may fail to load. Thus, before solving the problem, it's recommended to recover data from unbootable PC/laptop in case of unexpected data loss.

• Startup Repair
• Repair Boot Record
• Rebuild BCD Store
• Change BIOS Settings
• Reset Computer
• Reinstall Windows 10