Why you don't take a power saw to your PC case...

[tarna]

Was in the process of doing some serious case modding when I took a 'sawzall' to my PC case. Been changing how my motherboard is mounted and had a piece of metal where I no longer wanted it.

Sawed it off. No big deal . When I turned it back on, I got this message in the start up screen...

"NTLDR missing". Press control+alt+delete to restart. Hmmm.

Got onto this computer to Google the problem.

Issue:

 

NTLDR is Missing.

 

Related errors:

 

Below are the full error messages that may be seen when the computer is booting.

 

NTLDR is Missing

Press any key to restart

 

Boot: Couldn't find NTLDR

Please insert another disk

 

Additional Information:

 

See our NTLDR dictionary definition for a complete definition on this term.

 

Cause:

 

Computer is booting from a non-bootable source.

Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.

Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.

Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file.

Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using FAT32.

New hard disk drive being added.

Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.

Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.

Solutions:

 

Computer is booting from a non-bootable source

 

Many times this error is caused when the computer is attempting to boot from a non-bootable floppy disk or CD-ROM. First verify that no floppy diskette is in the computer, unless you are attempting to boot from a diskette.

 

If you are attempting to boot from a floppy diskette and are receiving this error message it is likely that the diskette does not have all the necessary files and/or is corrupt.

 

If you are attempting to install Windows XP or Windows 2000 and are receiving this error message as the computer is booting verify that your computer BIOS has the proper boot settings. For example, if you are attempting to run the install from the CD-ROM make sure the CD-ROM is the first boot device, and not the hard disk drive. Second, when the computer is booting you should receive the below prompt.

 

Press any key to boot from the CD

 

When you see this message press any key such as the Enter key immediately, otherwise it will try booting from the hard drive and likely get the NTLDR error again.

 

Note: If you are not receiving the above message and your BIOS boot options are set properly it's also possible that your CD-ROM drive may not be booting from the CD-ROM properly. Verify the jumpers are set properly on the CD-ROM drive. Additional information about checking the CD-ROM drive connections can be found on document CH000213.

 

Additional information: This error has also been known to occur when a memory stick is in a card reader and the computer is attempting to boot from it. If you have any type of card reader or flash reader make sure that no memory stick is inside the computer. 

 

Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.

 

Verify that your computer hard disk drive is properly setup in the BIOS / CMOS setup. Improper settings can cause this error. Additional information on how to enter the BIOS / CMOS setup can be found in document CH000192.

Well this can't be good. Checked my HD cable connections. Changed the cable. Switched the HD and planned to reload WinXP. Nada. S**t!

Started poking in around my start up stuff and found that the boot order on my drives had changed. Reorganised it and I'm back up and playing Baldur's Gate again.

 

Thought you guys would get a laugh out of that :D .

[Dark Moth]

That's why I try not to mess with inside components too much. Trying to replace my computer's power supply was bad enough. Now that was interesting.

[WITHTEETH]

I remember when I got my first SATA cable Harddrives. I couldn't get the damn thing to recognize it, sent me crazy! I had to take my own computer that I built to a shop, oh the humiliation. And all i needed to do was to go into cmos and change it a setting.

[tarna]

...I had to take my own computer that I built to a shop, oh the humiliation. And all i needed to do was to go into cmos and change it a setting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now that would piss me off !

 

And just think...I still have another cut to do on my case! ( and some drilling and tapping ). At least I turned the power off to both power supplies before I took the saw to it.

[CoM_Solaufein]

The only major error I made when I was building my computer is not getting the RAID set up correctly.

[metadigital]

I didn't think that the case modding had contributed to the error. At worst I thought carelessness had led to static electricity damaging a critical component, like RAM.

 

Best start with the power cord connected and the machine off. Open the case, touch the power supply with your hand. (This provides and earth for the built-up static in your very conductive human body.) Then unplug the power cable, touch the (metal) case and proceed with caution.

 

People underestimate scale and prevalence of this type of damage.

I remember when I got my first SATA cable Harddrives. I couldn't get the damn thing to recognize it, sent me crazy!    I had to take my own computer that I built to a shop, oh the humiliation. And all i needed to do was to go into cmos and change it a setting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's always easy in hindsight.