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BYTEBACK
NTLDR missing
When I start my computer, I get a message which says, “NTLDR is missing”. What might have caused this and how to fix this problem?
ZIA REHMAN
zia19782003@yahoo.com
Editor’s reply: One of the following could be the reasons for this problem:
— 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.
— Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
— Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable.
— Computer is booting from a non-bootable source many times.
Also improper settings can cause this corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file. To fix this, create the below boot.ini file on the floppy diskette drive.
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=”Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional” /fastdetect
Copy the NTLDR and NTDETECT.COM files from another computer using the same Operating System. Both of these files are located in the root directory of the primary hard disk drive. For instance, C:\NTLDR and C:\NTDETECT.COM should be the locations of these files on many computers. Below is an example of what commonly should be performed from the A:\> drive.
copy ntldr c:
copy ntdetect.com c:
After the above two files have been copied, remove the floppy diskette and reboot the computer.
Booting mystery
Please answer these questions:
1. I am using Windows2000 as OS. When I want to disconnect from the net, clicking the dial up button doesn’t work. How can I fix this problem?
2. I have dual booting system: Windows2000 and Linux. I want Windows to be default OS than Linux. How can I do it?
MAHWISH
Karachi
Editor’s reply: Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Uninstall your modem drivers and reinstall the driver for WinXP afresh.
2. To change the default booting OS you need to change the line default=to be whichever label you wish to boot (For instance, default=dos). All your lilo settings are in /etc/lilo.conf. Find it, and after making the changes, save the file and type lilo at the command prompt. It should tell you added linux added dos* the * signifies the default. For instance, a /etc/lilo.conf file may look like this:
boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
install=/boot/boot.b
prompt
timeout=50
message=/boot/message linear
default=linux image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.17-14
label=linux
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.17-14.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda5
image=/boot/vmlinuz-2.2.16-22
label=linux-old
initrd=/boot/initrd-2.2.16-22.img
read-only
root=/dev/hda5
The default= line points to the label=linux as the default image to use when booting the system. To change the default image to use when booting, simply change the default= line to point to the correct label value (in this example, linux-old). Save /etc/lilo.conf and run the lilo -v -v command to save the change.
Assorted queries
Please answer my following questions:
1. On my Windows98 system, I created an account “User” from Start menu>Control Panel> Settings>User. Now when I have deleted it I still receive a user logon dialogue box at the Startup. Why? How can I remove it?
2. Is there any software that can apply password on files or folders?
3. Is it true that it is not possible to change the partition of drives without formatting?
4. I want upgrade my Windows 98 system to WinXP. Can you tell me some benefits of WinXP?
ZOHAIB
Karachi
Editor’s reply: Your questions are answered in the order asked:
1. Type a name and leave the password line empty and press OK. The message will not appear again. If that doesn’t work go to Start>Settings>Control Panel> Network> Primary Network Logon and switch to Windows logon.
If the problem still persists, click Start>Settings>Control Panel>Network. On the Configuration tab, click Windows Logon in the Primary Network Logon box, and then click OK. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click No. In Control Panel, double-click Passwords. On the Change Passwords tab, click Change Windows Password, select any of the check boxes that you want, and then click OK. Click Start, point to Search (or Find), and then click For Files or Folders. Type *.pwl in the Named box, click Local Hard Drives in the Look in box, and then press Enter.
Right-click one of the .pwl files, and delete these from your hard disk. Restart. When the logon comes again, just press Okay. You won’t have this problem again.
2. Visit
3. Use Partition Magic 8.0. Use can change partitions, drive letters, and anything else you need.
4. WindowsXP is Microsoft’s best OS so far. Based on NT technology, it not only provides relatively better system security, but also provides stable performance and better multimedia and networking features.
Home vs Professional
What is the basic difference between WinXP Home edition and WinXP Professional one?
KHURRAM MEHDI
Karachi
Editor’s reply: WinXP Home edition is designed for the consumer-oriented computer upgrade. Security is aimed at protecting the home computer security level where Windows XP Professional security features are aimed at protecting the professional and business computers. Of particular interest to network managers is that the WinXP Home Edition can’t be managed by Domain Controllers (DNS, “Domain Name Server”).
