NTLDR is compressed

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Gar · #1 Post by **Gar** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:02 pm

I've been tasked with fixing a T40, I don't know the model/type number at the moment. At bootup, it displays:
"NTLDR is compressed. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to restart."

According to MS, this could occur if:
# If Ntldr is moved, renamed, or deleted.
# If Ntldr is corrupted.
# If the boot sector is corrupted.

I ran DFT and PCDR, both give the HDD and the system a clean bill of health, no corrupted sectors.

MS recommends running recovery console or ERD. I can get the Recovery discs, but will it give me the option of repairing the disk? According to a tech at IBM/Lenovo, there is no repair install option.

Has anyone encountered this problem before, and is there anything I could try to rescue this harddrive?

Thanks

#2 Post by **GomJabbar** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:32 pm

I am assuming the T40 has Windows XP. If you don't have a regular Windows XP install CD, then I would ask your friends, relatives, or coworkers to loan you one. Boot from the CD and follow the instructions from this link (Note: It will ask you for an administrator password. If one was never set up, just press enter, otherwise, you need the password):

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/docu ... o_evwd.asp

Gar · #3 Post by **Gar** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 10:35 am

Thanks GomJabbar, I'll give that a go and report back Monday.

#4 Post by **GomJabbar** » Sat Jul 23, 2005 11:59 am

You might find the following link informative as well:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/recovery_console.htm

Gar · #5 Post by **Gar** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:08 pm

As it turns out, the owner decided to backup and reload on his own. That's ok, but I was looking forward to doing the recovery.

I appreciate the help and will file this thread for future reference. Thanks again.

sickofit · #6 Post by **sickofit** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 5:05 pm

It could be a dirty drive.....but I know last week the same thing happened to me,and getting another install cd worked fine...so it may be the cd....as mine i've used numerous times flawlessly,but gave up on that time....especially if its a CD-R

Greg St.L

Gar · #7 Post by **Gar** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:34 pm

Thankfully, the CD wasn't the issue in this case but I can certainly relate. From what I understand about CD-Rs, their longevity depends on a few factors: media quality, storage, humidity, handling...etc.

I pop mine into all kinds of drives on a daily basis so they take a bit of a beating. Good reminder to make backups.

Just recently, I've had two failed reloads on two perfectly good HDDs (according to DFT, of which I have two copies btw). Hmm, good point, check/swap CD drive. Thanks!

Regards

NTLDR is compressed

NTLDR is compressed

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