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Get the fix to boot-related error "<strong>NTDETECT is missing or not found</strong>" and other NTDETECT&#046;COM problems for <strong>Windows XP</strong>.

<h2>About "ntdetect not found or missing"</h2>

[kbintro]

<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>

The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.

<h4>Symptom 1: ntdetect&#046;com is missing or not found</h4>

NTDETECT.com, a <a title="Windows XP Boot Components" href="http://neosmart.net/wiki/windows-xp-boot-process/">critical component of the Windows XP boot process</a>, is required for the correct operation of NTLDR, the Windows XP bootloader. If NTDETECT&#046;COM is not found in the expected location, an error regarding ntdetect being not found or missing may be displayed.

<h3>Causes of this Error</h3>

This error has been known to occur as a result of one or more of the following:

<h4>Cause 1: Incorrectly-set boot disk</h4>

NTLDR expects NTDETECT&#046;COM to be located in the root of the primary boot partition. Typically, this is the active partition on disk 0. If BIOS configuration has changed, on a system with multiple drives NTDETECT may no longer be on the first boot drive, causing NTLDR to complain that it cannot be found.

<h4>Cause 2: Changes to the active partition</h4>

As NTLDR searches for NTDETECT on the active partition of the boot drive, if the MBR of the disk in question is updated and a new partition is made active, NTLDR will search for NTDETECT&#046;COM on this newly-active partition. If NDETECT cannot be found, then an error stating NTDETECT was not found can be displayed.

<h2>Fix NTDETECT is missing or not found in Windows</h2>

<h3>Fix #1: Use Easy Recovery Essentials</h3>

[easyre error="NTDETECT is missing or not found" bootscreen="xp" guaranteed="true"]

<h3>Fix #2: Restore NTDETECT&#046;COM</h3>

[setupcd]

If NTDETECT&#046;COM has become corrupted, deleted, or damaged as a result of a failed Automatic Update or Windows Update or has been the target of a virus infection, the following directions will restore a working copy from the setup CD.

[partial name="partial_restorefile_xp" file="ntdetect&#046;com" command="copy D:\\i386\\ntdetect&#046;com C:\\"]

<h2>More Information</h2>

<h3>Linked Entries</h3>

The errors below have been verified as being associated with or related to this problem:

<ul>
<li><a href="http://neosmart.net/wiki/ntdetect-failed/">Resolving NTDETECT Failed</a></li>
</ul>

[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,server2003"]