Submit an edit

Get the fix to the <strong>NTLDR is compressed </strong>boot error message affecting <strong>Windows XP.</strong>
<h2>About the "<strong>NTLDR is compressed</strong>" error</h2>
[kbintro]
<h3>Description and Symptoms</h3>
The error messages, alerts, warnings, and symptoms below are tied to this error.
<h4>Symptom 1: NTLDR is corrupt error screen on older versions of Windows</h4>
When a computer is turned on, the BIOS picks an eligible, bootable hard drive and then calls code stored in the MBR at the start of that hard drive. That MBR code in turn loads the bootsector from the active partition. On Windows XP, this bootsector code is tasked with loading NTLDR (the Windows XP bootloader) and its dependencies, which are used to load the operating system kernel and start up Windows. The NTLDR file is normally located in the root directory of the active partition on the first boot drive. However, if the bootsector detects that the NTLDR file is compressed using built-in Windows file compression, then the boot process halts and the "NTLDR is compressed" error screen appears.

<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/ntldr-is-compressed.png"><img class="alignnone wp-image-4343 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/ntldr-is-compressed.png" alt="NTLDR is compressed error screen" width="720" height="400" /></a>
<pre>NTLDR is compressed
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart</pre>
<h3>Causes of this Error</h3>
This error has been known to occur as a result of one of the following causes:
<h4>Cause 1: NTLDR is compressed</h4>
In Windows XP, file compression is a feature that allows the user to decrease size of files, folders, and programs, and reduce the amount of space they use on the hard drives. However, since the system bootsector code lacks the ability to decompress files by itself, the NTLDR file, which is a key part of booting process, should not be compressed.
<h2>Fixing "NTLDR is missing" on Windows</h2>
[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Rebuild NTLDR via Easy Recovery Essentials</h3>
<div class="content dynamic_content_max_width"><span class="message_body">Easy Recovery Essentials’ one-click automated system repair corrects issues caused by compressed NTLDR bootloader files by recreating them from scratch on the active bootable partition for Windows XP, 2000 and 2003 Server. This is done automatically as part of the automated repair process, and requires no manual action or user intervention.
</span></div>
<div class="content dynamic_content_max_width"></div>
<div class="content dynamic_content_max_width"></div>
<div class="content dynamic_content_max_width">[easyre error="NTLDR is compressed" bootscreen="xp" guaranteed="true"]</div>
<h3>Fix #2: Decompress the NTLDR file manually</h3>
Since this error is caused by a compressed NTLDR file, it is possible to fix it by decompressing it manually using the Windows XP Recovery Console.

Here are the steps to decompress this file:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows XP install CD</li>
 	<li>Restart the computer and boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press any key to boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>R</kbd> when the Windows Options menu is loaded to access <strong>Repair Console</strong></li>
 	<li>After this step, log into Windows by pressing <kbd>1</kbd> using the Administrator password</li>
 	<li>Use the following command to decompress the NTLDR file:
<pre>attrib -c C:\ntldr</pre>
Where <code>C:\</code> is the Windows XP partition’s drive letter</li>
 	<li>Once NTLDR is decompressed, remove the Windows installation disc from the disc drive</li>
 	<li>Restart the PC</li>
</ol>
Here is an example of what the PC's console output should look like once the NTLDR file is decompressed correctly:

[caption id="attachment_4345" align="alignnone" width="720"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Decompress-ntldr.png"><img class="wp-image-4345 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Decompress-ntldr.png" alt="Decompressing the ntldr file" width="720" height="396" /></a> Decompressing the ntldr file[/caption]
<h3>Fix #3: <span id="Fix_1_Replace_NTLDR_and_NTDETECT046COM_files">Replace the NTLDR file</span></h3>
Windows XP users can replace the NTLDR file with a fresh copy from a Windows XP install CD.

Here are the steps to replace that file:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows XP install CD</li>
 	<li>Restart the computer and boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press any key to boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press <kbd>R</kbd> when the Windows Options menu is loaded to access <strong>Repair Console</strong></li>
 	<li>After this step, log into Windows by pressing <kbd>1</kbd> using the Administrator password</li>
 	<li>Use the following commands to copy the NTLDR and file from the Windows installation disk to the hard disk:
<pre>copy D:\i386\ntldr C:\</pre>
Where <code>D:\</code> is the install CD’s drive letter and <code>C:\</code> is the Windows XP partition’s drive letter</li>
 	<li>When prompted whether the existing file should be overwritten, answer "Y"(Yes)</li>
 	<li>Once that file is replaced, remove the Windows installation disc from the disc drive</li>
 	<li>Restart the PC</li>
</ol>
Here is an example of what the PC's console output should look like once the NTLDR file is replaced correctly:

[caption id="attachment_4347" align="alignnone" width="720"]<a href="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Replace-ntldr.png"><img class="wp-image-4347 size-full" src="https://neosmart.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/Replace-ntldr.png" alt="Replacing the ntldr file" width="720" height="396" /></a> Replacing the ntldr file[/caption]
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/mbr-boot-process/">MBR boot process</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/windows-xp-boot-process/">Windows XP boot process</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootsect/">Bootsect</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootcfg/">Bootcfg</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp"]