Can't Boot From CD-ROM To Install XP

[riven2000]

Hello All,

I'm on a Pentium III 450, trying to install Windows XP. I've been able to format the disk, but every time I try to boot from the install CD, I get:

NTLDR Is Missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete To Restart

I don't think anything is physically wrong with the machine, and the BIOS is already set to load from the CD-ROM first. What can I do?

[EzyStvy]

Is the XP cd and Original or a Copy of an original?

Does it spin up a lot during the boot process?

The cd and or cd drive could be dirty..

[riven2000]

The CD is original, and the utility disk I used to format the drive (Seagate DiskWizard) starts up fine in the CD-ROM. It's just the XP CD that won't start.

[systempat]

Need some system specs. Obviously you're running some older hardware. How much memory does it have? Has it run XP before or something else?

[SokaRakos]

Try to use another bootable XP CD. This is to know whether it is your drive that is worrisome or it is your cd which is not good enough

[riven2000]

Actually I fixed it yesterday - someone on another forum suggested I disconnect the power cable from the hard drive, start up so the machine would recognize the CD-ROM first, then plug the hard drive back in. Worked great; I highly recommend it for a weird problem like this. Thanks for all your help though!

[systempat]

You plugged the HD back in while the PC was powered up??? Definitely not a recommended procedure. Sounds like you were lucky and got away with it.
For general reference, any connectors inside the case, ribbon connectors or power cables, should be done with the power off. The only exception is USB, which is designed to allow for connections to be made and broken. Firewire may be this way also, but I'm not sure about that one.