NTLDR is missing - tried everything?

[JTH]

I'm using XP home on my other computer. Recently, I used Partition Magic to make a new partition for Linux and installed Fedora Core 1 on it. I then edited GRUB to make it a dual boot setup on one HDD. Now though, when I select XP, I get the ntldr error.

I ran "fixmbr", "fixboot" and copied ntldr and ntdetect.com to my C:\ through the XP repair console but it didn't fix the problem. I've even made a new boot.ini file and that didn't work. Now when I start my computer I get both the ntldr error and a message saying insert boot disc (even when I've selected first boot device as my hard drive). The only option I can take is inserting the boot disc and setting BIOS to boot from CD, in which case I get the XP menu.

I have looked up tons of resources on this but none of them have helped? Can anyone suggest anything that I haven't already done??

Thanks in advance, JTH

[DragonNOA1]

Have you tried to repair the OS from the XP CD? After doing so you might not be able to get into Linux.

[JTH]

Yes that's what I've tried. It should be noted however that the XP CD repair console is run from a CD that includes SP1. That CD is a Dell OEM that I had to borrow from a friend of mine as I didn't have my original pre-SP1 CD. I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not.

[DragonNOA1]

I know you lost your XP CD or something but it's about time you go invest in a new CD.
Have you had any hardware problems prior to this? Like bad RAM or HD?

[JTH]

No hardware probs at all. I may be looking at a fresh install at this stage. Is there any last advice you could give before I'd go ahead with it?

[DragonNOA1]

I know this has been causing you troubles for awhile and if you have no important data to save just go ahead and reinstall in NTFS. But if you don't have a CD, how are you gonna reinstall? Good Luck to ya.