Compressed NTLDR bootloader causing issues when starting Windows
After switching on your computer or after restarting Windows XP you receive the error NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart on a black screen with white writing when trying to boot into Windows.
If you’re looking for the other NTLDR problem, NTLDR is missing error then take a look at this article instead.
Symptoms
- Error appears after performing a System Restore using the Destructive Option
- You receive the following the following error message when starting or rebooting your computer:
NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart.
Explanation
The above error is appearing due to a problem with the attributes of the ‘ntldr’ Windows boot loader file. By decompressing this file we can solve the problem.
Solutions
Decompress by using ‘attrib’ command on NTLDR
The NTLDR file must be altered in order to clear this error and correctly boot.
- Boot into the Recovery Console (Need help with this? See this article: Three Ways To Get Into Recovery Console)
- When the console asks you to choose a Windows install to work with, enter 1 and press Enter
- When prompted, enter your Administrator password
- At the command prompt, enter the following commands, pressing Enter after each:
- Restart your computer and the error should be gone – you can restart by typing Exit and pressing Enter.
cd \attrib -c c:\ntldrexit
[...] Click here for the NTLDR is compressed troubleshooting guide Related Articles:Non-System Disk or Disk ErrorNTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restartNTLDR is missing. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restartMissing Operating System or Operating System Not FoundInvalid Boot.ini or Missing Windows/System32/Hal.dll [...]
those commands one after another look confusing to the average person. It should be:
at the C:\WINDOWS> prompt, type cd \
then type attrib -c c:\ntldr
if you just do attrib -c ntldr it won’t work.
Hi, Thanks for pointing that out. It was actually a problem with the formatting of the site since it was redesigned recently. I’ve updated the text now. I must check all my other posts! That could take a while
Cheers
Rosco
Nevermind! I figured it out and entered the proper command.
It didn’t reject the command, but it also didn’t say anything positive, it just want back to the c:\> line
So I typed EXIT and now I have a light blue screen that says:
Please wait while Windows prepairs to start
You Sir are a GOD among men. I honestly don’t know how to thank you properly, or enough!
UPDATE: It currently show a black screen with Windows XP, Home Edition and the message: Please wait. In the middle of the screen is the hour glass, which is normally spinning, but it’s NOT spinning. It looks like the computer has frozen up again. Gosh, I hope this works! Let me go look again…
OK…SOME success….It’s now a screen that says:
Welcome to Microsoft Windows
Let’s spend a few minutes setting up your computer
…and it has a next button, on the bottom, right
It shows the ARROW curser in the middle of the screen, but it does not move with the mouse movement. It is frozen in place.
WHAT do I do next?
[...] Welcome to WindowsBBS Without an XP install CD you are in real trouble – see if you can borrow one and boot to the Recovery Console and try the fix outlined here …. NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart [...]
Wenever u do the attrib -c c:\ntldr and press enter itcsays invalid switch – -c
anybody know how to fix this?
Hi Trevor,
The -c switch is only valid when using the Attrib command from the Recovery Console. If you are trying to use it from a regular command prompt on XP Safe or Normal mode then you will get an Invalid Switch.
Hope this helps.
R.
After I type in “attrib -c c:\ntldr” The response is :The file cannot be opened” I am using XP PRO in a Dell E6400 and I need to retrive the files on there. Please help
ntldr file missing Ctrl+Alt+Delete to restrat option show my computer.
How to install this file to my computer i tried to some step
there was a problem created admistrator password is invalid, but the password i am type the password and the computer shows this password is not valid password.
So, what i done ?
same message again i am using Window XP
I have an emachine XP that does have a restore disk although when I did a reboor with save I got the error ntldr is compressed I have tried all the steps but it won’t allow me to type the comand prompts. I can’t type anything. What can I do I need help!!!!
omg ty
omg you’re welcome
R.
you can not directly change directory from C:\Windows to C:\ directory in the windows xp repair mode console…
Hi Simeworks…
What seems to be the problem? Are you getting an error when trying to cd back to root?
Let me know.
R.
Worked like a charm. Thank you.
I have the same problem but when I enter “cd \” it gives an error “the path or file specified is invalid”
Hi Fay,
Try running the command chkdsk /r
When that’s complete, type Logon and choose a windows installation and then enter the administrators password.
Following this, try the commands listed above in this article.
R.
Hi,
I am able to start the Automatice System Recovery Console by inserting the Windows XP installation CD, But after giving the previous installed windows no e.g No:1 it prompts for administrator password. I did not have my administrator password set at the time of installation so I tried to leave it blank and wanted to proceed to the next step but it simply did not work, I also tried to give my administrator level current user password but it also seemed not to be working and I failed to proceed further halting for another Restart. Please help me how to overcome this password issue!
Hi Jiten,
Please see the following two articles that discuss Windows Password problems.
1) http://www.proposedsolution.com/solutions/forgotten-or-lost-windows-xp-password/
2) http://www.proposedsolution.com/solutions/lostforgotten-windows-password/
I suggest following them, reseting your password and then continuing where you left off with NTLDR.
Regards
R,
[...] resolve Windows boot errors such as:Windows Setup: Setup did not find any hard disk drives…NTLDR is compressed. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restartInvalid Boot.ini or Missing Windows/System32/Hal.dllMissing Operating System or Operating System Not [...]
at the C:\WINDOWS> prompt, type D:\
then type attrib -c c:\ntldr
exit
this worked for me
I have an HP running Windiws XP…my computer froze up and when I tried shutting it down nothing happened. I tried restarting it, when it got to the point of entering my user password I couldn’t do anything. I eventually did a system restore and now I get the message…NTLDR is compressed but every time I Ctrl+Alt+Del it goes back to the NTLDR IS COMPRESSED…need help!!!
Sean, Have you tried the solution above?
i.e. attrib -c c:\ntldr
Rosco
Hi, I just received my friends Advent 7096 windows xp to fix after having loads of problems with it (my friend didn’t know about system recovery
) so when I re-booted and got on to the system recovery screen and it scanned all the files and after 20mins or so it rebooted and then came up with NTLDR is compressed. My friend doesn’t have an xp recovery disc and I’ve checked every website to fix it but to no prevail, I even ask a techguy in pc world and he said press Alt,d to get dos up but that doesn’t even work. I managed to press f10 to get the booting drivers up but none work. The laptop is also making a high ‘beeping’ sound……. Can you help me please???
Hi Robert,
In this case you will need to access the Recovery Console and carry out the steps in the article above.
If you have no Windows CD then you can create a Recovery Console CD by following the steps in this article: http://www.proposedsolution.com/downloads/download-windows-recovery-console/
Rosco
Thank you so much, if I have anymore problems I’ll definitely come to you
I have the same message, and have looked at many possible fixes,…I don’t have a restore disk, but have restored using f10…I cannot get the command prompt to come up…HELP
I have the same issue as above with the ntldr compressed. however, I cannot boot any disk. the bios is set up for cd/dvd first, then hard disk second, but no disk can bring me to repair/recovery. I can only access the F11 recovery which does nothing. I cannot get to the command screens. Please help!!!
Worked here after I was able to load the proper sata drivers for a mucked up gateway. now it says “invalid boot ini…..continuing to boot from windows” gets about a third of the way and says “setup did not initialize correctly” then reboots. the recovery partition is intact and it will boot the the recovery partition and begin recovery to factory then fails at reboot saying “System not fully installed. Please run setup again” I think I’ll just run an install from the cd and “not” wipe the recovery partition. think it will work?
Hi Moot2,
These problems are a little off topic from the NTLDR is compressed error.
If you’re performing a system recovery and Windows is reporting the error “The system is not fully installed. Please run setup again. then this can be resolved by editing the Windows registry. You can follow steps provided by Microsoft on this exact error here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320279
Hope this helps.
Rosco
I typed in attrib -c c:/DGKAR (because DGKAR is compressed. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart. popped up instead of NTLDR.) it says this is an invalid switch, and I opened the command prompt from the Windows recovery console brought up from a dvd. Any idea on how I can resolve this issue if the attrib command is not working? I also tried to change other random attrib parameters, such as changing if file is hidden or not, and got the message Not Resetting Hidden File. Any ideas?
Ok, sorry to update comment so quickly, but.. I was able to change different attributes for the DGKAR file, so that isn’t the issue. The only issue I have now is that compressed or -c is not an option for the attrib command in the recovery console I have brought up. Thanks.. : )
Hi Steve….
Is your operating system currently Windows XP or Windows 7?
R.
it is windows 7…
Ah…you won’t be able to run attrib properly from a windows xp recovery console with Windows 7 installed.
Can you access the Windows 7 System Recovery options? See this article: http://www.proposedsolution.com/solutions/windows-7-or-vista-recovery-console/
If you can, try running the attrib command to uncompress the DGKAR file from there. I’ve never tried it personally but would be interested to see the results.
R.
hmmm I’ve tried both the recovery consoles that you provided at the link.. for vista and for 7… I did, however, create a dvd from a file from another site (the one that hosts the torrent) so I will try that one and get back to you. Thanks for the speedy correspondence : )