NTLDR is missing

anything is particular proceed this problem, if not

Insert your Windows XP CD and reboot

hit the space bar when prompted to press any key to boot from the CD

Once in the Windows XP setup menu press the "R" key to repair Windows.

Log into your Windows installation by pressing the "1" key and pressing enter.

Since you have Windows XP Pro. you must enter the password you used when you installed

Copy the below two files to the root directory of the primary hard disk.

Assuming the your CD-ROM drive letter "D". (if different, use that letter)

copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

Remove CD and reboot

i did what u said and all seemed good but when i rebooted a new message came up saying, windows could not start because the following file is corrupt or missing:

<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll

please reinstall the above file

cheers Rich

I mistyped these lines (hope you caught that)
copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

once again, ALL OF THIS ASSUMES YOU HAVE A TYPICAL SYSTEM WITH ONE HARDDRIVE--if this is not the case, do not blindly type what I am telling you but tell us.

Back to recovery console
type
Attrib -H -R -S C:\boot.ini
rename C:\boot.ini boot.bak
(note space)
<Enter>

then type
BootCfg /Rebuild
<enter>
reboot