"CDBOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR" when trying to boot from Windows 2000 installation CDs on one machine \ VOGONS

"CDBOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR" when trying to boot from Windows 2000 installation CDs on one machine

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First post, by CallMeRive

Posted on 2024-12-20, 00:22

CallMeRive Offline

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So, I have a bunch of Windows 2000 bootable installation discs that I've already used to install Windows on a couple retro-machines (P1).

I have a bunch of CD-ROM drives that work.

But one pretty special motherboard - PCPartner MB520N (35-8258-XX) (graphical BIOS!) - refuses to boot from any Windows 2000 bootable installation disc. The message is always "CDBOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR".

The attachment NTLDR.jpg is no longer available

I tried different CD drives. I tried different discs (all of them confirmed good). I tried burning new W2K discs in ISO 9660, Joliet etc formats with different filename lengths.

What I found out so far:
1. The message might mean that the bootloader cannot find the file \I386\SETUPLDR.BIN on the CD (for example, due to filename format used when creating CD). Described here: https://www.pcreview.co.uk/threads/cdboot-cou … 33/post-1933808 . That's why I tried making disks with Joliet etc.
2. When I boot into DOS using Universal Boot Disk floppy on that machine, I can access the CD and read it, \I386\SETUPLDR.BIN is present and readable.

Reply 1 of 11, by myne

Posted on 2024-12-20, 02:01

myne Offline

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Probably a limitation of the combination somehow. Sounds like the inbuilt 2k cdrom driver isn't detecting it.

Simplest workaround:
Boot from floppy, copy CDROM\i386 to hdd, run setup from there.

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Reply 2 of 11, by Start me up

Posted on 2024-12-20, 18:02

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myne wrote on 2024-12-20, 02:01:

Sounds like the inbuilt 2k cdrom driver isn't detecting it.

Nope. Windows 2000 has not loaded it's CD driver, yet. If this message is from Windows 2000 then Windows 2000 is still using the BIOS to access the CD content.

Reply 3 of 11, by Cyberdyne

Posted on 2024-12-20, 20:46

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Some BIOSes have a broken implementation of CD booting. Especially some (bad)(no)name motherboard.

I am aroused about any X86 motherboard that has full functional ISA slot. I think i have problem. Not really into that original (Turbo) XT,286,386 and CGA/EGA stuff. So just a DOS nut.
PS. If I upload RAR, it is a 16-bit DOS RAR Version 2.50.

Reply 4 of 11, by wierd_w

Posted on 2024-12-21, 02:38

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I'd make, then use a plopboot diskette.

That will give you a much superior eltorito boot experience on broken bioses.

Reply 5 of 11, by CallMeRive

Posted on 2024-12-21, 05:58

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So far I tried to make Windows 2000 installation floppy disks, but failed - I have only 3 working 3.5 diskettes and it needs 4. Ooops!

wierd_w wrote on 2024-12-21, 02:38:

I'd make, then use a plopboot diskette.

That will give you a much superior eltorito boot experience on broken bioses.

That's a very interesting thing, TY. I've just tried it and it boots from a floppy but then either spits out "Boot record signature AA55 not found (0000 found)" for Windows 2000 CDs or just quietly hangs with a Windows XP CD. I checked that the discs countain a valid boot record, 2048 bytes, ending with 55AA (not AA55, tho).

Again, I tried 3 different CD-ROM drives...

Reply 6 of 11, by myne

Posted on 2024-12-21, 06:32

myne Offline

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Don't overcomplicate it.
Make dos disk.
Format c
Copy i386
Install from c:\i386

Aa55 Iirc is a boot rom signature for bios oproms.
Nfi why you'd get that error.

Reply 7 of 11, by wierd_w

Posted on 2024-12-21, 08:50

wierd_w Offline

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If this thing really is this cranky, then yes, installing from an i386 folder may well be the best option.

This is if:

El torito fails (funky things even with plopboot. I'd suspect your image isnt bootable, but...)

4 diskette set fails (dont have 4 diskettes)

USB boot media fails (plopboot CAN boot from a usb 1.1 only host, even without bios support. Hold shift key down when selecting the option to force usb 1.1 mode)

An i386 folder on a small FAT volume will bootstrap install, in this 'worst case' situation.

Reply 8 of 11, by CallMeRive

Posted on 2024-12-27, 02:49

CallMeRive Offline

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I solved the problem by getting a Gotek (didn't think I would ever need one, but here we are). Case closed, thank you, everybody.

Reply 9 of 11, by myne

Posted on 2024-12-27, 05:46

myne Offline

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Well, you really didn't.
All you needed was a dos boot disc, format a partition, copy files, run setup.

But hey, I'm sure it'll be useful at some point.

Reply 10 of 11, by CallMeRive

Posted on 2024-12-27, 19:55

CallMeRive Offline

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myne wrote on 2024-12-27, 05:46:

Well, you really didn't.

I really did.

Reply 11 of 11, by myne

Posted on 2024-12-28, 03:24

myne Offline

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Why didn't a dos boot disc work?

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