I have had problems with my computer for a while, I noticed little by little I kept getting my messgaes of files missing and things not working properly. Today, I tried to do a system restore. I tried 3 times. every time the computer turned back on the message NTLDR compresed press control alt delete. I tried and tried. I took it to have it looked at and they say the files are still on the drive. they said they can fix it for 199.00. I have tried for almost 10 hours now everything I have read on the internet. Even HP and compaq solutions. it says that command is not recognizable. I am so upset at this point, my son has a report due tom. I had to take his report to work and type it. I am at work posting this. Please if anyone can help me, now I am to the point all I can do is cry. I did not recieve and disk when I bought the computer, they said that the system recovery was on another part of the computer. One that could not be damaged and I didn't need it.

I think you may have entered a wrong command syntax? "compaq not recognizable" ... I think you typed COMPAQ.
COMPACT is the command...

C:\Documents and Settings\XXX>compact /?
Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.

COMPACT [/C | /U] [/S[:dir]] [/A] [/I] [/F] [/Q] [filename [...]]

/C Compresses the specified files. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will be compressed.
/U Uncompresses the specified files. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will not be compressed.
/S Performs the specified operation on files in the given
directory and all subdirectories. Default "dir" is the
current directory.
/A Displays files with the hidden or system attributes. These
files are omitted by default.
/I Continues performing the specified operation even after errors
have occurred. By default, COMPACT stops when an error is
encountered.
/F Forces the compress operation on all specified files, even
those which are already compressed. Already-compressed files
are skipped by default.
/Q Reports only the most essential information.
filename Specifies a pattern, file, or directory.

Used without parameters, COMPACT displays the compression state of
the current directory and any files it contains. You may use multiple
filenames and wildcards. You must put spaces between multiple
parameters.

I think you may have entered a wrong command syntax? "compaq not recognizable" ... I think you typed COMPAQ.
COMPACT is the command...

C:\Documents and Settings\XXX>compact /?
Displays or alters the compression of files on NTFS partitions.

COMPACT [/C | /U] [/S[:dir]] [/A] [/I] [/F] [/Q] [filename [...]]

/C Compresses the specified files. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will be compressed.
/U Uncompresses the specified files. Directories will be marked
so that files added afterward will not be compressed.
/S Performs the specified operation on files in the given
directory and all subdirectories. Default "dir" is the
current directory.
/A Displays files with the hidden or system attributes. These
files are omitted by default.
/I Continues performing the specified operation even after errors
have occurred. By default, COMPACT stops when an error is
encountered.
/F Forces the compress operation on all specified files, even
those which are already compressed. Already-compressed files
are skipped by default.
/Q Reports only the most essential information.
filename Specifies a pattern, file, or directory.

Used without parameters, COMPACT displays the compression state of
the current directory and any files it contains. You may use multiple
filenames and wildcards. You must put spaces between multiple
parameters.

Wow gerbil you sound so much more advanced than I, i really don't know what I am doing. Maybe you can walk me through this? If you could that would be so wonderful.
Here are some questions that I have:
1) which dirve should I be using c or e? One is presario and one is presario_rp.
2) if this works and I am able to get my computer to start can i press the r key so it only restores and doesn't delete all my old files?


I am sorry, i don't want to sound all dumb and all, but really i just know how to use a computer not fix on. I hope you understand. Once again thank you for any assistance you are able to give

Okay, what you need to do is uncompress ntldr.
Let's assume that Windows directory is in your C: drive, and so you have C:\Windows\ [your systemdrive], then ntldr will be in the root, C:\ [but it is hidden]
So, if using Recovery Console then you would type the commands:
cd c:\
attrib -c ntldr
exit

Otherwise, using the HP recovery interface..
1- Turn on the computer. When the initial logo screen appears, press the F10 key repeatedly until a message about starting recovery appears.
2- At the Recovery screen, click Advanced Options and then press the Alt and D keys at the same time to go to a command prompt.
Then your commands would be:
c:
cd \windows\system32
compact ntldr /u c:\ntldr
exit
Click Quit. Say how you go...
Just a note. Systemdrive... if you go start, and paste into the Run box:
%systemdrive%
explorer should open in it.. it is usually C:

Thinking about it, I am a little nonplussed by those instructions from the HP webpage.... I don't know why they want you to got to the system32 directory.... ntldr is not in there.
COMPACT is also in cmd.exe. Because it appears that you can start your computer you can just go Start, Run... and enter:
cmd
Then in the cmd window type these commands, entering each:
cd c:\
compact ntldr /u c:\ntldr
exit
All done. And easier.

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