NTLDR missing repeatedly

Hi

I have the following system:

Intel P4 2,26 Ghz 512cache, 512 MB 266. SuperMicro P4SGA+ with Windows
2000 SP4.
I use 4 x Matrox G450 Quad cards.

I get the message "NTLDR missing" every other day. After investigation
I discoverd that the entire root (except the pagefile.sys) is being
deleted for no reason. It sometimes happens after a reboor, and
sometimes when the computer "crashes". I have tried a variety of brands
and models of harddrives, and motherboards and nothing solves my
problem.

I use images and the problem is solved rather easy, but the problem is
very anoying.

Is there some one who had a similar problem or has an answer for this
problem??

Thanx in advance..

D@ve

"D@ve" <dstolk RemoveThis @home.nl> wrote in message
news:1159258020.128456.171390@d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
> Hi
>
> I have the following system:
>
> Intel P4 2,26 Ghz 512cache, 512 MB 266. SuperMicro P4SGA+ with Windows
> 2000 SP4.
> I use 4 x Matrox G450 Quad cards.
>
> I get the message "NTLDR missing" every other day. After investigation
> I discoverd that the entire root (except the pagefile.sys) is being
> deleted for no reason. It sometimes happens after a reboor, and
> sometimes when the computer "crashes". I have tried a variety of brands
> and models of harddrives, and motherboards and nothing solves my
> problem.
>
> I use images and the problem is solved rather easy, but the problem is
> very anoying.
>
> Is there some one who had a similar problem or has an answer for this
> problem??
>
> Thanx in advance..
>
> D@ve
>

I can think of a few reasons for the disappearance of your files:

a) Flawed disk controller. If so then running chkdsk.exe would reveal
other problems too. To run chckdsk you need to boot the machine
with a Bart PE boot CD.

b) Malware. You can detect this by selectively nailing down a few
files in the root directory: Create some ficticious account, assign
ownership of these files to this account, then give every other
account (and especially the System account!) read-only access.

c) Damaged Windows installation. The test is the same as under
b) above. The cure, of course, is a clean installation of Windows.

I use images too and I always keep not just the most recent
image but the one before this one too. It allows me to drop back
by several months.