what does 'NTLDR is missing" mean

Basically it means it cannot find a key file necessary to boot the operating system.

Is there a disk in your floppy drive? If so, remove it and try again.

go to this link to read on cause and solutions for this error message.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320397

and this site will give you all the different scinerios you can create to get this message.
http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?Catalog=LCID%3D1033%26CDID%3DEN-US-KB%26PRODLISTSRC%3DON&Product=&KeywordType=any&Titles=false&numDays=&maxResults=25&withinResults=&Queryl=NTLDR+Is+Missing&Query=NTLDR+Is+Missing&QuerySource=gsfxSearch_Query

Lets get straight to the point to resolve this problem you are experiencing. Hope you don't get confused :)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318728

1. I would recommend you to do Method 3: Use the Windows 2000 CD-ROM which is located in the middle of the page. It is very simple and practical. Its up to you though. You can use any of the methods you see easy to follow. Method 3 is the easiest

alright. NTLDR is probably the most important file in NT/2000/XP. 3 files are needed to boot 2000: NTLDR, NTDETECT, Boot.ini
Do you have a Win 2000 boot disk? If you do then this should be relatively painless. Pop that in your computer and turn it on. The computer should come up to a command prompt A:\>(If it comes up to C:\> type "a:"). From the A: prompt, type "sys c:". You have not just transferred the system files(including NTLDR) to you system. At this point i think that you can switch toC: prompt("c:") and type "win" and it should boot. If not, turn off you computer and turn it back on. When you turn it back on it should boot normally to Windows.

If you don't have a Win 2000 boot disk but you have a Win 2000 CD you can create a boot disk from the CD.

If you have your Win 2000 CD and don't care about losing your data you could just re-install Windows again.

I also agree with the others that said to visit support.microsoft.com and following their recommendation. Which leads me to another point. support.microsoft.com is pretty good about solving problems. If ever you have Win problem just go there and type your problem completely(thats imporant)and most of the time it will come back with a fix or a fix to a problemthat is very close to yours. I hope this helps and i didn't confuse.

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart
This problem may occur if the basic input/output system (BIOS) on your computer is outdated, or if one or more of the following Windows boot files are missing or damaged:
Ntldr
Ntdetect.com
Boot.ini
To resolve this issue, verify that the BIOS on your computer is current, and then use one or more of the following methods, as appropriate to your situation, to repair the Windows 2000 startup environment.

Use the Recovery Console
Use the Windows 2000 Setup disks to restart the computer, or use the Windows 2000 CD-ROM to restart the computer.
At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to repair the Windows 2000 installation.
Press C to repair the Windows 2000 installation by using the Recovery Console.
Type the number that corresponds to the Windows installation that you want to repair, and then press ENTER. For example, type 1, and then press ENTER. For additional information, click the article number below to view the article inthe Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q229716 Description of the Windows Recovery Console

Good Morning
this means that your bootup.ini file has been corrupted or deleted which means you might have to rebuild your laptop ie:- restore the operating system from scratch this might mean that you will have to format hard drive (hopefully not)if so and you have important data on there then try and slave it up to a pc via an adapter that you can buy that will link up the laptop drive to a pc then retrieve your data or files
good luck
steve

it means the system is not able to find this file called NTLoader.

there could be a diskette in the a drive. just remove that and press any key to restart.

it could be cause by careless deleteion of the boot.ini file by your children, or the something that he/she did that corrupt the loading processes. connect your laptop to another pc, copy the important data over, restore the system using the restore disk, copy back the important data to your laptop.

All the previous replies will probably get you out of the hot water, however, before you go to any great lengths to recover the missing file.... did you check to see if it was in your "Recyle Bin"??