XP Pro Boot Problem

This all started with a missing NTLDR error.

I found a rescue disk for "fix NTLDR and missing Hal ",which got me back to XP.
( "How to fix: NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart" at:
http://www.tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm )

On my next reboot the same thing happened.After I got back into
XP,I replaced the boot.ini,ntldr and ntdetect.com files with copies from a backup.

That worked fine for a few reboots,but then all of a sudden all I got was a black screen with a blinking cursor.Used the bootdisk again,all ok again for a few reboots but then the black screen again.This has happened three times now.

Two things I've noticed that I'd like advice with,please.

1) My boot.ini file does not have the read only box checked. Shouldn't this file be flagged as read only?

2) The last line in my boot.ini file reads:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

IS this entry [noexecute=optin] keeping me from booting up?

I have one HDD with three partitions.XP is on the first one.

Not sure if I'm on the right track but thought I'd start with this.System info is in my sig.All advice will be appreciated.
Thanks,Rich

 

Thanks,Pete.

I have the Western Digital diagnostic software.Last run was about a month ago.It'll be interesting to see how it goes this time.First time it found no errors.Will report back with results.

Rich

 

Results of actions taken:

Full scan AVG Free
Full Scan CounterSpy v2
Full Scan TrendMicro Housecall,virus and spyware-online
--All Scans Clean--
Full diag with WD HDD utility found zero errors.

I replaced the boot.ini,ntldr and ntdetect.com files with copies from a backup again. Also changed boot.ini to read only.

Box booted right up like there never was a problem.

One oddity I noticed after I got back to XP last nite and still today is that every once in a while my card reader/floppy combo lights up and sings out like something is accessing it.There are no media in any of those drives.

Do you have any further suggestions?

Thanks,Rich

 

So far, ok.
But it's too soon to tell.
I booted multiple times over a couple days the last two times this happened.

Thanks for the link.
I'll pursue that,and if problem still persists then I'll try your repair install option. Thanks again,Rich