On a Windows installed computer system with SCSI drive being used as the boot drive and no SCSI adapter BIOS enabled, NTLDR will access NTBOOTDD.SYS file for initial boot to communicate with the controller. The file is basically a SCSI miniport device driver that system renames to Ntbootdd.sys and places in root system folder. Windows uses it when Boot.ini file contains SCSI() or SIGNATURE(). You computer becomes unbootable when no or incorrect NTBOOTDD.SYS file exists, while preventing you from accessing the data stored on SCSI drive. The solution requires you to boot the system from boot disk or rename the faulty file. However if the data remains inaccessible while no valid data backup is available, apply and use an effective Data Recovery Software.

For instance, you might receive the below error message when trying to boot from a SCSI drive installed in a Windows XP based computer:

“Windows XP could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows XP (TM) documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information. Boot Failed.”

The boot process fails without allowing any access to stored data.

Cause

NTBOOTDD.SYS file is missing or incorrect.

Note: The error can also occur if an incorrect SCSI driver is selected.

Solution

Following are the basic solutions that can help you recovering from such problems:

• Use Windows XP bootable disk or installation media, if available, to boot the computer

• Replace or copy the Ntbootdd.sys file from the root of the boot or installation disk to the root system folder of your computer.

• Try to duplicate the behavior by restarting the system from your boot SCSI drive. If the problem remains the same, try other troubleshooting steps, like formatting and reinstalling the operating system.

To recover inaccessible or lost data, consider your last good backup to restore. For any reason, if it is not available, you need a Data Recovery utility. A Data Recovery Software proves as a valid tool to scan, locate and restore missing data from a logically crashed drive. While providing safe Partition Recovery, such tools are easy to implement with graphically rich user interface.