What does "attrib -c ntldr" do?

My friend was getting the error message: ntldr compressed.

So, I booted from the Windows CD and entered the Repair utility and run the following:

cd \
attrib -c ntldr
exit

It fixed the problem, the system was able to boot, but now my friend is saying that some files are missing (music, pics) pretty much his "Documents" folder is empty...

I did not format/delete any partitions on the HDD

What does this command do? attrib -c ntldr???

chances are that you should run a chkdsk /f in a command prompt, it sounds like there is some corruption on his harddrive which may have caused his images to dissappear, chkdsk may remedy this although my advice is that if chkdsk reports any 'bad sectors' he should buy a new Hard disk.

The files are not missing nor the folder is empty. You have to take ownership of the folder/files in order to access it.

To take ownership of a folder, follow these steps:

Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
In the Name list, click your user name, or click Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:
You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?
All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.
Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.

Chaitra Yale