Unmountable_boot_volume

[Young Teck 06]

Hey there everybody... haven't been here in a while but I am in need of some help for my girlfriend. Her computer is giving her problems, let me go through the steps.

Step 1, she starts up the PC, it asks the "Start the Computer Normally, Start in Safe Mode..." blah blah, you know what screen I am talking about. Whichever option she chooses, it'll take her to the screen as if it'll load up.

Step 2: She gets a blue screen with white text that says something about "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" --- I am not sure, I've run out of idea's... hell, even my computer tech teacher is stumped.

Step 3: I need ya'll professionals to help me out with what the problem could be. If anybody could help, I'd kindly PayPal you $20 for your help, its for my girlfriend and it sucks to see her bored because her PC doesnt work... anybody willing to help? Thanks.

[AstroNox]

Hi Teck, I've encountered this problem you faced before and it is surprisingly easy to fix (unless you have a hard disk that is already failing). You will need your Windows XP CD to do this.

1. Boot from your Windows XP CD. You might need to change the settings at the laptop's BIOS. Most modern BIOS nowadays support a "boot menu", where you can specify which device to boot from without changing the CMOS settings. It is usually tied to the F9 or F10 keypress before the machine boots.
2. I do not know if you have done a fresh Windows XP installation before, but if you haven't, what happens now is that the Windows XP installer will load the various drivers and system files in order for the installer to fully run. Initially it will ask you to press F6 if you need to install 3rd party hard disk drivers and F2 to run automated recovery. Ignore those and wait till you reach this screen:
[IMG]http://www.simplyguides.net/images/guides/recovery_console/4.jpg[/IMG]
3. Notice the second option: "To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R." Do what it says; press R.
4. You will be asked to press Enter if you want to use a custom keyboard layout. Either wait for the 5 seconds to expire, or press Esc to get this following screen:
[IMG]http://www.simplyguides.net/images/guides/recovery_console/6.jpg[/IMG]
5. Normally you should only see one installation as in the screenshot, which is usually at C:\WINDOWS . Press1 as in the screenshot to select that installation.
6. There is an Administrator account built-in in Windows XP and is usually transparent to the end user unless he/she activates it and uses it. By default there is no password for the Administrator; just press Enter. If you are unable to log in without a password, you should ask who has set the password before, or call your laptop service personnel.
7. Now, type the following command, fixboot , as in the screenshot. This will fix your corrupted boot sector on your hard disk.
[IMG]http://www.simplyguides.net/images/guides/recovery_console/8.jpg[/IMG]
8. Type exit and your laptop will reboot. Remove the installation disk and your system should boot as normal.
9. If your system still does not boot, you might want to try fixmbr instead of fixboot at item 7. If you have multiple operating systems installed in your hard disk, you will need to reconfigure them to appear as a choice in the boot menu again. You should only do this if fixboot really doesn't work.
[IMG]http://www.simplyguides.net/images/guides/recovery_console/7.jpg[/IMG]
10. If these steps still do not work for you, or if the problem returns time and again, you might have a failing hard disk, or you have a virus in your computer that is corrupting your boot sector. Either scenario would justify sending your laptop for service, especially if you'd like to avoid all the possible headaches and possible voiding of warranty associated with fixing it manually.

Hope this helps!

P.S. If you mean the $20, just PM me and I'll give you my e-mail.

[nizzy1115]

Dang! i wish i saw this sooner!

[Young Teck 06]

Technically, it wont work, cause its a desktop, not a laptop... and she doesn't have her boot disk... SOOOOO, hopefully the Geek Squad from Best Buy can do something, her dad done called about it and she's set for her computer to be fixed this week.

[nizzy1115]

Wait what are you talking about. I just did it on my destop 2 days ago! You dont need a boot disk either. Any windows xp disk of any version, copied or legit, retail or oem, will work. What the above poster said will work and dont take it to the geek squad and waste your money, just do what the above person said. They are 100% correct.

[AstroNox]

What nizzy1115 said is true, you could use any Windows XP CD to do this. But if you don't then I guess you will have to do with traditional servicemen. But really now, you don't have a Windows XP CD lying somewhere? ;)

[Young Teck 06]

As sad as it is, no, I don't have ANY Windows XP disks lying around, I would buy OEM, but its expensive in a way. Hell, do you think eBay could help me in this cause (of finding a cheap Windows XP disk?)

[AstroNox]

You could try that. Alternatively you could search for a torrent that gives you an ISO for the Windows XP CD. Then you can burn that out for your use. So long as you have a legal CD-Key, you own the right to have your own Windows XP CD.

[Young Teck 06]

'Eh, okay, so ummmm, where can I find me a copy of the Windows XP software... and how hard is it to add it to an CD? Just take the files and copy to the CD? Also, is there any "keys" thats I need to add to the CD to make the softwware run nicely.

[nizzy1115]

I would love to help you here, but it seems that this thread is getting into the realm of illegal copyrighted infringment material.
However if one was wishing do such a thing, (which you deffinatly mussent, or anyone else for that matter) you would download a bit torrent client, such as azureus and install it (just google it), then you would go to a bittorrent website, such as torrentspy, or thepiratebay, and search for windows xp and download the file. Once the torrent loads into the bit torrent client (azureus) and finishes some time later, it will likely be in the format of an image file, (iso, img, etc.). You would then need a cd burning program that can burn cd images, such as nero 7, and you would burn the image to the disk. (Again research on google if you have more questions into this). After it is burned you have a completly real (or as real as it gets) windows xp cd (you already have the cd key but it is not needed for your application) to do what the directions state for repairing the master boot record.

[nizzy1115]

oh, and by the way, what i meant by oem disk, was a disk that came with the computer like the dell restore disk or what not. I know the dell disk is really just a windows xp disk with a little bit added to it.

[Young Teck 06]

I used to pirate but it got boring so I'm going to most likely get an OEM version off of eBay most likely. Trust and believe, it also sounds like downloading a torrent takes too long (I am impateint, :tongue:)

When this PayPal goes through, I'll be sure to split the $20 between you nizzy and the person who gave instructions to fix it.

[AstroNox]

I know that this will go into the area of copyright infringement that's why I did not specifically state any methods to get the ISO. However, I believe that as long as you bought the software, even if it came pre-installed, and you own a legal CD-Key, you have the full right to the install CD. It's because the installation CD by itself is the same as anyone else's—the only difference is that it may be either a single or volume license version.

The unfortunate thing is that most manufacturers do not give a single-license CD out because first of all, they used RIS or some special version of the Windows CD to mass install the OS, and that usually their single-license keys are bought from Microsoft in bulk without the actual installer CD (with all the holographic stuff on top of the CD).

[JemB]

if you bought the pc with xp pre installed the product key on the tower or case will work to run reinstalls or repairs with almost any xp or installation disk. i'd just borrow or get a backup copy from a mate

[stuartk]

hey i am getting this same msg and problem but when i get to the windows setup screen i push 'r' to repair and it starts examining then it restarts and i still have problem, why is it restarting what do i do? please email me at [EMAIL="[e-mail]"][e-mail][/EMAIL] if you can help thx so much and its on my laptop and i got my windows xp cd

[JemB]

you could try going past the repair console option, continue as if you as if you were going to install, (do not reformat) it will check the existing windows installation, if it detects damage it will tell you so and ask if you want to attempt to repair your current installation (you press R for this one too). it will perform a repair/overwrite keeping your data intact. if it does not offer the repair option, do not go past this point. Cancel the install (F3). you will need your disk and key. read the options carefully they are pretty clear.

[markerfl]

9. If your system still does not boot, you might want to try fixmbr instead of fixboot at item 7. If you have multiple operating systems installed in your hard disk, you will need to reconfigure them to appear as a choice in the boot menu again. You should only do this if fixboot really doesn't work.

I felt like I should add just one more thing.

When the fixboot did not fix the problem, I went back in to the console and issued the following commands

chkdsk /r

after it scanned and repaired the damaged sectors, i issued this command

chkdsk /p

this ran quick...

then I did the fixboot again

after that, it started up just fine for me.

[tech mate]

i'm sure your right and all but it's different for windows xp pro it show a bar at the bottom ang gives u different options. they are press F2 ro run automated system recovery the rest is just like u said but there is no R as u said. also it says Window setup

[tech mate]

Hey everyone don't listen to my first thread i looked at astronoxs thread were u do the three steps it worked perfectly so tyvm i would've have to pay to bring this to geek squad i'm coming here every time i have a problem bye.

[Machine316]

Wait what are you talking about. I just did it on my destop 2 days ago! You dont need a boot disk either. Any windows xp disk of any version, copied or legit, retail or oem, will work. What the above poster said will work and dont take it to the geek squad and waste your money, just do what the above person said. They are 100% correct.

Not to start any confusion however not any disk will work. Most disks will work. If you own a Dell computer you need to use the disk that comes with your machine because of the specific drivers for the hardware in your machine. ie: sata harddrive. Otherwise your computer will not reconize anyhard drive which is a important step in fixing a Unmountable_Boot_Volume.