Unmountable_Boot_Volume
Discussion
PC just 'crashed' and switched off, everytime I restart I get a Blue Screen with the error 'Unmountable_Boot_Volume' followed by some codes. No matter what option I choose, safe mode - whatever, I always get the same error.
I could reload the original setup but will lose alot of unsaved files (mainly family video's that I haven't got round to saving yet) Anyone got any ideas?
Running Win XP Home edition BTW. Cheers
I could reload the original setup but will lose alot of unsaved files (mainly family video's that I haven't got round to saving yet) Anyone got any ideas?
Running Win XP Home edition BTW. Cheers
cazzo said:
PC just 'crashed' and switched off, everytime I restart I get a Blue Screen with the error 'Unmountable_Boot_Volume' followed by some codes. No matter what option I choose, safe mode - whatever, I always get the same error.
I could reload the original setup but will lose alot of unsaved files (mainly family video's that I haven't got round to saving yet) Anyone got any ideas?
Running Win XP Home edition BTW. Cheers
Have you tried entering BIOS to check the boot order? Maybe the first boot is the floppy and a wire's come loose from it. You could change the first boot to your Windows hard drive.
Boot order is HDD first, unfortunately it seems that with WinXP there is no startup disk option & the only option I seem to have is to format/reload windows using recovery disks this will erase all data on HDD and although it has 2 HDD both have files that I don't want to lose.
Think I might be up sh1t creek!
Thanks anyway!
Think I might be up sh1t creek!
Thanks anyway! Only CD's I have are Recovery and the drivers, if I run the recovery it formats the HDD, the drivers only load if Windows is already running.......
With earlier versions on Windows I believe this was possible, similar to bootable Floppy Disk.
It seems win XP is 'better' until it has a 'brainfart' then difficult (impossible?) to restore. On my laptop (Win Me) I can always get round these problems (good old safe mode!) but this is the first serious problem I've had with this PC.
Cheers
Edited 'cos I've drank a bottle of Chianti and can't type any more!
>> Edited by cazzo on Sunday 12th October 23:12
With earlier versions on Windows I believe this was possible, similar to bootable Floppy Disk.
It seems win XP is 'better' until it has a 'brainfart' then difficult (impossible?) to restore. On my laptop (Win Me) I can always get round these problems (good old safe mode!) but this is the first serious problem I've had with this PC.
Cheers
Edited 'cos I've drank a bottle of Chianti and can't type any more!
>> Edited by cazzo on Sunday 12th October 23:12
I'm guessing here that you don't have a "Windows XP" installation disc (the type you get in the box) but a disc or couple of discs branded by the manufacturer of your PC that came with it?
If so Windows XP must be on one of those, or do you only have the option of reinstalling XP with all the software that the PC shipped with as an executable with no options for just booting it.
If so Windows XP must be on one of those, or do you only have the option of reinstalling XP with all the software that the PC shipped with as an executable with no options for just booting it.
Cazzo, maybe this one works:
www.windowsreinstall.com/install/winxp/howto3/unmountable.htm said:
Your computer will not boot returning the error "Unmountable boot Volume".
If the recovery console can be used then the command chkdsk /f should be run from there. Failing that you will need to run a windows XP repair. Click here to learn about Windows XP Repair
FourWheelDrift said:
I'm guessing here that you don't have a "Windows XP" installation disc (the type you get in the box) but a disc or couple of discs branded by the manufacturer of your PC that came with it?
If so Windows XP must be on one of those, or do you only have the option of reinstalling XP with all the software that the PC shipped with as an executable with no options for just booting it.
Yes only got 3 or 4 CD's that came with the PC the only one that can be run (unless already in Windows) is the 'Recovery Disc' which has win XP on it but seemingly will only run as a full 'recover' all the extra drivers for sound, modem etc are on the Driver discs.
Do you think I could sort this problem if I had WinXP on disc without all the PC manufacturers crap?
Other option I had thought of was getting a new HDD to format/load from recovery disc and then copy files from old HDD - I know this will work as I have 'borrowed' a HDD from an old PC and done exactly this (original HDD will work as a slave!), only problem is the 'borrowed' HDD is too small to transfer the files to! and although I have 2 large HDD's I don't want to lose the files on either!
Don't you just love computers?
cazzo said:
Do you think I could sort this problem if I had WinXP on disc without all the PC manufacturers crap?
Not worth spending £60-70 on a copy of XP when you might be able to get it sorted another way first.
cazzo said:
Other option I had thought of was getting a new HDD to format/load from recovery disc and then copy files from old HDD - I know this will work as I have 'borrowed' a HDD from an old PC and done exactly this (original HDD will work as a slave!), only problem is the 'borrowed' HDD is too small to transfer the files to! and although I have 2 large HDD's I don't want to lose the files on either!
Don't you just love computers?
That's not a bad idea, if it doesn't works you'll still have to buy a new HDD as a replacement. If it's a boot sector fault on the current HDD it might not be recognised by the new master HDD when you boot the PC though, the DOS screen start up after it runs the memory check.
But what until tommorow as some IT tech support people on here will be able to add much more to this.
When I started the PC with the 'borrowed' HDD it started OK then ran a check on the original boot HDD (installed as a slave) which took a while and then the HDD was readable.
I thought that this may have cured the problem but it still gave the same problem when I re-installed the HDD as the master.
Actually a new (bigger) HDD may be the best solution as I was looking for more space anyway but I don't like to be beaten by a damn PC and would like to get the better of it.......even if I throw it away afterwards!
I thought that this may have cured the problem but it still gave the same problem when I re-installed the HDD as the master.
Actually a new (bigger) HDD may be the best solution as I was looking for more space anyway but I don't like to be beaten by a damn PC and would like to get the better of it.......even if I throw it away afterwards!
1) It's not the boot sector of the HDD. If it were, you wouldn't get as far as you do (i.e a BSOD).
2) The easiest way to recover your system is to perform a 'parallel install'. i.e install Windows XP into a separate folder on the same disk (from a (borrowed) bootable XP CD), copy the data to CD (or wherever), then reinstall using your CD. Failing that, if you have a friend with a PC (running Windows 2000 or later) then you could install your HDD in their machine and copy the necessary data off.
DJ
2) The easiest way to recover your system is to perform a 'parallel install'. i.e install Windows XP into a separate folder on the same disk (from a (borrowed) bootable XP CD), copy the data to CD (or wherever), then reinstall using your CD. Failing that, if you have a friend with a PC (running Windows 2000 or later) then you could install your HDD in their machine and copy the necessary data off.
DJ
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