Unmountable_boot_volume

My daughter just dropped off her notebook for "ole dad" to fix. It runs windows XP home, but it wont load windows, even in safe mode where it takes me to a blue screen that says "a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer"
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
I tried using a Koppix cd to boot it, but it doesn't seem to detect it, though it works in my PC.
Anyone know what this means? I am not familiar with notebooks, or windows XP for that matter, but you people usually come through for me, and then she thinks I'm a genious.

 

Unmountable boot volume is basically either a chkdsk, or a busted hard-drive issue. More info here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185/en-us

If there is any real critical data on the laptop (university Thesis, vital business data, etc.), you might want to look into data recovery options.

Otherwise, the best place to start would be to run a chkdsk /r as per the "Damaged File System" section of the above link, and see if that fixes it!

Please let us know if you have any trouble booting from the Windows XP CD (or if you don't have one to use), or otherwise run into any problems!

 

Yeah, that's the problem, she doesn't have a windows CD, I'll try the link and see if I get anywhere, thanks for the ultra quick and helpfull reply.
PS
I spent the day preparing to put an engine in her car, and the evening trying to fix her notebook, ain't it great to be needed.

 

OK, I found out that the file system is damaged, as I said, I don't have a xp disc, but I also can't get it to boot to Koppix, any suggestions, any way to check to see if the hard drive is running?

 

OK, I got knoppix to load, now what do I do?

 

I personally know NOTHING about Linux based stuff, but any check you can do on the HD/file system would probably be a good thing. Other than that, I hope someone smarter has an answer for you.

 

This really is not a *nix issue.

If all else fails, one can use (grey area) a friends xp disk to boot from, to access "repair" mode (not repair installation), to access the recovery console to run chkdsk.

 

Also grab the six boot floppies from here.

Then try this>>

Boot from the floppies to the Recovery Console

Type: chkdsk /r (and wait FOREVER)
Type: fixboot
Type: exit

That might already be mentioned in the links.

 

Nay.

chkdsk /r is not included on the boot floppies.

This would be easy if there was an XP CD.

 

Didn't know that one. Did some digging to see if it could be put on a floppy & came across this>>

1 If you load the Recovery Console from floppy disks, chkdsk may complain that it can't locate autochk.exe. When it asks for that file's location, point it to c:\windows\system32.

Who knows if that'll work? :shrug:

 

Thanks for the reply guys, yeah, i stumbled upon the boot disc site this morning and tried them, but when I hit r for repair, then I get a c prompt, and i type chkdsk /r "AUTOCHK.EXE could not be located in either the startup directory or the cdrom drive.
when i type fixboot it says the bootsector is corrupt the partition is using the NTFS file system.
Then it says new bootsector was successfully written.
but when I restart, the problem still exists. I guess i have to find someone with a XP disc.

 

It will, if the filesystem isn't corrupt.

9/10 times Unmountable Boot Volume means the fileystem isnt readable either.

 

tried pointing it to c:\windows\system32. as you suggested but it says "the command is not recognized type help for a list of commands"

 

Well that sorted that out. Hope you get a hold of a CD.

 

Type dir.

Does it give a directory enumeration error?

 

OK, tried it and got "An error occured during directory enumeration."

 

You are going to need an XP CD to fix the filesystem then.

 

Yeah , I kind of concluded that, but I really want to thank you guys for the fast response, you were very helpful, and I really appreciate it, thanks.

 

I had the same problem as roddinron's daughter. I followed the procedure recommended by Hipster Doofus--luckily I have the original CDs from the laptop and a Win XP from the desktop I built. It took about an hour to run the chkdsk, but I am using the "dead" laptop to post this message.

Even though this thread is 2 years old, it helped me save my trusty old laptop...gee, now I have no reason to spend George W's tax rebate check on a new one--I can use it to buy other tech toys! :clap

Thanks, Geeks. You rock! :wave