Unmountable Boot/Recovery Console

Discussion in 'Software' started by skd44, Sep 8, 2006.

  1. skd44

    skd44 Private First Class

    I have had a problem with my laptop for the last few months, I actually went out and bought a new laptop but I would like to salvage some of the info from my original.
    I had a problem that said Unmountable Boot Volume with the bad machine and never got around to solving it. I see on many of the suggested fixes on this site that alot of people recommend using the recovery console or the original Microsoft XP CD's that the computer came with. My laptop never came with this Disc, it only came with the Quck Restore System Recovery CD's, and I do not know how to access the recovery console, unless this is the same thing as hitting F8 before the computer tries to boot. I am aware of the menu's where you can change the order of how the computer boots up but I am not familiar with the recovery console. Any suggestions would help as I am mainly just trying to salvage Outlook Express, some Microsoft Word docs and some Powerpoint Presentations. Any help would be great, and I never finished trying to fix this the first time around, it was a little too confusing for my computer literacy level. Thanks so much.
     
    skd44, Sep 8, 2006
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your computer will not boot returning the error "Unmountable boot Volume". This is usually caused by a corrupt "BOOT.INI" file.

    SOLUTION 1

    Access the recovery console. (This is the first repair option you get after you boot off the Windows XP CD (To see where this menu is Click here), unfortunately some OEM CD's (Or recovery CD's) do not have this option), but if you download the Windows XP boot disks you will be able to use the Console.

    Download XP boot disks from here (May require 6 blank floppy disks)

    Once you log into the recovery console type the following command "CHKDSK /F" or "CHKDSK /P". Once the scan is complete then reboot the computer. You should be able to log into Windows.

    Your computer will not boot returning the error "Unmountable boot Volume". This is usually caused by a corrupt "BOOT.INI" file.



    SOLUTION 2

    This option tends to be very successful.

    Quite simply take the Hard Drive out of your computer, then go to a friends house, that is a friend who owns a Windows XP computer, and with permission open up his/hers computer, disconnect their CD-Rom drives, and plug your hard drive in with theirs, of course make sure the cable is seated correctly and that the power connector is plugged in.

    Your friend computer will now boot up and run Chkdsk before it logs into Windows, let this run & complete.

    Take your Hard Drive home and test. This method has a good success rate.


    Your computer will not boot returning the error "Unmountable boot Volume". This is usually caused by a corrupt "BOOT.INI" file.



    SOLUTION 4 - "Autochk.exe cannot be Found"

    If you get an error in relation to a missing "autochk.exe" file when running chkdsk, then do the following at command prompt:

    Type:

    CD C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

    Now try the "CHKDSK /F" or "CHKDSK /P" command again.

    Microsoft solutions:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555302
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297185

    http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000630.htm
     
    TimW, Sep 8, 2006
    #2
  3. skd44

    skd44 Private First Class

    Thank you so much for your solutions, I truly appreciate it. Two questions though, and I am sorry if they seem a little stupid after the solution answers you gave me, but first off, how do I get into the recovery console itself, I a little confused as to how to do this exactly, and in the answer you gave me it says "Download XP boot disks from here" and it doesn't give me anything to click on or a link to go to in order to boot the disks. Second, as far as removing and taking the hard drive to another computer, I have never removed a hard drive from either a laptop or a home pc, so is there any place I can go that will show me or tell me how to do this, and once I have done that I am a little concerned about opening up a friends computer and connecting my hard drive with theirs and disconnecting their cd rom drives................is there a place or link to go to that will take me step by stpe through that process as well? I just don't want to do any damage to anyone else's machine also.
     
    skd44, Sep 8, 2006
    #3
  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310994

    As to the installing as a slave drive ....pretty straight forward ....open the case and remove the old drive (power and ide ribbon) ...open the "new" case and you will see the ribbon to the "new" hard drive ....on the old drive ...most the jumpers on the back (between the ide connection and the power connetion) so that it is in the slave position (may have to be set to cable select - if the new machine is so jumpered) ...connect ide middle connection and power ...turn on computer and see if it is shown in my computer ....if not ...reboot into bios and see if the bios recognized it ...if it didn't, switch jumper to other position (either cable or slave) ...reboot ....it should be assigned a drive letter and you should have access to all your files.
     
    TimW, Sep 8, 2006
    #4

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