UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME stop error

Can anyone help. I have a dell Dimension 4500. The blue screen pops up the stop error UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. STOP:0X000000ED.
I tried to boot in safe mode. It still pops up the blue stop screen.
I put in my Dell 32 bit diagnostic cd and the IDE tests failed. Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected. I put in the XP disc and got windows recovery to come up, now I'm at the C:/. Can someone help?

 

Thanx, I will shut it down and try that first. I was about to run the chkdsk c:/r.

 

The cables were ok, so I ran the check disc and it fixed 2 volume errors. The computer booted ok. I unplugged the internet and am getting all the files I want off of it first. Then Im going to run virus, spyware, scan disk, defrag and anything else I can think of before I reconnect the internet. Im not sure if I got a virus or it was just a freak thing. My son was playing free games shortly prior to this problem. Back in December I had major malware issues your forum helped me resolve. That took 3 days. The computer is around 7 years old. I think its time to replace. If you have any other advise Id gladly consider it. Thanks for the help.
MadMaxx

 

Glad to hear you got it sorted out. chkdsk c: /r will fix an UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error about 90% of the time as long as the drive itself is not failing. You may want to consider running a full diagnostic on the drive after you've backed up you important files. If you're getting the unmountable volume errors more than once or twice a year (which IMO is too many- I've had my home PC for over 3 years with the same hard drive and NEVER had this error) then the drive may be slowly failing...

[dlb]