15 replies to this topic

[1excop36]

My daughter came to me today with the above problem. When she turns on the computer, she gets the screen asking to boot in the various mode or last workable configuration due to a problem with Windows. Regardless of which option chosen, the computer shows the Windows start screen then displays the following: "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer" "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" It then talks abound disconnecting any new hardware and try to boot in the safe mode, etc. Finally there was : Technical Information: ***Stop:0x000000ED (0x82746030, 0xC00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000) The off switch will not work to power down the computer. The only way to shut it off is buy removing the battery. She says it began following a recent Windows XP update. She's not added any new hardware. Now, she has been very careless with downloads and in running the anti-spyware programs I installed for her (Spybot S&D, AdAware and Spyware Blaster nor has she kept them up to date. Her system has been running everything at a snail's pace. But I'm just Dad and what do I know. I'm trying very hard not to say I told you so. Obviously before I can run a HiJack This! log until I have to get the computer to boot up. In the meantime, she's taken over my computer. PLEASE, someone HELP! Sincere appreciation in advance. Gerry

[Crow]

hmm.. thats usually not a good "stop error" (if theres such a thing as a good one). Do you have an original Windows installation CD? If so, you can try to run the repair console and see if maybe it can fix it. An "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error is going to be a file system error and those for the most part are unrecoverable. There is however third party software available. ..Spinrite (very good recovery and maintainence app) and Acronis (disk imaging and disaster recovery software) are both very reputable and trustworthy applications.

To run the repair console, put in your Windows CD and reboot. (you will need to make sure that your boot order is set to boot from cd rom before your hard drive..if your not familiar with how to do that post back and we'll walk you through it) Watch closely as it will ask you "Press any key to boot from cd".. and do so. It will begin to copy files then restart. It will then ask you if you want to repair a copy of previously installed Windows or continue to setup and install a fresh copy...click to CONTINUE installing a fresh copy...it will go through asking you to read the EULA (end user licsense agreement) and then it will ask you again if you want to repair or not. This time however, it will ask if you want XP to fix itself.. and this is what you want to do. (the first time when it asks it will give you the repair console, which is fine if you know which files need to be replaced, were on the cd they are located and were on the hard drive they go to.. its just easier to let Windows do it)

If it does NOT ask you a second time to repair Windows (if you get to the partitioning screen) then windows can not fix itself..for lack of a more appropriate analogy. More than likely however, im affriad your going to have to purchase some third party software to fix this one. Now.. if theres nothing of major importance on the drive, or nothing to important NOT to loose, then if the repair does not work...simply re-install Windows. (which we can walk you through if you need some help)

[1excop36]

I'm gathering that this is a pretty serious malfunction. I don't think her laptop came with a Windows XP CD and I doubt if she made a copy from the harddrive as she should have. Would it be possible to use the Windows XP CD that came with my Dimension desktop to run the repair console or will the ELUA stuff that goes along with XP preclude that? In the event that the damage is unrecoverable and the Windows must be reinstalled, could I use that disk or will she have to purchase a new copy of Windows XP? Any ideas as to what caused this meltdown? Thanks for the assistance.

[Crow]

Unfortunately your going to need either software that came with laptop, or an original Windows installation CD.

See, this here is exactly the reason I recommend building your own computer (dont get me wrong here..not directed at you just venting). In my opinion, when your sold something, they should actually give you what you pay for. Instead they give you THIER version of how things should be and I hate that.

Anyway, sorry bout that, had to say it. All is not lost yet however. It is possible that its recoverable... See if you can borrow someones copy so that you can run the repair console. Keep in mind however that the copy you borrow has already registered so you can not use it to install with.

I sure wish I had some better news for you, just ive been through that exact same ordeal countless times and have to be able to recover fully from it. BUT... like I said its not an impossibility that repair console cant fix it so most deffinitely try that first

Edited by Crow, 10 November 2005 - 01:29 AM.

[Crow]

Ok..just to be %100 positive that I have thought of everything, I spoke to a friend of mine that works at Microsoft. He told me that is quite possible that it could be a ribbon cable issue. Now, although I have seen the issue discussed before I wouldnt gaurantee it to be a fix. And being its a laptop.. i just dont know for sure how you would go about changing out the cable (as theres really not a "cable" persay in it)..However I have an idea for you try. Boot into BIOS.. (or setup...it will be something like the f1 key.. or possibly the escape or delete key).. Now.. under the "Main", or general/standard, setting option, it will show each drive and how it is set up (you may have to highlight, by using the up and down arrows, the drive and press enter). It will settings like.. TYPE... CYLINDERS...HEADS.....SECTORS. Now, find the UDMA setting. If there is option to set that at "AUTO" .. do so..if not the options should read some thing similiar to Mode 1.. Mode 2.. etc..Try each setting and post back please..please.. please..let us know what you come up with.

[1excop36]

No problem about the rant. One of these days, I'll get ambitious and try building one for myself as I've been toying with the idea for a couple of years now. I found out from a Dell knowledgeable person that since both computers are Dells and the OEM Windows XP CD that comes with Dell computers are preactivated and I'll be able to do an install if need be. I'm guessing that I'll have to do a reformat of her hard drive and do a "clean" reinstallation. As to the cable issue, I got a blurb from the Microsquash knowledge base that mentions that as a possible cause. But as you said being a laptop, I doubt it. She's made no hardware changes so I doubt that's the issue either. Part of the problem is that I'm unable to effect a proper shut down. I can only turn it off by removing the battery. Start-up brings up the improper shutdown warning and safe mode start up options. Well, tomorrow, I roll up the sleeves and see what happens. Maybe after this she'll pay a little more attention to Dad about using the "good" anti-virus and anti-spyware programs besides the ones AOL provides. Yeah, right! I appreciate the help. If I do get it functioning then the next step will be running a Highjack This! log and see how messed up things are. Thanks again for your efforts to help. Gerry

Edited by 1excop36, 10 November 2005 - 02:19 AM.

[Crow]

Ok.. lets do this.. before you change anything in bios.. hunt down that particular setting i just mentioned.. UDMA.. and post back to tell us what it is set on before you make any changes.

[1excop36]

Crow; Okay, I managed, after some difficulty, to get into the BIOS display/setup. However, I am unable to get past the time/date using the arrow keys and therefore unable to highlight the hard drive to get the information you asked for. I am able to page through the various BIOS screens but am not able to get the information on the hard drive. What am I doing wrong? In the meantime, she found the Dell Diagnostic CD which someone from dell suggested I run. I managed to get it going and I'll post the results if any thing of significance is reported. Again, I appreciate the assistance. Gerry

Edited by 1excop36, 10 November 2005 - 06:02 PM.

[1excop36]

Crow; I don't think the results of the diagnostic test bode well for my daughter. I got the following on the IDE Hard Drive Confidence Test- Read Test: Failures on blocks 6577477, 6595579 and 41279012. "Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected. Failure status code: DOS DDG -D Disk 192 068" "The drive failed to perform the confidence test properly. This may indicate that the driver may need to be replaced" On the IDE Read Test: Failures on the same listed blocks as abve. Failure code DOS DDG-D Disk 020 068 Does this mean essentially what it says, that the hard drive is shot? If not, what's the next step? Gerry

[Crow]

This may indicate that the driver may need to be replaced

Did you mean "drive".. or "driver" there.?

When you get into BIOS.. does it look more like this




Or does it look more like this

[1excop36]

Oops! I meant drive as in hard drive. I ran a second surface test of the hard drive with the Dell diagnostic and got the same failure codes. Someone on the Dell forum feels the drive is failing but I'm not taking that as gospel yet. I'm trying to get through to Dell support but now apparently if you are out of warranty you can no longer get email or chat support assistance. I'm also trying to find the Dell Support document that tells how to remove and reseat the hard drive, as that was one of the proceedures mentioned in another Dell Support document to try if you were having hard drive issues. In answer to your query, the BIOS screen looks similiar to the second one.

Edited by 1excop36, 10 November 2005 - 09:51 PM.

[Crow]

ok.. Well.. just make sure to becareful. Theres not much to reseating the hard drive..just need to becareful. I mean you dont want to pull it out and set it down next to a speaker magnet or something. (The reason I am asking so much of you to do here is that I have been running across the same thing with others.. So much so, and so.. all of the sudden, that I am wondering if there maybe something viral going around. It would take some doing in order for that to happen but... i ve seen stranger)

[1excop36]

I was wondering about a virus also but if that were the case, would the surface test of the hard drive indicate "uncorrectable data errors" and generate failure codes? I managed to get some information out of Dell support before he shut down after discovering my daughter's computer was out of warranty. He indicated that the hard drive was going bad. If the HD needs to be replace, do you have some suggestions where I can purchase one at a reasonable price. The drive that is currently installed is a 30GB 4200 RPM 2.5" IBM Diablo. Again I appreciate the help. Gerry

[Crow]

You betchya.. but heres were you run into a problem. Dell's have "service tags" wrote in them. (just another way to try and make sure you dont spend money anywere else but with them) There is program called SpinRite that you might think about looking into before you replace the drive. Laptop harddrives are not really cheap (course,I guess no I.T. products are). Spinrite .. well.. ill put it to you like this, Spinrite is the damndest piece of software I have seen. I have used it and brought drives back to life that had absolutly no chance (or so i thought) of ever working again.

Now.. that being said.. you have an investment there in that laptop, and its a good one. I may not agree with thier ethics, but you have a good product. It might be best for you to go ahead and splurge a little there. Even though I think spinrite would fix that drive (if that is indeed the problem) .. I mean.. your looking 5 years of good solid use on a brand new drive..they do wear out after a while and software cant fix that (yet anyway).

So.. after all that I have basically helped you none there. I hope I am not confusing you on any issue...if it were me in your shoes..I would put the money (if you end up having to spend anything that is) into a brand new harddrive. Its a highend machine and .. like i said.. a good investment. I hope that helps some.

(i am curious to know though if this could be viral so if what ever happens.. post back and let us know how things are going)

[1excop36]

Crow; Well, my daughter's gotten almost 4 year's use out of the HD and she's not taken the best care of her machine. I'll look into the SpinRite program and then let her make the decision about getting a new HD. The laptop was our 3rd Dell system and I've been very pleased with them. But now they've gone and gotten stingy with their support (none afetr the warranty is up) plus it's out-sourced where before you dealt with people who were actually familiar with and used the product. When the new Windows comes out, I may just build my own system when it comes time to upgrade. That being said, any suggestions, besides Dell, where I might buy a new HD (Inspiron 8100) at a reasonable price and with reliable service? Gerry