Help! Error-UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME?

OK, This is my sons laptop. The other day all of ours computers did the windows auto update. All were fine at restart except my sons laptop. It will not go on his desk top at all. I get an error …

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If the screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed.If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any new updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:
*** Stop: 0x000000ED (0x812c5988, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
I'm not sure if those "0"'s are supposed to be "Q"'s. They are all the same tho.

How do I fix this? Also. Please EASY computer english. Novice.

Go Here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185

use their instructions for "chkdsk /r" from recovery console.

Keep us posted with your progress.

Best Regards

I'm looking thru his bag of CD's that came with the unit. Still sealed, never opened. I don't see a start up disk.

If the Operating System is Window 2000 or Windows XP, what you need is the Operating System installation CD. Check Disk can also be run from the Windows - Start - Run feature, but try it from Recovery Console (better) providing that you have the Operating System (XP or Win2K) CD. Best Regards

Can I use my Daughters CD? Also How do I get to Recovery Console?

From the Microsof article I linked above:

1. Start your computer with the Windows startup disks, or with the Windows CD-ROM if your computer can start from the CD-ROM drive.
2. When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to select the repair option.
3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the Windows installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.
4. Type the administrator password when you are prompted to do so.

NOTE: If no administrator password exists, press ENTER.
5. At the command prompt, on the drive where Windows is installed, type chkdsk /r, and then press ENTER.
6. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER to restart your computer.

Yes, in the case of Chkdsk, you will "probably" be able to use an Installation Disk that is of the same Operating System, since Chkdsk does not require entering a Product Identification Key.

Give it a try.

If it refuses to enter Recovery Console, then exit.
Reboot into SAFE Mode
GoTo:
Start - Run - (type)chkdsk /r
let it run its course (probably will take about 1/2 hour) exit when finished and attempt to boot normally.

Best Regards

When I go to safe mode…Should I have the CD in ahead of time?

I just tried to go to safe mode. It scans and then goes right to the error screen above. Is this system frumped? Will I have to re-install windows?

Were you able to get into Recovery Console?

Nope, no matter what I try to access. It's the same error.

In SAFE Mode - Run Windows File Protection - System File Checker Start - Run(type)sfc /scannow (notice and include the "space" between c /) This will open and Run Windows File Protection, which will scan the Operating System for any missing or corrupt Operating System files. (have an Installation CD handy, because if SFC detects a missing or corrupt Operating System file it will need to copy/replace the file) ___________________ Recovery Console is a "bottom-line" utility to repair when all else fails. Keep looking for the XP installation CD for that specific machine. If you didn't receive one, then read the Owners Manual for information about accessing Recovery Console via the Backup System Partition. (probably a drive D:\ where preloaded Operating System backup is stored on Systems that don't have an install CD)

Looking to see if I can find the CD. If DD came with one. His should have. I can not access Safe Mode at all. I can run diag scans.

OK. Run sfc /scannow from Normal mode.

i CAN'T TYPE ANY COMMANDS. Only the diag from the F12. Maybe it can tell us something. I have hunted everywhere and beyong for that CD. I may have to purchase another XP. I'm poor right now.

Insert the XP installation CD from your daughter's computer into the machine with the problem.

Power up the problem machine.
Watch carefully for options to Enter Setup or Enter BIOS, or Enter CMOS.
While the screen still has a dark background and shows information in what looks like DOS mode, you will see instructions for entering Setup. It goes by quickly so be watchful.

It will probably look like:

To Enter Setup, Press F2

Various machines use different keys, like F10, F12, DEL, so you'll have to look for the message that tells you what key to press.

Once you are in BIOS or Setup, browse to the section that lists "Disk Boot Order"
Again there are differences, but most often you'll find the list in "Advanced" and subtopic IDE

You will see a list of the machines various drives, including Floppy if it has one, Hard Drive, and Optical Drives (CD ROM)

Most likely the "Boot Order" is presently set to:

Floppy first
Hard Drive Second
CD ROM third

At the Bottom of the page, you will see instructions for using UpArrow, DownArrow, UpPage, DownPage or Add+, Subtract - (one set of these key combinations will allow you to "toggle" move the items in the Boot Order)

Use the appropriate key combination to Move CD ROM up to the top of the list, so that CD ROM is the first Item. That will force your machine to "boot" from CD ROM before trying Hard Drive, etc.

Exit BIOS/SetUp by selecting Exit and Save New Settings, or Exit and Save Settings

Now when you reboot, your machine will boot from the XP installation Disk that you've placed into the CD ROM.

Restart your machine. (it should go to the XP CD)
now follow the instructions that I first posted from Microsoft regarding CHECKDISK.

For your further information, here is the routine that I generally instruct users to follow:

Check Disk in XP

Set the order to boot from the CD Rom 1st and the Hard drive 2nd.

Put your Windows CD in the tray, then "Exit with Saving" the settings (far right tab)

1. Boot with your windows CD
It will take some time as the CD loads various files

2. Type R to Enter the Recovery Console
3. Enter the Administrator password (if there is one)
4. Type: chkdsk c: /r and press Enter << 5. Once completed (if no errors of unrecovery) Type: chkdsk c: /p and press Enter
6. Type: fixboot c: and press Enter
You’ll get a script asking if you are sure you wish to write a new boot sector to C:, Type y (for yes)
You’ll get a script stating that a new boot sector has been written.

7. At the prompt, type (exit) to Boot Normally (you'll have to remove the XP CD to boot Normally)

You will notice that "my" instructions also include the instructions for "fixboot" please do so.
After this procedure completes successfully, you will need to go back into BIOS/SetUp to "toggle" the Boot Order back to the way it was originally (Probably as I have listed it above)

Best Regards