UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

Hi, WTT!

Yes, I'm back again. I'm actually seeking help for my sister. She purchased a Dell Laptop in '06. The OS is Win XP Home edition. I'm not sure about the RAM. She just dropped it off over here to ask me to see if I can get it back up and running. She let her kids play online games on it. They also used it for MySpace. I knew I wouldn't be able to but was hoping that you could help me somehow even with the little info that I have given you. I powered it on and typed in the password and it just went to this blue screen which has this message in it:

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 this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Check to make sure any new hardward or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memor 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.

Tecnical Information:
***STOP: 0x000000ED (0x8233A030,0xc0000006,0x00000000,0x00000000)

Again, please let me know if there is anything I can find out for you. I will also attempt to get more info from her and the children.

Thanks
Denise

Oh yeah, by the way I forgot to add she claims she purchased this laptop from the vendor w/ out any disks. Somehow I doubt that but I wasn't there. I was hoping I could google and upload on my computer and transfer it to hers from my jump drive. Sincerely, Denise

Hi Denise9012

Sorry to hear about the problem's.

Only thing i could find on this subject, is from Microsoft's support section.

LINK

ehe, sounds like the kids have been doing things they wasn't supposed to do i guess
I guess you should be looking at option 2, because if the computer have been running until then,
i have a hard time believing it should be the cables. So try the solution given by MS.

Kind regards Abydos

HI, I was wondering if I could use these (2) disks: MS WIN XP HOME Recovery CD SP2 and if needed the Driver Resource, Diagnostic Tools cd roms that came w/ my desktop pc to repair my sister's laptop Denise

Hi ,
Just in case your Danish is not quite as good as Abydos's……… then a link to Microsoft's instructions can be found here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185

This particular error can sometimes be cured by entering the recovery Console and using:
chkdsk /r
(the f switch is implicit)
and if you get a good result you must be prepared to run this several times until chkdsk reports no errors. see the Microsoft link for further details.

In quite a few situations it is difficult to effect a cure and a complete format and reinstall of Windows can be required.

It would be best to make sure that your sisters back up/archive/copy of all her important stuff is 100% up to date and reproducible, even if it is only a day or two old it would be wise to consider updating this before doing anything else. As she may need to use a parallel operating system for this or, Bart pre installed environment ,or Knoppix ,or wire the hard drive via USB to a working machine, you may need to advise her on this or do it for her ( post back if you need help on how to do this.)

Using a manufacturer's restore disc will normally format, reinstall Windows and bring the machine to the state it was in when it left the factory, so having the correct Manufacturer's disc can be a good help, particularly as they will usually include the required drivers…they may not be up to date ones but at least they should work well enough so that she can download the current ones. If the discs you have or can obtain are for an absolutely identical machine, identical in every way then your discs may work but if the machines are not identicalt then this is a non starter.

As your machine is a desktop and hers a laptop I would not even consider this. If she doesn't have the manufacturers' restore discs then they can often be bought from the manufacturer or their agents, although they will cost her. Your thoughts on using a jump drive are interesting but unfortunately unlikely to be successful .

Formatting and starting again is a big step to take, as it will wipe everything on her computer, all her drivers, data, documents, settings music, photos, emails, favourites in fact everything on her hard drive so its best to try the options given by Microsoft first. That is after copying off all her important stuff first ..that really should be her number one priority.
Regards
paws

Thanks, Paws for the info. I did notice that link wasn't in English and went to MS website and typed in her error message. It was telling me some of the same things that you were telling me. At the risk of sounding really computer illiterate, I wanted to ask how do I go by entering the recovery Console and run chkdisk /r on her laptop if it won't even get passed the blue screen? I put her password in and it immediately goes to this blue screen. It won't even let me boot up in Safe Mode. And also yes, I'm going to need help to back up/archive/copy her all of her stuff up to date and reproducible. I will need help as she may need to use a parallel operating system for this or, Bart pre installed environment ,or Knoppix ,or wire the hard drive via USB to a working machine. I want to do this for her. I will also try to locate the correct disc somehow as well. Thanks Paws, Denise

Hi Denise (and to paws) I am so very sorry about the danish link Normally I select english out to the right of the page, which also show (USA) which will convert the text on the page. But thats not an excuse, so once again sorry I have an danish version of XP so I usually get directed to the danish version…….Hope you'll forgive me for that inconvinience. I think I should leave you to the safe hands of paws, as she knows backup-routines better than I for sure. I could direct you to the Recovery console, but I think its better that one handle all. So you'll get all the info needed in one go. With kind regards Abydos

It's was ok Abydos. I knew to look there for English. Thanks for your quick reply and apology. And maybe we will cross passes again. Denise

Hi Denise9102,

Is your Sister's Laptop under warranty? You say it is new, I would ask her re the warranty and execute it if in fact it is.

You are in good hands with Paws…… just thought I would ask re the warranty.

Good luck and best regards,

Hi Denise9012,

You have received excellent advice from both tallin and Abydos, and its good to know that they are keeping an eye on this problem, as four heads are better than one!

Let me start with a warning please, sometimes it is possible to cure this fault easily by following the advice in the Microsoft link, but quite often it entails a format and reinstall and re installation of all drivers, applications data etc. This is a major step to undertake and should not be undertaken lightly or without consideration of all aspects of the work and costs involved.

We have had customers bring in machines to our workshop with similar problems that they have been trying to cure not just for days but sometimes for weeks!
To give you some ideas of the tasks involved….. for our workshop we allow the following times:

Please note if you have or can buy the Manufacturer's Restore discs these times can be drastically reduced, check with Dell if you can buy these, the cost is not usually too high.
Otherwise:

• Laptop computer, remove hard drive, check for mechanical damage, wire to USB, pull off data, (E.G. My Docs, Outlook Express, Address book and Drivers we can find easily!) and burn to DVD's or copy to an external USB hard drive, say for 8GB of files ………………………1.5 hours
• Format hard drive and install Windows XP with SP2……………………………….1.5 hours ( incl. configuring to needs & installing drivers from back up;(assumes legit Product licence key!)
• Install 2 way software firewall, and Anti virus……………………………………… ..0.2 hours
• Perform Windows and AV Updates ………………………………………………….. 1.0 hour
• Install (from Discs) Office Suite, Photo Editor +1 other Appl……………………..0.5 hour
• Install printer, scanner + 1 other peripheral………………………………………… .0.3 hour
• Configure Internet connection and email………………………………………………0.2 hour (assumes user name + password readily & accurately! available)
• ……………………………………………Total…..5.2 hours

I will not give you an example of an hourly rate as this will differ greatly from one area to another and you will have a better idea of your local rates than me.

To be fair, as this work is done in a simple but well equipped workshop, with absolutely everything to hand we often complete the work in a shorter time than this, but sometimes things are not completely straight forward and they can take us longer!

I will probably get all sorts of responses now from folks who will insist that could do all of the work and in only half the time!…….

My purpose in setting this out is to show and emphasize that the procedures are not to be undertaken lightly.

So before starting please check out tallin's suggestion re: Warranty/Guarantee and also get a quote for the work, from a local competent Computer technician, you will then be able to compare this with the price of buying a new computer……..A reasonably good laptop can be purchased, complete and "ready to go" including taxes and delivery, OS and full warranty in the UK for GBP £275 (about USD $550)

Have a think about how you feel you want to proceed and then post back, we are very willing to help. I must emphasize that the help you receive here on the forums is completely free and without charge
Regards
paws
PS to get into the Recovery Console and run chkdsk /r you will need the Microsoft XP installation disc ( you or she could try borrowing one from a chum!)

Hello Denise9102,

Paws has given you wonderful knowledge in the last post from him -

I do hope your Sister has that warranty I was inquiring about. I am big on warranties and particularly image backup.

I do hope you get the Laptop going with not too much cost - under warranty it should not cost you a cent.

Good luck and kind regards,

Hello, Paws! Just wanted to touch base w/ you to let you know that I am still in the process of borrowing a disc from a co-worker. Or I will try to purchase it for my sis. I will be getting back w/ you to see if you can walk me through the steps to get my sis laptop back up and running. She doesn't have the patience for this. I enjoy doing this type of work on computer. It's one of my passion but I don't have the knowledge to do this. Looking forward to working w/ you soon, Denise P.S. I will let you know when I get this disc.

Hi, Ok, No problem, Once you have borrowed a suitable disc, and been able to access the Recovery Console it may solve the problems, I hope so anyway, but if not then contacting Dell and buying the Restore discs (there are usually 2 discs, one for the operating system and the other for drivers and Dell utilities) would be the next step….BUT only after a complete back up/archive/copy of all her "important stuff" has been completed. Regards paws