Dimension 2400 Unmountable Boot Volume message after reboot from power glitch

Question

My Mom's Dimension 2400 with Windows XP rebooted after a power blip(thunderstorm) and came up with the BSOD that says Unmountable Boot Volume. According to the service tag original system configuration information, the computer shipped on 12/4/2003.(The config information is at the end of this message.)

After rebooting, the choices offered are three types of safe mode(plain, with networking, and with dos prompt), none of which work, and continue restart in normal mode, which also doesn't work. All options return the BSOD with Unmountable Boot Volume. The attempt to start in normal mode does bring up the Windows XP splash screen for about 10 seconds before a black screen followed by the blue screen appears.

The error message at the bottom of the blue screen is STOP 0X000000ED

(0x81319030, ox00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

After reboot, I checked setup(BIOS) for any memory caching/shadowing switches that could be turned off, but found none. After another reboot, I chose F12 and got to the Dell menu screen(or some similar name). I selected choice #6 from the menu which is IDE drive diagnostics for the Maxtor 6E040L0 (40 g hard drive). The test failed with a return code of 7. Choice #7 took me to a utility partition which offered all kinds of tests, but no sort of repair tool(that I saw).

So, there is something wrong with the hard drive, right? Is it permanently trashed or could there just be a problem with the master boot record or some small cluster/area that has gone bad?

I don't know where the box and discs(if any) are and am trying to find out if there was a recovery disc included. If a recovery disc was supposed to be included and either wasn't, or I can't find it, can another one be obtained from Dell? At what cost?

In the meantime, is there any sort of utility I can download and burn to a floppy or CD that will attempt to repair the hard drive or at least cordon off the faulty cluster/area and allow a normal reboot?

Thanks for any and all advice. I'm stumped at the moment without a recovery disc.

Danny in Yorktown, VA

System Type: Dimension 2400 Ship Date: 12/4/2003 Dell IBU: Americas

Can anyone tell from the parts list below if a recovery disc came with this computer?

Quantity Parts # Part Description

0 4X388 INSTRUCTION, PREP-MTL, DEVIATION, DIMENSION, INCREASE, NUMBER

1 F1534 PROCESSOR, 80532, 2.53, 512K, 533, SOCKET N, DECISION ONE

1 7N242 KEYBOARD, 104, UNITED STATES, SILITEK, LOW COST, MIDNIGHT GRAY

1 W1668 KIT, MOUSE, PERSONAL SYSTEM 2, 2BTN, WHEEL, LOGITECH

1 F0598 DUAL IN-LINE MEMORY MODULE, 256, 333M, 32X64, 8K, 184

1 5740C CABLE, AUXILIARY, INTERNAL, MODEM, 4C

1 8W112 MODEM, V.92, INTERNAL, DATA FAX VOICE MODEMS, TIN, DELL AMERICAS ORGANIZATION

1 H1192 COMPACT DISK READ WRITE, 680M, I, 5.25" FORM FACTOR, 48X, SONY, MIDNIGHT GRAY

1 X1328 ASSEMBLY, FLOPPY DRIVE, 212, THREADED

1 2W649 HARD DRIVE, 40GB, I, 7.2K, 2MEGB, MAXTOR APOLLO

1 J1894 KIT, SOFTWARE, WP-PRDCT-STE11, ENGLAND/ENGLISH

1 N2999 KIT, SOFTWARE, MNY-2K4, STANDARD, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH

1 P2643 KIT, SOFTWARE, MSENC-2K4, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MFGR., ENGLAND/ENGLISH

1 R2553 KIT, SOFTWARE, OVERPACK, WXPHSP1A, COMPACT DISKETTE W/DOCUMENTATION, ENGLAND/ENGLISH

Message Edited by hokiewolf on 07-30-2007 12:39 PM

jackshack · Answer

Yes, the last line item specifies Windows XP Home with Service Pack 1a. You received a kit with that disk plus a disk called the Dell Resource Disk with diagnostics and drivers.

Once you find the CDs you might want to try a repair installation before you decide to wipe the disk. You must boot from the Win XP CD as though to do a new installation, but when you press enter to perform the install, after you get the request to accept the EULA, you should get a note that an existing installation has been detected and at that point say yes to see if it will repair. If it does, you will save yourself some work, and if not, you still have the option to perform a clean installation. The "7" error code can result from a glitch in the start-up code as well as a hard failure. If you want to thoroughly test the drive there is a diagnostic on the Resource Disk that contains an extended hard drive test. It takes about an hour and is a better test than the quick self test you have already run.

If the computer was working you could download the diagnostics from the drivers and downloads page (link at the lower left of this page) and run it, but since your computer is non-functional you need a disk you can boot from. The Resource Disk boots to DOS.

Message Edited by JackShack on 07-30-2007 02:24 PM

Message Edited by JackShack on 07-30-2007 02:24 PM

hokiewolf · Answer

I found the computer box, but no CDs, so I contacted tech support via email and they said they would send me new CDs.  Gratis, I assume.   Assuming the hard drive is toast, what type of specs should I look for on a replacement hard drive?  I don't know if the Dimension 2400 supports ATA-100, ATA-133, or any of those other interfaces.  I see a Seagate 40gb with a 5-year warranty for just under $45 at one online vendor.  I've always had good luck with Seagates.   Any and all advice is appreciated.   Danny in Yorktown, VA

jackshack · Answer

The D2400 uses EIDE, also referred to as ATA, Parallel ATA (PATA), ATA 100, ATA 133.  All are different descriptions of the same interface.  Assuming that your Windows Installation Disk is Win XP with Service Pack 1a like mine, you should be able to use any size drive that is available and fits your budget.  Like you I've always had good fortune with Seagate and its difficult to argue with a five year warranty.

hokiewolf · Answer

I received the three Dell CDs(Windows, Dell Resources(Driver & Utilities), and Application software) in less than 48 hours after my request to tech support!  For free!  Amazing service!  One is a reinstallation CD for Windows XP SP2.  Even though my Mom's computer only had Service Pack 1A on it(and had never been updated to SP2), can I use this CD to attempt to repair the existing operating system?  Also, the back of the envelope of the Windows CD has a large bar code with an alphanumeric code below it:  2 characters hyphen six characters hyphen five characters hyphen three characters hyphen four characters.  That doesn't seem to be the usual format for Window's COA product key.  Or should I use the 25 digit product key on the multi-colored label on the machine itself, even though this isn't the original Windows CD?   One last question...I have lent my Mom my old Dimension 4400 until I can work on hers, but the computer is slow as can be...taking 5 plus minutes to start up.  Could I use this Windows CD to attempt to reinstall/repair/reinvigorate the operating system on that machine also?  It originally came with Windows XP(no Service Pack) but has been updated over time to SP2.    Thanks for all the wonderful advice so far...and hopefully in the future.   Danny in Yorktown, VA

jackshack · Answer

I don't know if you can do a repair installation on a SP 1a system with a SP 2 CD.  It might work since the CD has a later os on it than you have on the computer.  There should be nothing to lose by trying since the setup program will stop you if the two os's are incompatible.  Before doing anything, of course, you should save any data you want to keep from the hard drive onto removable media to avoid losing it.  If a repair install doesn't work you will need to perform a clean installation.   Dell OEM copies of Windows XP are self activated when installed on a Dell that has been licensed for that version of Windows and do not usually prompt you for the COA.  If you are prompted, use the COA from the sticker on the side of the computer.  If you are required to also activate the installation you will need to call Microsoft since OEM copies cannot be activated on line.  I have used my D2400's for four years now, reinstalled Windows several times, and have never even been asked for the COA.   The license for Windows XP is for the machine and is not tied to a given CD.  Assuming that your D4400 has a Windows XP sticker on it (or the disk you used to install your present os is an update for your D4400 to Win XP from Dell with its own COA), you may use the new disk to install Windows XP on it.  Microsoft does not differentiate the various service packs, considering all of them to be updates to the basic Windows XP os.

Storage, Drives & Media

Dimension 2400 Unmountable Boot Volume message after reboot from power glitch

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