Unmountable Boot Volume Error Screen

Question

When I try to start up my Inspiron 600m notebook, I get a blue screen with the error message Unmountable Boot Volume, with a STOP of 0x000000ED.    Windows will not load, even if I try to boot up using Safe Mode.    I believe it is the hard drive that is messed up, since the Start DST Short Test comes up as a failure when running a brief scan.  Error Code for this is 1000-0146.  I believe that by running the Windows Recovery Console, I can potentially repair any errors for the time being.  The only problem is, my recovery cd is an hour and 15 minutes away.  I need to retrieve notes for my final 2 exams for the semester, so it appears I am in a bind.  Do you think running the recovery console will fix my problem, at least temporarily?   I fell alseep while accidentally leaving my laptop on all night on the bedspread, obviously not a smart idea which is reaping some severe repercussions.

mearah · Answer

hi. the recovery console is not a sure fix but you can try it. Boot to the cd. chose R for repair using the recovery console and type in chkdsk / p:smileyhappy:

Denny Denham · Answer

OpUNC, Chkdsk /r is a better option than using the /p switch (see this. If you don't have Recovery Console added to your boot menu you will need an XP CD to launch it.

techsupport4fre · Answer

chkdsk /r is a better option.also you may want to run a diags on the hard drive to make sure its doin fine. techsupport4free@gmail.com

todavia · Answer

Well, I've been having an unmountable boot volume problem for a while.  It started when the computer was a year old.  (I have a Dimension 4600C).  Now it's two years old and I've had to run chkdsk /r three times.   Everytime I turn my computer off for an extended period of time, I get an unmountable stop message when I try to turn it back on.  Last night it did it again.  This is the fourth time my computer has done it.  Getting a little annoyed.  I'm not really sure how to fix it completely besides running chkdsk /r.  This time, when I tried to run chkdsk /r it couldn't complete and gave me a {fatal system error} the system has been shut down black screen.   Turned it off.  Restarted it.  Told me to try to repair windows.  Put the recovery cd in.  Rebooted it.  Now it's giving me the good old blue unmountable boot volume message again.  The stop message is STOP: 0x000000ED (0x81B59720, 0xC000009C, 0x00000000, 0x00000000).   Should I try to repair windows?  I'm not really sure what to do from this point...right now, I kinda just want to get it to windows so I can pull all my memories and documents off it and buy a new computer.  I'll be really upset if I lose all my pictures from undergrad and stuff.   If anyone could offer insight to what I've been doing wrong or what I should do, it would be much appreciated!

Denny Denham · Answer

todavia, Run the Dell diagnostics on your hard drive. The symptoms make it sound like it is failing (or has failed).

todavia · Answer

Hey Denny,

Thanks for a quick reply! I've run dell diagnostics before when this has happened. When I do the IDE Read test, it gives me the 0F00:0244 error code, and tells me that a bunch of blocks have uncorrectable data errors or are write protected. In the IDE Verify test, I get error code 0F00:1A44. Due to my handy Dimension owner's guide, I know how to run these tests...but I don't know what they mean. I have gathered on my own that it means it is bad news bears.

If my hard drive is failing, or has finally just failed...what are my options? Are there even any at all? Is that what those error messages mean?

Thanks again!

Denny Denham · Answer

todavia,

If you are still under warranty contact Dell and arrange for a replacement hard disk (they will undoubtedly ask you to run the same diagnostics again). If you are not under warranty you will have to purchase a new hard disk. Unfortunately, your system cannot accommodate two hard disks. If it could you could try to salvage the data on the troubled disk by copying it to the new one. Since that is not an option, your best bet is to copy what you can to removable media (CD/DVD).

Singapore_Air · Answer

Good luck OPUNC   Unfortunately I am having a similar problem. Since July 2005, my Dell has been running very slowly 40%+ of the time (Inspiron 8600c Notebook). Since September, it's been running even slower. In October the UMONTABLE BOOT VOLUME errors started but it wasn't too bad.   However, Since November it's been happenning every time I restart the computer (I minimise this by hibernating and standby). But sometimes the computer just crashes (to the blue screen with STOP) (by somtimes I mean every day at least once). This is most annoying but not too bad as I have autosave on Microsoft office every minute now.   Anyway, in December it just got silly. It was too slow and just kept on crashing. WIth the crashing came the forced need to actually boot the laptop which brings us back to the constant reboots and U_M_B yada yada yada.   So in December I have done so far 6 CHKDSKs and 6 Defrags (I can no longer do DEFRAGs as the computer crashes to the blue STOP screen - nice). This has resulted in no improvement.   Messaged Dell TEchnical Support UK yesterday. A lovely lady has been assigned to help me but wants to see if it's a hardware or software issue. I have been doing this stupid diagnosis since 1855 and as of 2100, only 7% of the HDD 'Read Test' has been completed! I'll be f-worded if she makes me do the Verify Test too.   The DST Short Status Test Failed with 1000-0142 followed by bleeps.   The Dell Diagnosis Utility Partition Customised Test on the HDD has resulted in many 0F00:0244 errors. The blocks so far are as follows to illlustrate the scale of the problem:   1177087, 1219583, 2737015, 2759167, 3249535, 3341567, 3343103, 4247295, 4294015, 4328063, 4328191, 4368415, 4788351, 4820095, 4877183, 4949887, 5737215, 9410175, 9533695, 9538431, 9540607, 11044745, 11044750, 11044751, 11044752, 11836159, 11840383, 11842399, 11889525, 11894276, 11899773, 11909247, 11913215, 11913343, 1197183, 11920895, 11921138, 11921158, 11921168, 11924735, 11982958, 11998875, 12002691, 12010367, 12025723, 12414719, 12415103, 12416209, 12416213, 12416240, 12416242, 12416243, 12416244, 42416246, 12418584, 12418585, 12418589, 12418593, 12418596, 12421887, 12429663, 12429664, 12439225, 12440008, 12440782, 12441258, 12443247, 12445607, 12445608, 12445568, 12445609, 12445610, 12445611, 12445613, 12445615, 12446858, 12447159, 12447160, 12447161, 12447163, 12447164, 12447166, 12451156, 12459419, 12459420, 12459422, 12459426, 12459429, 12459903, 12462719, 12465535, 12468511, 12472447, 12472565, 12480439, 12487535, 12487536, 12487538, 12487539, 12487604, 12488831, 12489168, 12489171, 12489172, 12489181, 12489183, 12489209, 12489343, 12490745, 12490746, 12490747, 12490749, 12490750, 12491551, 12491552, 12491553, 12491554, 12491556, 12491559, 12491571, 12491572, 12499583, 12504191, 12519295, 12524799, 12531855, 12531860, 12534349, 12536831, 12543786, 12543788, 12543810, 12543813, 12543814, 12546142 and now it's at 8% at 2149 (3 hours on)   This is very annoying.   Grr!!!!

bbcoach · Answer

A friend gave me his inspiron 1100 to look at because it was booting up in the blue screen of death. I ran the dell diagnostics on it and all tests said the hard drive was going bad. I ran recovery counsel on it and was able to get it running enough to get all of the important data off of it using an external usb drive. He bought a new hard drive from dell and I installed it. He did not recieve the disks from dell with his computer so I downloaded the drivers and used a different xp home disk to install the operating system. I activated xp after a lengthy conversation with microsoft. What a head ache. The computer ran fine for about a month and a half and suddenly it booted to unmountable_boot_volume. I ran recovery and it is running fine now. Did not have any data loss. This hard drive should not be giving problems already. I have read about overheating problems with the 1100. Could this be causing the hard drive to overheat and causing this problem? Also where can I get the correct software to reinstall on this laptop without having to pay for it when it should have been included with it in the first place? If I have to reinstall it would make it allot easier if I have the correct software. Thanks.

Singapore_Air · Answer

I would e-mail Dell Technical support. They seem quite prompt.   Considering you brought the new HDD from them and it has already broken down is quite worrying.   Also if you did not get the software then you should tell them to despatch you new media which they are willing to do (in my case I did have the software (XP, drivers etc..) but lost them so they wouldn't send me anything but then I found them anyway).   FYI mine was and is a Hitachi.

LexS · Answer

In the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /r /f C: and press Enter. (Replace 'C' with the appropriate drive letter if Windows is installed on a different drive.)https://forum-windows.com/d/73-unmountable-boot-volume-windows-11

Windows General

Was this post helpful?