UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME -- please help!

Question

Hey guys, just this morning I ran into the blue screen at the startup of my computer.  It says UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.  I'm not quite sure what this means nor how to fix it.  I have a Dimension 8400 desktop running windows XP.  This looks like a hard drive issue but I dont want to lose all of my information and im hoping there is a fix!  Any help would be appreciated thanks!

ejn63 · Answer

BEFORE you do anything else, BACK UP. Mount the drive in a working system and copy your data.

Then return the drive to the system, power on, F12, Dell diagnostics, extended test, hard drive. If it fails, replace it (if under warranty, call Dell with the error).

IF it passes, post back and someone can help you recover.

The more you do to a dying drive, the lower the chances of recovering the data.

go5586 · Answer

I'm not quite sure how I would mount it into another working computer, nor do I know how to copy the information.  Please help!

ejn63 · Answer

If you have another system that will take an internal SATA drive, move the drive to it. Once it is recognized, copy the data using windows explorer.

If you do not have another desktop that can take the SATA drive, purchase an external SATA case and power supply, mount the drive in it, and connect it to a working system by USB.

shesagordie · Answer

Also, posted and answer here,   http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_harddrive&message.id=123651

Mary G · Answer

You might be able to recover without losing everything by booting to your XP cd, starting the Recovery Console and running Chkdsk  /R and letting it run to correct any disk errors. If it finishes without errors, run FIXBOOT and reboot. The Master Boot Record will be repaired. You can also run PC Restore if you have that, but you will lose everything. Control + F11 at first Dell screen.

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UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME -- please help!

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