Windows XP would not start: Unmountable_boot_volume error

Question

When I turn on my computer, I get the following error message on the blue screen:   Unmountalbe_boot_volume   The technical information is the following:   stop: 0x000000ED (0x823AD098, 0x00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)   When I tried to start Windows in Safe Mode, I got the same message with the following technical information:   stop: 0x000000ED (0x823E1D30, 0x00000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)   Please help.  Thank you.

mombodog · Answer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555302/en-us

CAUSE

1.The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted.
2.You use a standard 40-wire connector cable to connect the UDMA drive to the controller instead of the required 80-wire, 40-pin cable.
3.The basic input/output system (BIOS) settings are configured to force the faster UDMA modes.

most likely #1 cannot be #2 because it was working, and I doubt you changed the cable

#3 never seen this on a Dell before.

http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5097 follow these instructions

JRosenfeld · Answer

See if this helps:   http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185

barbus22 · Answer

Thank you for a prompt response to my question.  When I press the power button, the Windows log-in screen blinks for less than one second and then the monitor completely turns dark.  I cannot even get to the blue screen that I've seen before.  I've tried pressing F12, but it doesn't work.

mombodog · Answer

Try running the Dell diagnostics extended tests using the Dell resource CD if you have it, you boot from it like you did the XP CD.

You can try tapping F12 repeatedly at the Dell logo screen to get to the diagnostics also.

Please post the model of Dell that is sick.

Message Edited by mombodog on 08-23-2007 12:50 AM

barbus22 · Answer

I was able to start booting Windows XP from CD drive.  However, when I press 'Enter' after 'Press any key' message, my screen turns completely dark and nothing happens.    I also found out that regardless of what I do, my screen goes dark after 10-20 seconds after I turn the power on my computer.  Please help.

nedzalife · Answer

This also can be caused by bad sector issues in the boot sector area of the hard drive. If you run a hard drive repair utility (such as SpinRite) which finds a lot of unrecoverable bad sectors, then there is a good chance that will not be able to boot into windows off this hard drive at all. The hard drive may be too badly damaged physically The data may still be retrievable by hooking it up as a slave drive to another computer.

barbus22 · Answer

1. Is there anything similar to SpinRite that is free?   2. 'The data may still be retrievable by hooking it up as a slave drive to another computer'  I would like to retrieve my data very much. If possible, I would like to do it myself but have no idea what it involves. Can a user do this (with help from the experts on this forum) or is it too technical and can only be done at a repair shop? What hardware/software is needed?

barbus22 · Answer

Laptop: Inspirion 6000, Intel Pentium M Processor 730 (1.60 GHz/ 2MB FSB), 4S3VV61 512MB, Shared DDR2, 400MHz   Don't have Dell resource CD. Where can I get it?   Anything else I can try? Is it safe to turn it on and off at this point (try to do what you suggested earlier - tapping F12) or am I risking doing more damage and loosing data?   Thank you

nedzalife · Answer

You may be able to fint it on the internet - there's a bootable CD called Hiren's boot CD that has a done of hard drive recovery utilities. It may not be worth repairing the hard drive though.

To copy the data off your hard drive, you need either:
a.) a 3.5" USB hard drive disk enclosure
or
b.) a second fully working computer with a free IDE or SATA port on the motherboard

The first is easier to do. I do not know a computer shop that doesn't carry these.

You would have to disconnect your hard drive from your computer tower and install it in the USB disk enclosure. Then using a second computer's USB port, hook up the enclosure and copy your data off the drive.

The second option does effectively the same thing, but you need to open up the case of the second computer and hook up your hard drive. Only do this if you know how to distinguish IDE & SATA connections, as well as how to set Slave and Master on IDE drives.

You may just want to take your tower to a computer shop, ask them to use a USB enclosure to retrieve your data, have them install a new one, install Windows on the new hard drive, and transfer your data back to the new hard drive.

Hope this helps

barbus22 · Answer

I decided to use option A and bought Nexxtech disk enclosure.  I have placed my hard drive from the 'sick' computer into disk enclusure and am ready to connect it to the 'healthy' computer.  The manual for disk enclosure says that hard disk in the disk enclosure must be configured as a master.  How do I do it?  Can I just connect the disk enclusure to the 'healthy' computer via USB port?

mombodog · Answer

There is a tiny jumper on the back end of the drive, it is set to (CS) Cable Select for a Dell, move the jumper to the (MA) Master setting before installing in the USB enclosure.   After you are done, move the jumper back to CS before putting it back in the Dell.     the chart for the jumper should be on the hard drive label. Sometimes Master is no jumper, depends on the make and model of hard drive.

barbus22 · Answer

I have Toshiba hard drive (HDD2194), which does not have a jumper.  It has four tiny pins instead.  How do I set it to 'Master'?  Thank you.

mombodog · Answer

Master, did you read my post, it was pretty specific on this.   Let us know how it goes. Message Edited by mombodog on 08-25-2007 10:36 PM

shesagordie · Answer

barbus22

No Jumpers = 'Master Setting' See here.

Bev.

===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

barbus22 · Answer

Thank you for a prompt response.  If I want to check the hard drive from the 'sick' computer via disk enclosure, which setting should I use: 'Master' or 'Slave'?    Is it possible to damage the 'healthy' computer by connecting a damaged hard drive from the 'sick' computer via disk enclosure?  Thank you.

Windows General

Windows XP would not start: Unmountable_boot_volume error

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