Re: Unmountable boot volume error - XP DISC?

"Lori" <Lori@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:92BDCC4D-DE6A-46BF-B11B-4A64F2AE9BC9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mark,
Just got off the phone with Dell. Since I wasn't provided the Dell
Windows
XP recovery disk, they are sending that, along with all the software disks
that should have come with the computer, plus a new hard drive in case all
else fails. I suggested installing a parallel operating system on the
hard
drive space available in order to be able to access the data first and
back

Not really a practical idea for a variety of reasons, starting with the fact
that you won't get past the Unmountable Boot Volume error this way.

Simply move the drive to another system, even attach it via USB2 case -
these are around $30. Then just copy the files. Be sure you get all the
data, often files such as mail and address books are helpfully kept in
hidden folders.

If the drive is giving you grief, this is the way to go, not thrashing the
drive and using up what limited time it may have left.

500 gig drives are under $100.


it up with our external and THEN reinstall a clean OS on the computer, but
they want me to receive all the items first and then will attempt a
repair.
I tried to do a repair install over the existing one, but this disk which
is
not computer-specific to this computer doesn't give me the option.

If the disk is a "restore" disk rather than a bootable XP CD, it won't have
that option OR the Recovery Console.


There was an article that I followed which told me to copy from the
Windows
CD i386\ntldr to the C drive and then ntdetect.com to the C drive. But
then
when I got to the line to type in attrib -h -r -s C:\boot.ini del
C:\boot.ini, it would not accept that line no matter how I tried.

As written, that's true. That should be two lines not one. The second line
starts with the command "del".

And it'd be a better idea to rename that file; and you possibly couldn't do
it at all if you were running Windows at the time as it's a system file.

Then they
suggested the final line BootCfg /Rebuild to hopefully either get rid of
any
damaged boot.ini, search for systems and make a new one, as they say,
perhaps
allowing the damaged Windows to reappear, but giving you a chance at
getting
at the repair. Couldn't complete the attrib line, so that's out.

See above, you were possibly stacking the commands on one line.


I made an error and tried the command in the recovery console of bootfix
and
now when I try to boot up regularly, I get a missing ntldr error message.
Grrr.....

Thanks for all your input.

So you know, you don't need any specific XP CD to use the Recovery Console.
You can use any bootable XP CD, Home or Pro, retail, OEM or Upgrade.

HTH
-pk


"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

Yes. I my opinion, if chkdsk cannot fix a drive, you are best served by
giving up on it and getting a new drive. There are ways to recover the
data,
but usually quite expensive.

--
Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm
Use the "Ratings" feature. It helps the new users.
Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson

"Lori" <Lori@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4C9F4E72-1D57-4A50-9C82-1B2F403C96A0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The bad news is, the drive contains one or more unrecoverable errors.
That
means the drive is gone. Right?

"Mark L. Ferguson" wrote:

You must enter 'recovery console' to do the chkdsk command. Put in a
Home
edition CD and boot to it (F12 on a Dell. usaually available from the
Dell
BIOS screen). Choose R for repair and the prompt will appear.
If chkdsk is no help, the other REPAIR feature you need is after
starting
a
full setup from CD (pressing ENTER rather than R). It will be
necessary
for
the Home edition CD you use to match your machines 'Service Pack
Level'
--
Use the "Ratings" system. It helps new users find answers.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm

Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson


"Lori" wrote:

I have a wonderful Dell computer, as does everyone else in my
family.
My
daughter got the dreaded blue unmountable boot volume error tonight
and
from
all the research I just did here, seems you should use your Windows
XP
disc,
if you don't have a startup disc, which of course we don't, and then
run a
check disk with the command chkdsk/r to fix this. However, we don't
know
which disc goes to which computer. Would it matter if we use an
Windows XP
disc that came with my computer if they were purchased a few years
apart but
both run on Windows XP Home? Will that matter?

I am just so tired from all this leg work...or should I say, eye and
brain
work to figure this one out. I saw some links to sites to download
registry
fix programs, but not sure which is safe or what to do.

Any help is welcomed, please. Thank you in advance!




.

Relevant Pages

  • Is it HighPoint, is it Seagate, or is it Windows 2000 Professional
    ... Then I tried to boot my system: Windows reported ... Barracuda disk running off a HighPoint HPT370A RAID ... never new that my drives were set up this way. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)
  • Re: Windows XP hangs on startup after the windows logo shows
    ... I'm able to use the Windows XP SP2 OEM CDROM disk using the F6 ... I did not create a Automated System Recovery disk backup so this ... file is correct for my RAID system. ... v4.5.0.6448 with 2 Seagate Barracuda drives in RAID 0. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: it takes about 5 minutes to switch directories
    ... Keep your computer up to date with Windows Update and double ... option to Save to Disk or to Run. ... You have insufficient free disk space on your main hard drive. ... Again do it on both drives ignoring the "You do not ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: DOS prompt in W2K? and Safe Mode?
    ... and windows booted up normally. ... How to get to a real DOS prompt to run chkdsk w/o processes? ... you wish to check other drives then you may be able to close ... CheckDisk is a powerful tool for searching and repairing disk errors. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)
  • Re: Is it HighPoint, is it Seagate, or is it Windows 2000 Professional
    ... I have really learnt about the uses and limits of RAID. ... Use all the manufacturer recommended system recovery ... provisions -- Emergency Disk, have a DOS boot disk ready, ... what could cause Windows to suddenly change its mind ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.setup)