UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME - Please Help

dinky73

Hi

Today my computer switched on to show a blue screen saying Unmountable_Boot_Volume.

Technical Information *** STOP 0x000000ED (0x83359B08, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I have tried restarting in Safe Mode but it just takes me back to the blue screen.

Problem is I don't have the XP install disk anymore (no idea where it is). My PC is an old Time PC that is 10 years old, it had an old windows 98 OS so we got an XO Home Edition disk off about 5 years ago to update the operating system. Its worked fine since but I can't find the CD anywhere!

From what i can tell from searching you need the install xp disk to do any repairing. What are my options if I don't have it? I went on to the Microsoft site and they did have some kind of download for xp boot file or something. Is that of use?

I have the original Time System Recovery CD-ROM and another one called System & Driver CD. If I have installed xp since then I assume I cant use these CD's.

I have a newish Dell pc downstairs which I am using now and the old Time was going to be replaced soon but there are a few files on there I would like back not to mention all my old emails and email adresses that haven't been backed up. I bought an external hard drive the other week and totally backed up the Dell pc but hadn't got round to the old Time one yet - typical!

Any help appreciated. I am a beginner so will need instructions but am willing to try anything to get it up and running.

Thanks

fwor

The cause could be hard disk corruption or complete HDD failure.

If you were thinking of scrapping it anyway, probably the easiest thing to do is to download one of the current Linux distributions onto your other PC, burn it to CD and run it on the Time PC as a LiveCD. You can then take a look at its hard disk and if it's still functioning, copy any files you want off onto a pendrive for transfer to your new PC.

Ubuntu would be a good choice:

http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download

dinky73

Thanks sounds good. I do infact just want to get my files off it and never use it again! So to recap, I download from the site you suggested onto a blank CD, put the CD in my Time pc. How do I run it as a LiveCD? At present I get nothing but a blue screen, how do I get it to read the cd or will it just read it when I put it in? Thanks.

dinky73

Also, what is a pendrive? Obviously because I am asking the question I don't have one! Sorry for being so rubbish but as you can tell I am not technically minded!

macman

If you have no further use for the old PC, remove the old hard drive and extract the data you need using a USB HD caddy.
This is assuming you haven't suffered physical drive failure, which would not be surprising on a PC of that age.

macman

dinky73 wrote: »

Also, what is a pendrive? Obviously because I am asking the question I don't have one! Sorry for being so rubbish but as you can tell I am not technically minded!

Same as flash drive, USB stick, etc.

totalsolutions

Spinrite from www.grc.com will repair if the disc drive motor is still working.

Check / reseat the drive power and data cables first.

codheadling

you can download an xp repair cd here http://rapidshare.com/files/53733563/XPRC.exe
then follow the instructions here http://www.windowvistarepair.com/articles/Unmountable_boot_volume_XP.html
you have to change the boot options on your time pc to boot from cd first,this will get it up and running again,but as mentioned this is a common fault on hard drives that are on there last legs,but who knows there may be plenty of life in the old dog yet.