Unmountable boot volume please help!

angelfire

Browntoa wrote: »

setup the first option you need




then accept the terms, then you are at this screen



highlight your Xp installation , then press R

That first box up top? I have that up right now but it is not accepting anything I type in? It's as if the keyboard isn't working? (I know it actually IS as I'm using it to type on here via a laptop!)

Thoughts?

Browntoa

has it got a USB keyboard ??

you need a real old style plug in one, or sometimes there is an adapter in the box it came in

angelfire

Browntoa wrote: »

has it got a USB keyboard ??

you need a real old style plug in one, or sometimes there is an adapter in the box it came in

I've rooted an old keyboard out of the attic,one that has a serial port connector - brought it downstairs to my pc only to find the pc has no serial port in the back?!

nightmare!

angelfire

Hmm, I'm wondering if the repairs/replacements that Dell made in january might be part of the reason why I can't fix this error. They installed a new motherboard and CPU - could this be why the disc I'm using doesn't seem to be working? Should I try my sister's XP recovery disc? And if so, will it accept my xp media product key?

Browntoa

its definately the usb thing, had the same problem myself

the back of the Dell will have a green socket at the back for it

angelfire

Browntoa wrote: »

its definately the usb thing, had the same problem myself

the back of the Dell will have a green socket at the back for it

i know I sound like i'm arguing but I'm really not - there is no green serial slot at the back of my pc?! It's a Dell Dimension C521 by the way - don't know if that makes any difference? There is no hole on the pc at all, that fits a serial port keyboard?

Totally stumped!

Browntoa

just checked the Spec, this Dell comes with a USB keyboard and no PS2

trying to work out how !!

Browntoa

on dell it goes on about boot with the Cd

go into recovery console

then type fixboot

turbobob

The green plugs are PS/2 style connectors. As far as I know pretty much all current PC's have these. If you have a very old keyboard (over 10 years old) it might have an AT (DIN) type connector, which are much larger round plugs.

Pic of PS/2 connector


Also I don't know about your Dell specifically but many computers have an option in the BIOS to allow USB keyboards to be controlled by BIOS or Operating System - you would want to choose BIOS.

EDIT to get into the BIOS usually you have a message to press a key (often Delete) to enter setup when you first turn the PC on.

russ_gillespie

I very much doubt you're going to be able to fix this yourself.

I repair a lot of PCs and 9 times out of 10 this BSoD means that the hard disk is failing or has failed.

You're going to need to replace the hard disk. You can do this yourself but if the machine is under warranty then get Dell to do it, after all this is a money saving forum.

You best chance of getting data off the disk is to add it to another PC as a slave disk. Then you can try accessing it. If the disk doesnt show up then you'll either need to use some kind of data recovery tool or seek 3rd party help.

If you want to keep your data DO NOT send the disk to Dell, they will most probably scrap it and you'll never see it again. I've not heard of Dell doing data recovery under warranty or even as a seperate service.

To reiterate, get the HDD looked at by a 3rd party before sending the Base Unit back to dell if you have data on there you want to keep.


Russ