So you’re using your Dell laptop (in this case a Dell Inspiron 1501 running Windows XP Professional) with no problems, turn it on one day and you get that gorgeous blue screen of death telling you that you’ve an unmountable boot volume. You call Dell support and they take you through diagnostic tests, get you to boot in safe mode (which won’t work by the way) and then they tell you to launch the recovery console or reinstall Windows.
Reinstall? No sirree!
Getting around this problem today (see previous post) here’s what I did (not my laptop as the MacBook Pro doesn’t throw up those kind of errors)…
- With the laptop on the blue screen, grab your Windows XP CD (might be branded as a Dell Reinstallation CD), pop it into the CD drive and reboot the laptop.
- When prompted, press any key to boot from CD, allowing a minute or so for drivers to load in the background.
- From the first menu you see, press ‘R’ to launch the recovery console. This will launch a dos-prompt driven recovery console allowing some basic disk commands.
- Enter your first command: “chkdsk /r” (give about 20-30 minutes to run).
- When completed, follow up with “chkdsk /p” (give about 2 minutes to run).
- Finally, follow up with “fixboot c:”. This will quickly test the boot sector and prompt you to write a new one. It is likely that the boot sector on your drive has become corrupt, once you agree to write a new bootsector, allow a half minute or so for the task to run until prompted with a success message.
- Type ‘EXIT’ to quit the recovery console and restart the laptop.
That… should be that. It helps to have the original Dell XP disc though. A standalone version wouldn’t display the recovery console menu on launch but the Dell OEM version does (purple coloured CD including Service Pack 1a – it’s been a while). Of course, if the disc doesn’t boot when you restart the computer it may be possible that you’re BIOS is looking to the hard drive before the CD. In that case you’ll need to enter the Dell BIOS (pressing F2 for setup on immediate restart). See here (Dell support) for specific details.
About Ken McGuire
I wish it worked!! I followed the steps, the system told me that it had re-written 1 bad sector, and still got the blue screen after the xp screen
I do design for my company on that pc, needless to say that I am on my MAC now!! 
Any ideas? Dell Dimension 4700…. grr
Thank you! I returned from vacation and turned on the old PC only to be confronted with “the message!!”. I have never had this happen before and wonder if it is due to the new Windows 7 appearing soon. Anyway, thanks to your helpful advice, all is well. After placing the CD in the drive and starting the computer, I had to quickly select F12 for the boot menu, then arrow up as you suggested in order for the PC to boot from the CD drive first. My computer would only allow the chkdsk command ( no /r). Within seconds I received a message that everything appeared to working normally with my AUDIO files, but that I could run the chkdsk command with a /p if I wanted them checked. I typed exit instead and the computer began to restart itself instantly. Just as everything was up and running, we had a short power outage!!! grrrr I was afraid everything would have to be re-done, but thankfully, it’s still working. This “fix” literally took seconds, not minutes. My daughter had recently been downloading from I-Tunes, so I wonder if that had something to do with the “audio files” message and the whole mess?? Who knows; just thankful for the info and a quick fix. Thanks again.
When I get to screen that says boot from cd , it says windows ;F or windows;C ?? What now
Help
I have tried the instructions above, and I did get to the recovery, but the command will not work. When I put in “chkdsk” space /r, i recieve the message. “This specified drive is not valid, or there is no disk in the drive”. What am I to do. I really need my computer and all of the data on it. Please help. I have visited other sites, and they all give the same instructions, (yours is more plainly spoken). One however gave an example of the prompt. My prompt does not look like it, My prompt looks like such “c:\>” not as the other site showed “C:/ >” is there a problem? HELP!!!
Please help….. unmountable boot volume.. I can get all the way to the recovery console.. but then it stops.. it says type exit to quit the recovery cnsole and restart the computer.. It does not give me any prompt al all to type anything…. What am I doing wrong?
Thank you so very much! I sincerely thought we would have to buy a new laptop.
Hi Ken,
Help! We got to the fixboot part and put in Y to write a new bootsector and then when pushing enter the message is “Fixbboot cannot open the partition.” Any advice is much appreciated.
Thank you,
Kevin
Ken,
Through these simple instructions you saved all of my family’s pix from 2002 until now which includes almost every picture of my kids who are now ages 5 and 6. I was about to throw the computer on the junk heap. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
@John
No problem at all, you’ve very welcome. Now you’ve the fun task of getting everything backed up
Great fix!!!
I had a whole house power failure right after I deleted 2 programs and added 1 which required a reboot. to make the install complete. The Reboot after power failure produced the unmountable boot volume deraded blue screen. Bios also reported a keyboard failure. Not sure why that but not the problem. I have a Dell desk top running on win xp pro. I needed to go all the way thru the fixboot c: as the boot was corrupted. Plan a while for the fix!!!!! to work its way thru. Mine lasted all the way thru the Colts /Texans game and into half of the Charger/Chiefs game 4 plus hours to get there. I kept getting to the 75% complete and it would go back to 50% and continue. it did this 3 times. Back in time to see my fantasy football team lose
Thank you for leaving this posted…It worked great.. no more blue screen. I think my blue screen was caused by plugging the wrong usb cable into the wrong device. Does this problem mean that my hard drive was damaged, and is going to go again soon? Thank you again…you saved my computer
Thanks Ken! Your step by step instructions saved the day. Add my name to the list of admirers!
Hi Ken,
Do you wear your pants outside your trousers?? If not, then I think you should because then you would look like the SUPER HERO you are!!
Totally saved my sanity and possibly my life, when while trying to back up my sisters files to an external hard drive it all went a bit pete tong!
She had 3500 pics, 2700 tunes plus all her sage accounts data.
Without your site we would have been up the creek without a paddle!
Keep up the great work and have a great xmas.
X X
Ken I have followed your instructions step by step, and all seems to have worked but after typing exit command the blue screen is still there. I have a DELL 3100 and Windows XP Home edition, i have also set the CD driver to the first sequence for the boot sequence. I do all of this with the CD still in the driver. Any other suggestions?
Something else I forgot to mention. After pressing “R” on the Recovery Console i receive a prompt of F: /MININT which makes me wonder if this is a bigger problem.
I too am the victim of the blue screen with the words unmountable_boot that pops up. I have tried everything, my pc didn’t come with a recovery cd, so I tried hitting the ctrl+f11 to bring up the symnated ghost program, but still nothing happens, I tried all the different options it offered, but stil nada!…….How can i get my pc back working? I have all my grandkids pics on there from the time the first one was born down to the fourth one…….please please please help me if you can…… I have run out of ideas. I have a dell dimension e310 desktop with windows xp…..
Anyone know what to do when the windows screen comes up and asks for the ADMINISTRATOR CODE? YIKES! dONT HAVE ONE!
Shannon – try without entering an Administrator code. Worked for me.
Ken,
Configuration on the Dell Dimension 4700 which is confured with a DVD and CD drive (no floppy). WDC WD800JD-75JNAO (I assume Western Digital 8gb hard drive
Here is what happens When the system starts it takes me to logon /password, I enter it, it looks to start (login sequence)paints the windows background screen and the says logging off. So I figure I might have a virus or other problem.
1) I run the the last successful windows setup option, it does the same tthing login and then log off.
2)I try to use the XP Home edition CD to se if I can get in. It fails to see CD I get the F1 reboot or hit F12 option.
3) I select the partition drive which is the diagnostics test and no command prompt. So I run the test, I get error code 0F00:0244 on the read test on about 7 message blocks
On the Verify test I get error code 0F00:1A44 about 12 message blocks.
What I have noticed is no where can I find a command line to run chkdsk.
There seems to be no way around this start up and login loop where it attemps to log in then says logging off on both users
F2 on start up and checked to see that the CD loads first. (it cannot read the CD)To get the XP Home CD to load;
Am I screwed or is there a way to recover XP and the data?
it ask for a admin code and a password, so what would I do with that?
it ask for a admin code and a password, so what would I do with that?
Thanks Ken. I followed your instructions step by step and everything worked just perfectly. Everyone that i had spoken to told me my hard drive was toast. But that wasnt the case after i found your fix for the unmountable boot volume. You are a genius!
i have a dell pc i purchased two years ago(well three now)havents used it much actualy its been in storage,how can i get a disk to try your method,as i dont remember ever having one and if so its lost somewhere in my storage rental.can u lend me a hand?thanks,
@Roy – You’re very welcome
@CJ – Best bet is to ask anyone you know who has an XP-based PC could you borrow a disk. You wouldn’t need license keys or anything to try the method outlined above, it’s only to access the repair and recovery side of things so any XP pro or XP SP2 disc should be ok.
Ken Still got the same problem even though I have followed your instructions step by step, ( or at least I think I have) and all seems to have worked but after typing exit command the blue screen is still there. The only difference is that after pressing “R†on the Recovery Console i receive a prompt of F: /MININT. Do I need to do something different to change this to the C: ??
Still got the same problem of the blue screen even though I have followed your instructions step by step, ( or at least I think I have) and all seems to have worked but after typing exit command the blue screen is still there. The only difference is that after pressing “R†on the Recovery Console i receive a prompt of F: /MININT. Do I need to do something different to change this to the C: ??
Just doing a new year clean out of the desk where the computer is and moved it around a little, My two year old helping ( bad move) her decided to switch off the power at the socket whilst it was setting up. A dell Dimension 9200. Have your blue screen , have done what it told me on the screen, but just reverts to the same screen again. Is it built in so Dell can make some money out of us??? Will try and borrow a disc and do as you say. All my years accounts for work are on it. Help.
Will let you know how I get on.
@Deborah Best of luck
Hi Ken, Thanks for the help on this site. Because of you I have been able to figure out how to make my reboot disk work by accessing the set up, and I have typed in the chkdsk /r and p but it stops about midway and tell me “The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems” Any advice for that? Thanks! Christine
Ken,
Your a life saver!!!
After getting the blue screen I thought I’d lost everything and was either looking at formatting & re-installing windows, a new HDD or worse a new laptop!!!!
I owe you a few beers to say the least!
Many thanks, Andy.
Hi Ken
I have just had this problem. I have a netbook with no disc drive so how do i fix this? Does anyone know?
after taking my netbook into a local pc shop. I have been advised it is a hardware issue that only dell can repair. The last thing i want to do is use dells repair service. Any other suggestions?
@Natalie If it’s a hardware issue and you reckon you could borrow a disc from someone to try the steps above, there’s certainly no harm in it. You’ve nothing to lose and won’t have had to deal with their repair service, yet, at least.
Aha… just saw the point about having no disc drive. I don’t suppose then you’d also know someone who would have an external USB cd drive that you could hook up to the netbook?
ken no i don`t know anyone who has an external usb cd drive. Now i bet my best option would be to contact dell? I know after this i will not be having a dell computer ever again. I really dont want to sit hours on the phone to them then have to wait for them collect it and repair it. I have got all these disks in the box that u mention just no disk drive. If it is a hardware fault can this be repaired wihtout sending it to dell?
Hi Ken… same problems as above i run the “chkdsk /r” after 25% completed i get “The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems” then run the “chkdsk /p” and the same message. Then run the “fixboot c:” and get “Fixboot cannot open the partition” any help would be much appreciated thanks.
I turned my computer “Dell Inspirion 6000″ off one night and back on the next day to the Unmountable_boot_volume. I’ve tried the fixes as near as I can. chkdsk/r – it tell me’s its not a valid command to type HELP for the list. CHKDSK is there so, I put that in. Then try the R… nothing. Nothing is working… any advise (the Windows XP is in the drive, and it will start come up, I just cannot get past the few few steps… Any advise (except) stay with the Mac would be helpful since the mac is my daughers.
Thanks
Gwen Kich
Hi – I actually have a Dell Dimension Desktop C521 running XP Home, and am having same issues as the laptops described thoughout the posts here. So figured it would be worth a try to ask for help I, however, seem to be having a slightly more severe issue(?) I ran chkdsk /r successfully – it took about 30 minutes to run and found / fixed one or more errors on volume. Then ran chkdsk /p successfully and fixboot c: and EXITed without problem. Upon reboot, the failure to reboot happens again and PC goes back to main screen for SAFE MODE, SAFE Mode with Networking, etc. Interestingly, I was able to hook the SATA drive up as a slave drive to another PC and get most of the files, but I still need a few that were encrypted and would need to reboot machine. Any thoughts on if this is a bigger issue than it seems? Thanks
@Brian – Have you tried to repair the installation of XP on the drive at all? Interesting that it’s reading as a slave, could be faulty boot sector altogether? Hard to call.
Hi Ken, thanks for the suggestion regarding the repair install. This is a logical next step, however, when I attempted to execute a repair install by going through the Bootable CD process, that option is not available. After agreeing to license terms the XP Home setup states “The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer…” I seem to have a couple partitions a “-;” [FAT]. a “C:’ , a “E:” :, and a small unpartitioned space of 8 MB. I quit out at this stage because I was unsure of what to do next and didn’t want to erase any files. Perhpas this is the right direction but more adjustments must be made? Thanks again.
Update for everyone out there….I discovered that the OEM copy of Windows XP that I had did not have the REPAIR option available on it. I reached out to a friend who had an old copy of Windows XP and used that to REPAIR my Windows file. It worked! The only trick is that I had to use his Windows key for that version of the OS, which luckily was not in use for him.
Hi Ken, thanks for starting the thread, working through it now, Dell Inspiron E1705. Got the computer boot sector repaired, the laptop restarted and is now going through the overdue disk maintenence. Cheers!
many thanks,
worked for me when others were saying it needed new hardrive
okay i have a dilemma, the letter r has fallen off my keypad and i cant type it HELP!
i’ve got the key working but now it says that the command is not recognised when i try and type the command in?
never mind i was just being a dumboo and forgetting to put a space before /r
thanks for the help x
Hey Ken, First off, brilliant work.. thank you for all the help you provide in a this crippling market for quality advice. I see you’ve been on this for some years now, and I’m sure you’ve mention a fix for my problem but I thought my problem is’nt quite specific to the advice you may have mentioned above. If it is, please direct me to the reference, and I’ll take it from there.
Dell Dimension 3100
XP Professional
BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH:
_____________________________________________________________
Unmountable_Boot_Volume
If this sit the first time you’ve seen this stop error screen…..
…check to make sure and new hardware or software is properly… installed hardware or software. Disable IOS memory options…Select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode…
0x000000ED (0x8A678900, 0xc0000006, 0×00000000, 0×00000000)
_____________________________________________________________
All I have is a XP Pro Service Pack 2 Disk.. No CD’s that came with this computer either.
Any Advice?
Hi Rene,
Have you tried the above steps using the XPSP2 disc? Is the disc XP Pro with SP2 included, or just the service pack only?
K
Hi Ken.
Looks like you have been able to help a lot of people over the last several years. I have the unmountable_boot_volume error and have been working on it for a couple hours. I have the reinstallation CD and have set it to boot from the CD-ROM drive and still get the blue screen. The green light on the CD drive lights up for a few seconds then goes dark, and it does not sound like the drive is attempting to read the disc. I have pressed F12 to get the boot menu and when I select CD-ROM it says “Selected boot device not available.” I have made sure it is set to “On” in the BIOS menu. The CD drive has been working just fine. Any suggestions? Thanks either way.
If I recover using the windows xp disc. will I lose my data already on computer?