My 2 yr old Dell XPS shows up with the blue screen of "unmountable_boot_volume" error. I tried to use the repair function on the XP install disc which says it cannot find the hard drive. The dell diagnostics says a "return code 7". Dell says the HD is shot. Windows help says it might be a damaged master boot record. Can the boot record be repaired? I just want to be sure before I throw out this HD and all my data. Can a repair shop get it going if I take it out of the computer and leave it with them?
2006-07-03 02:23:00 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Again, when I try to use the XP install CD and attempt to repair it says that it cannot find the hard drive.... please do not recommend that.
2006-07-03 18:16:01 · update #1
Best guess is HD has died
but I did once see a failing Power supply cause the same kind of thing. Low voltage makes some parts act funny
take it in and let them bench it> that way you'll know for sure
2006-07-03 02:28:16 · answer #1 · answered by BigBadWolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have already tried the boot disk and so forth and that doesn't work, then it probably is your HDD.
I would try what rdaltonsr says about freezing it just long enough to make a back up of the files that are on it. Make sure you put it in an antistatic bag or container of some sort. This has been said by many to work.
2006-07-04 21:48:06 · answer #2 · answered by Christian93 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Microsoft suggests other reasons also, apart from a total disk failure. Try the link below.
If you are able to boot the system with a bootable Windows XP cd and enter "recovery console", you may try the fixmbr command. This command rewrites the Master Boot Record.
2006-07-03 11:05:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try booting with a windows cd , goto repair mode
1- select repair console you see a black page same as dos using this commands
chkdsk /f
fdisk /mbr
fixboot
restart system if problem exist
create a partion magic boot disk (in other system) booting your system with pm boot see trye to create 4 GB partion and install winxp to new partion and try to recover data and reformat hdd
""partion magic is a usefull tools for manging hdd partion without lose data ""
usally hdd is not dammeged try to reinstall windows in other partion with my way
regard
2006-07-03 12:28:46 · answer #4 · answered by rezazandieh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can still try some more troubleshooting steps, I know that the boot record could stil be recovered. Try the linsk below
2006-07-03 09:37:25 · answer #5 · answered by nsee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
harddrive crash,I just went thru all this myself.I have been told many times and by many people,that if you freeze the drive for few hours,it will run supposedly long enough to make backups.Never know!!
2006-07-03 10:13:51 · answer #6 · answered by rdaltonsr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this!
http://www.techtips4u.com/kb/sw/SW00014.htm
2006-07-03 23:51:42 · answer #7 · answered by mittalman53 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋