when i try to boot up it blue screens on me and says "unmoutable_boot_drive" and then freezes up. its an old ibm thinkpad laptop with windows longhorn (it came with it when i got it) and so now i cant start it. i was told that my harddrive exspired or somthin and started corrupting files and got to my windows files. is there a way to fix it without spending a bunch of money?
2006-12-25 06:43:52 · 7 answers · asked by ima_applemango 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
"Unmountable boot device" means that the computer sees the hard drive is present, but is unable to read the files it needs to load anything off the drive. That means that there is a possibility that you can format and reinstall Windows and get it going.
If you are unable to reinstall Windows (it will not write to the hard drive, or after the install it still does not boot, then you will have to replace the hard drive.
2006-12-25 06:56:22 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, so you got an old computer ? Second hand I guess. When you got it there was an OS which is not out yet already installed on it ? The version of the windows you call "Longhorn" (Windows Vista) is either a hacked or an early version. With the information you provide I guess you computer never worked. This is obviously due to the inadequate OS ("Longhorn"). I advise you strongly to install a new OS, like Windows XP. Before choosing an OS, make sure it fits your computer. Your computer must have enough resources. If you want it quickly, get Linux, its free.
2006-12-25 14:58:55 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely answer for BSOD = blue screen of death, is that your hard drive is bad. Replacing your hard drive should fix the problem. Of course, it could be any hardware bad including ram, video card, etc but the most likely cause is the hard drive. If you computer came with a diagnostics disc, run that on bootup and it may scan your computer for the bad hardware.
This taken from another message board "sounds like the hard disk controller driver, the drive, the controller, or the cable. you should have gotten a little more on the bsod. post it all?
you dont' mention what os. you could try booting from the xp install disk and attempting to re-run setup. if it can find your old os it'll offer to repair it, which might work. but if your drive is bad you will be needing a new one..."Otherwise, your stuck taking it to the shop or buying a new hard drive just to find the answer.
2006-12-25 14:51:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The drive is corrupted, at the least, or damaged and needs replacement...
Saving money...
grab the free DL of http://pclinuxos.com and boot from the CDrom, see if you can do the install (click on the icon). It will test the drive, and let you know if you can build the partitions.
I have seen the BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) and am not afraid, for I have GNU.Linux, the sword of light!
2006-12-25 14:47:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
...or you can ignore the posers above and when your computer starts, get inside the BIOS and run a disk check. I had the same problem with a Presario 2200 laptop, it told me Windows couldn't be installed on the system. I almost wasted money on a new hard-drive.
2006-12-25 14:55:07 · answer #5 · answered by General Iroh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
reformat, and reload windows on it, or replace your hard drive and load an appropriate copy of windows on it
"Longhorn" is the beta form of windows vista. I highly doubt it came new with that on it. in fact I guarantee it didn't.
It stands to reason that OS is pirated, and thus you will either have to sail a ship yourself, or but a copy of windows.
Sorry, but that's how it is.lol
Hard drives don't expire, they can die, but not expire
2006-12-25 14:45:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think reformatting will help, it sounds like the hard drive is corrupting secotrs. You should probably go ahead and buy a new harddrive... check bestbuy.com or officedepot.com.
Good luck man.
2006-12-25 14:47:00 · answer #7 · answered by doug a 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋