INACCESSABLE BOOT VOLUME

[BCinSC]

Got a Dell laptop that starts loading XP Pro and then blue screens with INACCESSABLE BOOT VOLUME. Safe Mode and LKGC do same. Drive seems fine and I can read all files with Knoppix. How do I get XP happy again and keep my system intact?
Thanks,
B

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Run the Dell or drive manufacturer's HDD diagnostic to make sure the drive is okay.

If the drive is good then you probably just corrupted the boot sectors. A boot sector repair should fix it:

Boot from the XP Install CD-Rom and choose the "Repair from Recovery Console" option during setup. At the command prompt type FIXBOOT and press the Enter key.

If this doesn't help then you'll have to perform a Windows XP Repair Install. Instructions here: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Hope this helps...

 

[sykopath79]

Originally posted by: FlyingPenguin
Run the Dell or drive manufacturer's HDD diagnostic to make sure the drive is okay.

If the drive is good then you probably just corrupted the boot sectors. A boot sector repair should fix it:

Boot from the XP Install CD-Rom and choose the "Repair from Recovery Console" option during setup. At the command prompt type FIXBOOT and press the Enter key.

If this doesn't help then you'll have to perform a Windows XP Repair Install. Instructions here: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Hope this helps...

In addition to FlyingPenguin's suggestion, there are two more things you should do while in Recovery Console. Here's how I have handled it when I've run into this issue in the past, and if the HDD itself is good it should get you back up and running:

1.) CHKDSK /R (this will take a while but it's important to start with a full CHKDSK)
2.) FIXBOOT
3.) FIXMBR (to fix the master boot record)

Reboot once you have done those three things, and see if it boots successfully or if you still get the BSOD.

 

[BCinSC]

Y'all rock. That was it.

 

[sykopath79]

Glad to help. 🙂