Oh crap - my laptop just crashed!

[lozina]

I am at work and was merrily editing some JavaScript functions and testing when suddenly my PC locks up for a few seconds, then a BSOD comes up:

KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR

on MountMgr.sys

I didn't think much of it, figured I didn't do a hard reboot of this thing for a long time - just been going in and out of hibernate. But the PC will no longer boot up, it goes into another BSOD every time:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

Happens when trying Safe Mode as well.

Is there anything I can try doing to salvage this mess?

 

[Slikkster]

What's the rest of the boot_volume error message? Looking for the stop code 0xblahblahblah.

What laptop?

Can you boot from a Windows CD and run chkdsk? Choose the "R" option (repair) when the Windows CD first boots. That will bring you to the recovery console.

Type:

chkdsk /p

to repair the file system.

After that's done, type:

fixboot c:

This will repair any boot sector problem.

 

[lozina]

when i went into repair console and tried running chkdsk it was unable to find the file. then I did "Dir" and it paused and then said somethign like error enumerating disk.

I just downloaded some Hitachi hard drive utility - Drive Fitness Test - and am running it's advanced test. hopefully it will find whats wrong and fix it

the laptop is a Dell Inspiron 8600

and the stop error had something like 0xC0000015 next to it

 

[Slikkster]

I got this error on a Dell Inspiron that I had just purchased (used), and all I had to do to cure it was to reseat the hard drive in its internal cage, if you will.

Remove the battery and unplug the laptop before proceeding.

Follow the instructions here:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins8500/en/8500/sm/hdd.htm#1123687

Slide the drive out, then gently but firmly slide it back into its socket. Replace the securing screw. Put the battery back in and plug it in and try it again.

 

[lozina]

It seems to be running ok now. What happned is I tried booting up using my newly created boot disk with Hitachi hard drive diagnostic tool, but I inserted the cd too late and it started booting normally. I figured i'd just let it go and crash again and then restart but it didnt, it booted into windows and it has been ok since then. I still ran the diagnostic tests and they went through without reporting any errors, wierd.

 

[Newfie]

Originally posted by: lozina
It seems to be running ok now. What happned is I tried booting up using my newly created boot disk with Hitachi hard drive diagnostic tool, but I inserted the cd too late and it started booting normally. I figured i'd just let it go and crash again and then restart but it didnt, it booted into windows and it has been ok since then. I still ran the diagnostic tests and they went through without reporting any errors, wierd.

Its those damn gremlins again.....

 

[Slikkster]

I would definitely re-seat that hard drive if it's magically working again. That, to me, sounds like an intermittent socket connection issue.

Additionally, make sure you run the chkdsk routine above to make sure you don't have any lingering file system issues.