unmountable_boot_volume

[jfuglestad]

Hi,

I'm having a problem with my Sony Vaio Desktop. I receive a stop error, and it says I have an unmountable_boot_volume
http://www.pbase.com/image/16188085

I've tried using my recovery cds, but it maintains that all data on the c partition will be destroyed (I have a d partition with all the valuable data, but I don't quite trust that it won't delete the d partition as well (same drive)).

There is no real repair mode to just reinstall the OS (XP), only to reinstall.

So, what I see as some options are:
1. get a new drive and install to that new drive and try and access the old drive from the new boot drive.
2. Buy XP non-OEM and try and do a repair, but I'm not sure how that will play with the OEM version
3. Take it to a "Disk doctor" and see what they can do.

It's important because I'm a photographer and ummm.... haven't been as current with my backups as I should be. I'm backed up through November, but still have about 7,000 un-backed up photos. I can't toss them away too easily.

Thank you for your help!

Jim

 

[Ape]

Try this.

Click Me

Ape Out.

 

[jfuglestad]

Thanks,

I've seen the ms page, but hadn't thought of downloading a service pack. I'll download it and burn it tomorrow at work. Can I boot from a service pack cd?

One of the problems is that currently I can't even get to a prompt because I only have the OEM "image" rather than a real xp installation cd.

Thanks again!

Jim

 

[loup garou]

I think you're being paranoid by believing data on a separate partition than the OS will be destroyed when repairing the OS partition, but if you insist, grab a new hard drive (see Hot Deals for some cheap ones!) and start copying!

 

[jackschmittusa]

I can verify that some older recovery disks wiped out everything on the boot drive and I wouldn't trust blindly that they wouldn't do it now. If you really need the stuff, I'd buy another drive.

 

[daveybrat]

i've corrected that error many times on XP.
You have to boot up off the cd. Then choose the repair option.
Then don't select repair disks, select the recovery console option.
this will take you to a dos like prompt.
Type in this below:

chkdsk /p

this will force it to do a hard drive check, once done, reboot and should work fine.

good luck