Easy recovery console question

[Trapezoid]

Hi - an easy (I hope!) recovery console question. I am getting the
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME blue screen on start-up. The usual suggested solution
is to go to recovery console. Then I should see:

#########

Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\WINDOWS

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to ?
(To cancel, press ENTER)

###########

but instead I see "1: F:\WINDOWS "

Now I know that windows is on C and not F. I cannot run chkdsk /r on C
therefore as its not an option. Any ideas on what I need to do?

Thanks

- Trapezoid

 

[David B.]

Make/model of computer?

 

[Trapezoid]

Its a Dell Vostro 1700 notebook about 18 months old running Windows XP Pro.
Any other info useful?

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi - an easy (I hope!) recovery console question. I am getting the
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME blue screen on start-up. The usual suggested
solution
is to go to recovery console. Then I should see:

#########

Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\WINDOWS

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to ?
(To cancel, press ENTER)

###########

but instead I see "1: F:\WINDOWS "

Now I know that windows is on C and not F. I cannot run chkdsk /r on C
therefore as its not an option. Any ideas on what I need to do?

Log onto the windows install - which should be on C, but will commonly be on
F if your system has a multi-card reader and you reinstalled XP without
disconnecting the reader - and then run chkdsk, pointing it to the boot
drive:

chkdsk <drive letter>: (then appropriate switches).

Otherwise, you can attach the drive to another XP system and run chkdsk
there.

You might want to try to copy your data off first, though.

HTH
-pk

 

[Trapezoid]

Thanks Patrick. If I understand correctly you say that I should go to
Recovery Console then choose 1: F:\WINDOWS and then

chkdsk c:

I noticed also that if I plug my modem (Sierra Wireless Compass 888) into
another USB port then Recovery Console option changes to 1: G:\WINDOWS (for
example). In this case does Recovery Console think windows is on my modem? In
any case I'll try your solution above when I get home this evening and I'll
let you know what happens.

 

[SC Tom]

When trying to run Recovery Console or any type of system repair/recovery,
it is best to unplug any non-essential peripherals, such as USB hard drives,
flash drive, any printers (or at least turn them off), etc.

SC Tom

 

[Trapezoid]

Thanks Tom. I did have them disconnected but the F:\Windows made me wonder.
Thats why I plugged back in the modem to a different USB port to see if there
was any effect. The effect was that I now see G:\Windows as the only option
in recovery console. If I try to re-boot with the modem again disconeected,
the option in recovery console remains at G:\Windows. My idea (although I'm
no expert!) is that recovery console can't "see" or "find" C:\Windows.

 

[SC Tom]

Are you running RC from one of your boot menu options, or from the XP
install CD? Is the installed version of XP the same as what's on the CD if
starting from the CD? If the versions are different (i.e., SP1 on the CD and
SP3 installed), you'll run into a problem.
As Patrick said, choose 1:F:\Windows (or G: if that's what it is now). After
logging in, type C:\ and hit enter and see what it does. If there is no C:
partition/drive, you'll get an error message along the lines of "Drive not
found." Type in DIR and see what shows up on the current drive. If Windows
and the rest of your directories are on this drive, try CHKDSK /R. Hopefully
you have a back-up somewhere since chkdsk can cause the loss of data.

Was this a sudden problem, or had you installed some new software or
hardware that may have caused this problem? The reason I ask is that
sometimes BIOS settings, or a change of HDD cables can cause this error.

SC Tom

 

[Trapezoid]

Hi Tom - I followed your instructions (switch to C:\ and then ran chkdsk \p
and \r) and it worked perfectly! Thanks so much for that. For completeness
sake here's the sequence of what happened. I installed Internet Explorer 8
about 4 days ago. My girlfriend was then watching some video on youtube which
crashed the machine (twice) and she had to use the power button to switch off
both times. She re-started it a third time without a problem but next time it
wouldn't start and we saw the UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME blue screen. I don't
know if IE8 had any part in it - it may be just co-incidence - as this error
seems to be caused more by wear on the hardware from what I've read.

Anyway, result for me now is to first back up all data (I know - I'm
embarrased to say that I hadn't done this) and then I'll read around here to
see if I there's anything I can do to prevent a repetition.

I want to emphasise how grateful I am to the contributors here for their
advice as I would be totally clueless (and computer-less) without your help.
Is there a tip jar or anything around here? Or do you guys just soak up the
karma?

Thanks again

Trapezoid

 

[SC Tom]

Glad you're up and running! Tell your GF to watch videos on her own PC
(yeah, right!).

Using the power button to shut down a PC is never a good idea (although
occasionally necessary), and now you can see why. Anything that is in cache
to be written to the hard drive is lost. This could be something as simple
as the last item you added to that shopping list, or, as in this case, very
important boot info. If possible, use Task Manager to end the non-responsive
program.

If you suspect it may be the drive, check with the hard drive manufacturer
for a disk analysis program- they will (sometimes) find any hardware issues
with the drive. If the problem occurs again, you may be better off buying a
new hard drive and cloning this one to it. Then you shouldn't lose anything,
and you'll be right where you are now without having to re-install
everything. Most hard drives come with a transfer program that will pretty
much do this for you.

Good luck!
SC Tom