laptop won't start, "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME", please help!

[Guest]

I can't start my laptop and it keeps giving me the same error message. I
already searched for existing threads on the issue, and none of them helped.
It keeps giving me this error message:

"A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer.

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your
computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
this is a new installation ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any
Windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware of
software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowign. If you
need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, resart your computer,
press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP:0x000000ED (0x82F6F280, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)"

I have no idea what any of this means. I tried restarting the first time.
After that I tried entering Safe Mode, and it took me right back to the same
error message. The most recent program I installed was the SanDisk Sansa
Media Converter for my mp3 player, so that's most likely the source of the
problem. Recently, I also unsucessfully tried to set up the mp3 player (a
SanDisk Sansa e200 Media Transfer Protocol). The computer is a Dell Inspiron
1150 running Windows XP Home. If I can't get into Windows to remove the
faulty software, then what do I do to fix it? I don't have a Windows XP
CD-ROM or recovery CD-ROM to use, so that's out of the question. Please help
me.

 

[FreeComputerConsultant.com]

Can you boot to safe mode?

(Press F8 a couple of times for startup options right after computer
comes alive)

www.FreeComputerConsultant.com

 

[Ron Hardin]

faulty software, then what do I do to fix it? I don't have a Windows XP
CD-ROM or recovery CD-ROM to use, so that's out of the question. Please help
me.

I was going to suggest a Linux Live-CD (eg. Knoppix, Unubtu, etc) always
gives you access to files, but I'm not sure these days whether they understand
NTFS (there was some legal complaint). My feeling is that they can read
NTFS files but not write them 100% reliably under all circumstances.

You can, however, amuse yourself for hours.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Without an XP CD your options are limited. See if you can borrow one from a
friend. Booting to the recovery console and running chkdsk /p often fixes
this error. This can also be a sign of a failing hard drive.