power-cut chaos

[BigJay]

Hi gang,

Yesterday, while sat at my PC, the house was hit by a power-cut, lasting just a second.

Since then it has refused to boot-up. It gets to the xp loading screen, then I get a quick glimps of the 'ole blue screen of death, then it tries to re-boot again.
I cant see what the blue screen says as it is gone to soon.

What do you think the most likely problem will be?

 

[TriplexDread]

Could be many many things

Corrupted MBR?

Try recording the blue screen with a mobile phone camera or camcorder as it boots that might help someone identify problem easier

 

[BigJay]

Good thinking Batman!

I think is says 'unmountable boot volume'

where do I go next?

 

[Taffycat]

Hi there BigJay, sorry to hear about your power-cut.

I have found some info HERE with steps for fixing the Unmountable Boot Volume error, assuming it to be caused by a damaged BOOT.INI file(?)

You might want to see whether the experts here have other suggestions first though.

 

[Ian]

Do you have any luck booting in safe mode?

You could try a full repair install from the XP CD if Taffycat's fixboot suggestion doesn't to the trick.

 

[BigJay]

Do you have any luck booting in safe mode?

You could try a full repair install from the XP CD if Taffycat's fixboot suggestion doesn't to the trick.

I have tried booting in safe mode but the outcome was the same.
Sadly, during my move, we managed to lose my XP cd, so that is not an option.
Could I repair with any XP cd, not my original? would it make sense to upgrade to a different os at this time?

 

[Ian]

Could I repair with any XP cd, not my original? would it make sense to upgrade to a different os at this time?

Yep, any XP CD will do the trick

Depending on your PC specs, it may be a good time to upgrade to Windows 7

 

[V_R]

Go Win7! Wont be disappointed.

PC Specs?

 

[BigJay]

No luck with with recovery of xp, but I have managed to recover intems off the hd thanks to a data recovery program.
So I now intend to purchase a new internal hd and maybe a new operating system...but the cost of a new os will hinder the money for my new hd.
I'd rather a bigger, faster hd than a newer os.

Your thoughts please....

 

[V_R]

How much you wanna spend?

 

[BigJay]

How much you wanna spend?

Well your question is now a little redundant!.......as I have just ordered a Samsung F3 Spinpoint 1TB SataII and MSW 7 Pro.

 

[V_R]

lol, fair enough. F3's are good, i have one myself.