Unmountable Boot Volume problem

[Judy]

Hello group,

I hope I am posting this problem in the correct group. If not, please
suggest an appropriate group.

Upon trying to install Windows XP pro on a certain computer, When the
installation boots via the hard drive for the first time and shows the
XP boot screen, it then stops the installation and displays

Unmountable Boot Volume error message.

This is on a Samsung 40 gig hard drive, split into 2 partitions of
about 20 Gigs each.

I have tried formating the "C" partition with both FAT32 and NTFS
with the same result.

I have tried running CHKDSK /p and CHKDSK /r which both
re-port all is fine with the hard drive.

I have tried running FIXBOOT and it says it successfully creates a
new boot sector, but the problem persists.

I read that the boot ini file might be faulty, so I checked it against
a know good copy on another machine and it looks fine.

Samsung does not seem to offer any drive diagnostic software for
download, so I have only used CHKDSK so far.

This same computer did have Windows XP installed on it, but had some
problems with some other installed software, so the "C" drive was
formatted and I am now trying to perform a fresh install of XP.

I also used Partition Magic to remove the "C" partition and recreate
it to see if that would make any difference. It did not make a
difference.

I would be most appreciative if anyone had any helpful suggestions
about this problem.

Thank you in advance if you can assist me.

Judy

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Judy;
Power off
Desktop:...Open the case and reseat the hard drive IDE ribbon cable at
both ends.
Laptop:... simply remove and reinsert the hard drive.
If that fails:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403

Otherwise go to the website of the hard drive manufacturer and
download their hard drive diagnostics.

Do you have a hard drive overlay such as Max Blast?
Windows XP sometimes has issues with overlay software.
You may need to perform a Clean Installation without their overlay
software which is not needed anyway.

 

[Judy]

Power off
Desktop:...Open the case and reseat the hard drive IDE ribbon cable at
both ends.

Thanks, but already tripple checked stuff like that.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403

Had already looked at the above link.

Otherwise go to the website of the hard drive manufacturer and
download their hard drive diagnostics.

As I mentioned in my original post, Samsung did not seem to offer any
diagnostic programs for download.

Do you have a hard drive overlay such as Max Blast?
NO

Windows XP sometimes has issues with overlay software.
You may need to perform a Clean Installation without their overlay
software which is not needed anyway.

Thanks, but this is not applicable in this case.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185

BINGO ! ! ! We have a winner !

Turns out the person was using a 40 pin cable instead of an 80 pin
cable. Once I switched to an 80 pin cable, the problem was resolved.

Thank you very much for your reply to my inquiry.

MVPs do it again !

Judy

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Your welcome Judy, we try.

 

[Russell Wizinsky]

I've had the same problem like that, but with xp home. Actually I had just
restored the xp pro version on this system then found out it was only
purchased with home so I erased it and restored home. But when windows went
into final setup it came up with that. Tech support at compaq told me that
the hardware bios wouldn't take 160 gig drive. I told them I already
installed pro on it fine, and I partitioned the hard drive to 137 so home
wouldn't have a problem they hung up on me.

I tried the fix with the chkdsk but it came up as unrecoverable error. Any
other suggestions?

www.professorwiz.com

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Russell;
You tried chkdsk, what the other items I listed such as reseating
cables and hard drive diagnostics and the rest?

 

[Russell Wizinsky]

Yes the bios has a hard drive test in it and it ran good. I ran the fixboot
and that seemed to have fixed it but a boot file was gone then.
I don't understand why all this trouble when xp pro reinstalled with their
restore disks fine. Is there a way to load pro on then adjust some
parameter so it converts to the home version?

BTW thanks for your help. You've gotten me further than the hours with the
Compaq tech support who just kept having me erase the drives.
Russ

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The BIOS test is not near a comprehensive as the diagnostics most
likely available from the manufacturer.