"unmountable boot volume" error

[Norman Litell]

I have a T43p 2668PDU with 2Gb RAM, a 100Gb hard drive and a DVD-RAM -- everything is standard IBM issue, and current with all WinXP-Pro (SP2) and ThinkVantage system updates. The system was built in Mar 2006, and I purchased it new in Sep 2006.

When I try to boot I am now suddenly getting a couple of error messages: First is the "Windows did not shut down properly the last time." Then, no matter what safe mode option I chose, it always ends with an "unmountble boot volume" (UBV) error message.

There are no unusual noises or apparent delays in the booting process to indicate an obvious mechanical problem with the disk.

When I try to boot in any of the safe modes, I first see the screen listing all of the drivers as they are being loaded, and then I get the UBV message. If I select boot Windows normally, I see the Windows logo appear, it looks like it is going fine, then after about 10 seconds I get the same UBV screen.

When I called IBM support, the person who answered said that the whole drive was fried and unrecoverable. However, since the system was still under warranty, he sent me a new hard drive and a new set of Rescue/Recovery (RR) CDs.

Somehow, since I see all of these drivers being loaded and the Windows logo, etc being displayed, it seems to me that there must be at least some of the hard drive still working and accessible... Am I wrong about this?

Although the RR system alleges it can copy files from a hard drive that Windows cannot boot from, RR is unable to recognize the existence of my hard drive. So although I now have two sets of RR CDs, they are not helping. And somehow I cannot seem to find the WinXP boot CD that I created when I first got my computer, so I cannot try that option.

According to the Microsoft support website, this error is caused by a failue or corruption of the file system, and can be fixed by booting from an external source and then running the commands "fixmbr" and "fixboot" at DOS command line prompts. This, of course, somehow assumes that the hard drive is ultimately accessible and working, albeit slightly corrupted.

I have seen a number of Internet posts indicating success with the fixmbr/fixboot process. Bottom line -- is this safe and worth trying if I can somehow get an XP boot CD? And given the unique and custom ways in which IBM and Microsoft interact, do I somehow need to find a custom XP boot CD that came from another T43p running XP-Pro?

[agarza]

Yes, you should try the fixmbr and fixboot commands.

SUMMARY
When booting up to Win XP you may get a error that reads "Unmountable Boot Volume".

SYMPTOMS
When booting up to Win XP you may get a error that reads "Unmountable Boot Volume".

CAUSE
1.The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted.
2.You use a standard 40-wire connector cable to connect the UDMA drive to the controller instead of the required 80-wire, 40-pin cable.
3.The basic input/output system (BIOS) settings are configured to force the faster UDMA modes.

RESOLUTION
If it be the connector cable problem then replace the 40-wire cable with an 80-wire UDMA cable.
If it's a BIOS settings problem then load the 'Fail-Safe' default settings, and then reactivate the most frequently used options such as USB Support.

If it's a damaged file system case then:-
1.Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.

2.When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

3.If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.

4.When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.

5.At the command prompt, type chkdsk /r , and then press ENTER.

6.At the command prompt, type exit , and then press ENTER to restart your computer.

This takes a bit longer, but the system should boot back into Windows.

It seems you could recover your XP install by following the advice above. It's unlike there's a mechanical failure on your disk as there are no delays on the boot process.

I think cloning the drive would be of no use because there are errors on the File Tables, possibly the Master Boot Record.

Or you could get a Live CD to recover all your info and perform Rescue & Recovery from the start-up.
You can verify your current HDD using PC Doctor. In any case, I think you just got an spare drive!

[Norman Litell]

agarza,

Thank you for your confirmation -- the Microsoft KB article you copied was the one I was refering to in my original note.

But do I need to somehow get a specialized XP Boot CD that was created from a Thinkpad -- or specifically from a T43p installation, or will any WinXP-Pro Boot CD do?

Could I create one from my wife's new T6x or T7x (don't know which it will be, but it is arriving tomorrow from her company).??

[joester]

Download a copy of Hiren's Boot cd.

Use the CHKDISK located under the NT folder to scan the hard drive.(probably d: ).

If there is a corrupted file, CHKDISK will attempt to repair the file.

My Inspiron 700M had that error, and that's how I fixed it.

Joe

I believe THIS is the link I downloaded from.

Moderator edit: Link removed.
Please do not link to warez. Hirens includes copyright protected programs.

oops!
My apologies.

[carbon_unit]

Since IBM is sending a new drive and recovery discs just use them. Then borrow a USB adapter or Ultrabay adapter for your old hard drive to transfer the data to the new system. After that is done fire up some PC Doctor and test the old drive. If it is good get an external USB enclosure for it and have a nice backup drive.

[Norman Litell]

It would be nice if I could keep the old drive after it was fixed, but IBM wants it back...

Instead of trying to find an adapter for the old drive, I thought it would be simpler to just create a Windows XP boot disk from the new drive, and try to directly fix the old drive with the fixmbr, etc. However, after building the system on the new drive (IBM sent me a blank drive and all of the recovery disks to install the system myself), I can't find any way to create a new bootable Windows XP CD that I could use with my old drive.

It may be possible to do so using the Windows backup utility, but Microsoft's descriptions and vocabulary are so arcane that they make no sense to me.

How can I create a bootable Windows CD from my new hard drive so that I could just put the old drive back in, bootup via CD, and then go to the Recovery Console or directly to the DOS command prompts and fix the old drive.??

[carbon_unit]

How can I create a bootable Windows CD from my new hard drive so that I could just put the old drive back in, bootup via CD, and then go to the Recovery Console or directly to the DOS command prompts and fix the old drive.??

You can't. You can only make a recovery disc set and you already have that. You will have to find a regular XP cd somewhere else.
You need a USB or ultrabay adapter to get your info off the old hard drive.

[agarza]

I know 100% percent sure & legal, that you already have a Windows XP CD in your old hard drive!!
Thing is, it is stored under the C:\I386 folder. Problem is you cannot just copy those files to a CD-R and burn it.
There's a guide somewhere on the new that explains this.

Check out this guide. You should need to get an Ultrabay or a USB2 enclosure, to copy the I386 and work from another machine.
How to Create a Bootable Windows XP Setup CD/DVD on a System with Windows Pre-loaded

Good luck. I remember following this exact same guide, and I assure you it works. The benefit:
You will be using the same Windows that your machine came with on your new hard drive, with the benefit that're using the Windows License Key found at the bottom of your T43. Good luck I'm sure you can pull this off.

[Norman Litell]

Interesting note on creating a bootable XP CD.. One question however... how do I handle the Product Key situation.

I have the Product Key for the system installation which was on my original hard drive -- it is on the bottom of my PC. However, I am now working from a new hard drive that was empty when I got it -- I had to load the system via the set of Recovery CDs that IBM sent me.

There is no Product Key associated with the Recovery CDs. Can I use the PK that was associated with the original system install on my old hard drive.?? If not, what do I do...??

[fasterbybike]

Check out this guide. You should need to get an Ultrabay or a USB2 enclosure, to copy the I386 and work from another machine.

This works - but sometimes the licence number on the COA does not work - I'm not sure why.

There is no Product Key associated with the Recovery CDs. Can I use the PK that was associated with the original system install on my old hard drive.?? If not, what do I do...??

Try the licence number from the base of the machine - if you have trouble AND you can boot up your old disk - you should be able to run the Magic Jelly Bean Finder to extract the licence number from your existing system. That will work.