DELL - unmountable_boot_volume

[Nitro89]

hi, my friend has a Dell Dimension 3100C Desktop PC, but recently it just loaded up to a blue screen saying:

unmountable_boot_volume

0x000000ED (0x8194B448, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I tried to load up the BIOS menu but I can't access one on this PC, yes I've tried all the keys on the keyboards, but still nothing, Dell haven't provided them with a recovery CD or anything.

Safe mode or any mode wont work.

I can't access the recovery console.

I can't use the chkdsk/r.

The best I can find/do on the Dell was a special system setup, looks similar to the BIOS, I put everything to default by still no luck, can anyone help me please, I'm out of ideas or is it time to call Dell?

[IKnowNothing]

I'm assuming you are running XP and I think the error means that the file system is stuffed

The error should look something like
STOP 0x000000ED (0xaaaaaaaa,0xbbbbbbbb,0xcccccccc,0xdddddddd) UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

and looking at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185 might be some help

To get to the recovery console you'll need to boot from an XP install disk.
It doesn't have to be the one that came with the machine any XP Install disk will do.

As a last resort you might try taking the hard drive out of the machine and then mounting it as slave in a working XP machine and then try the chkdsk /r in a command window for the drive. I've not tried this personally but in theory it should work.

[Nelson37]

If you got system setup, that's the BIOS.

If you changed anything related to HD access, you may have thoroughly screwed yourself.

The XP disk does not have to be the original, but it DOES have to be the same service pack. Boot from one and run the repair install.

Putting the disk in a second PC may also work, make sure it is NOT Master or Slave, but alone on a cable.

[aedipuss]

dell bios access is usually F2 key and recovery mode F12 key at power up.

[Nitro89]

dell bios and recovery mode all suck, they don't work, I was forced to disabling all drives apart from the CD Drive and bringing my own XP disc to fix the problem, I used the recovery console on that.