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DSLvis
join:2009-01-29

4 edits

DSLvis

Member

Unmountable boot volume - XP Pro

Received error after resizing 2 partitions in existing drive using MiniTool Partition Wizard. Cannot boot into any mode. Windows recovery not available. CD drive is out of order on laptop. HD is fine. No errors with SMART. No USB BIOS support however do have floppy.
Aranarth
join:2011-11-04
Stanwood, MI

Aranarth

Member

Re: [hard drive] Unmountable boot volume - XP Pro

Might be able to boot off winxp floppies and start system repair.

On the other hand if the laptop has a floppy drive it is OLD.

Then it becomes time to determine how much time and effort you want to spend fixing it over finding a cheap but faster laptop on ebay etc.

You might be able to find a compatible replacement cd drive online as well which will help in fixing the machine.

DSLvis
join:2009-01-29

2 edits

DSLvis

Member

Found an exact replacement optical drive!
Hopefully all goes well after that!

Thanks for the help.
DSLvis

DSLvis

Member

Re: Unmountable boot volume - XP Pro

Anyone know what Windows did to cause the error? Is it a missing boot loader?
What should I do to fix it when I get the CD drive?
dave
Premium Member
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio

dave

Premium Member

said by DSLvis:

Anyone know what Windows did to cause the error?

Probably nothing. Given the reported evidence, I'd say this was the complete cause:
quote:
resizing 2 partitions in existing drive using MiniTool Partition Wizard

What should I do to fix it when I get the CD drive?

I'd start with booting the recovery console and trying 'fixboot' and 'fixmbr'.
Max_War
join:2002-11-30
Scarborough, ON

Max_War to DSLvis

Member

to DSLvis
Try GParted. It is a partition editor and recovery tool. These 2 links should help:
»geexhq.com/recover-parti ··· n-table/
»www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

I've always used it to re-size partitions. Used it today to recover a partition which just disappeared in windows.

DSLvis
join:2009-01-29

DSLvis

Member

I was adding a 32 mb unallocated space back to C drive partition after adding 15 GB to E drive partition. I did notice a strange occurance afterwards that "new hardware was found" after adding the 15 GB.

I won't be messing around with the existing partitions anymore - lesson learned!
DSLvis

DSLvis

Member

Re: [hard drive] Unmountable boot volume - XP Pro

said by DSLvis:

Found an exact replacement optical drive!
Hopefully all goes well after that!

Well it didn't!

The DVD drive cannot be seen by BIOS as a secondary device!
Tried auto and cd-rom both report as none after saving.
I can hear the CD spinning in the drive unlike the old drive which does nothing.

I tried the boot device menu and still goes to Windows which boots into UBV.
DSLvis

2 edits

DSLvis

Member

said by dave:

I'd start with booting the recovery console and trying 'fixboot' and 'fixmbr'.

Resolved CD-ROM issue.

Fixboot said couldn't find directory.
Fixmbr said it wrote new master boot record
but now says hal.dll file is missing or corrupt!
dave
Premium Member
join:2000-05-04
not in ohio

dave

Premium Member

I'd say your file system was thoroughly toasted.

What's the root directory look like (as viewed by recovery console)?

DSLvis
join:2009-01-29

1 edit

DSLvis

Member

Re: Unmountable boot volume - XP Pro

I gave up on all the BS and just reinstalled XP.
Recovered data using Ubuntu live CD.