[RedBeard249]

Can't get Dell laptop to start Windows XP Pro.
The BSOD says
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME. Code is:
STOP:0x000000ED (0x82FAC488, 0xC0000009C, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
It won't go into any safe mode when that options screen comes up. I got the BSOD to appear when I selected the "Stop automatic restart after system failure." When I select safe mode it starts displaying Drivers list and stops at "agp 440.sys"
My daughter was downloading Xune software and it stalled at 3% so she cancelled the d/l and went to Internet explorer which wouldn't open so she rebooted and started this endless reboot loop.
Thanks for any help.

[jrbuergel]

Look here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555302 , and this Microsoft Knowledge Base site here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315403, or; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185

[RedBeard249]

Thanks, jrbuergel.
The only disc I have for this laptop is a "Dell D600 Restore DVD" Since the second line on the paper with it says "Warning! All data on hard drive will be erased.", I'm reluctant to use it without knowing if the Recovery Console is on it.

[Saga Lout]

Originally Posted by RedBeard249

Thanks, jrbuergel.
The only disc I have for this laptop is a "Dell D600 Restore DVD" Since the second line on the paper with it says "Warning! All data on hard drive will be erased.", I'm reluctant to use it without knowing if the Recovery Console is on it.

The Dell disk will definitely not have the Microsoft Recovery Console on it. Is there someone from whom you can borrow an XP CD? Having said that, I've tried several times to relieve this problem using that facility but found it easier to mount the volume using a Linux LiveCD (post back if you want full details) or sometimes even tapping the disk to give it a kick start. You might need to take it out of the case - sometimes just reorientating it cna unjam it, if that is the problem.

One thing you can be sure of and that's if you get it to work, take your files off it and replace it with a new one because this problem won't go away. See if there's a Dell Recovery Partition and if there is, try to clone that to the new disk so you can use ell's CD to reinstall. If you can't do that, Windows 7 is a good replacement.

[RedBeard249]

Thanks Saga Lout,
I'll check around for a XP disc to borrow.
How does the Linux Live CD work?

[Saga Lout]

Originally Posted by RedBeard249

How does the Linux Live CD work?

It runs in RAM so it would actually work if there's not even a hard disk present. I use one called PCLinuxOS which you can download from http://www.pclinux.com and then burn to a CD. For that, I use a simply burner call ImgBurn rather than Nero because you don't want a Microsoft ISO or anything complicated.

When it's running, go My Computer then Storage Media and if the hard disk is showing, try to open it. I can't recall the menuitem to mount it if it doesn't work but have a look through to find the relevant command.

[RedBeard249]

The Linux.com link doesn't seem to work. So I googled Linux and am downloading Ubuntu from their .com. Thanks again!

[Saga Lout]

Originally Posted by RedBeard249

The Linux.com link doesn't seem to work. So I googled Linux and am downloading Ubuntu from their .com. Thanks again!

Sorry, Redbeard - my syntax was wrong. In case you ever feel like having a look at it, the site is http://www.pclinuxos.com but Ubuntu will do the same job for you.

[jrbuergel]

Or try this Rescue disk here; http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page , and this is a great site for Linux of all types; http://distrowatch.com/

[Saga Lout]

Originally Posted by jrbuergel

Or try this Rescue disk here; http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page , and this is a great site for Linux of all types; http://distrowatch.com/

That is soooo Bookmarked, JR! Can that write to an NTFS system? Earlier versions of PCLOS couldn't but the 2009 can and that's why I recommend it, having very little experience of Ubuntu.

[RedBeard249]

After multiple attempts, I couldn't get a usable CD copy of either the rescue CD or the Linux OS disc.
So, its off to the "pros" to check it out. $$$$ Money I can't spare.

Thanks for the suggestions.

When, I get the laptop back what backups/reboot discs should I make?

[Saga Lout]

Originally Posted by RedBeard249

After multiple attempts, I couldn't get a usable CD copy of either the rescue CD or the Linux OS disc.
So, its off to the "pros" to check it out. $$$$ Money I can't spare.

Thanks for the suggestions.

When, I get the laptop back what backups/reboot discs should I make?

Acronis True Image is highly spoken of and can take an image of the entire system on to another Partition to put back later if required.