okay....Scenario#1

unmountable boot volume error....
No original XP CD
Laptop has no floppy disc drive

what do you do?

I could tell you, but then would have to kill you..or charge you $129.99 plus tax!

First, do you know what could have caused this issue? Have you recently installed any new software? Any games? Updated any software?

Ok... Unmountable boot volume error refers to a disk drive or perhaps even your hard drive. So, assuming you're seeing "The blue screen of death!" I'm gonna say your hard drive is fried and you need a new one.

If this happens before you can load windows, assume the previous statement is true. Your hard drive crashed, you've probably lost everything on it, and you'll need a new one.

NOw, if this were, say, a game or cd you are trying to load, then:
1) Your disk drive is not properly configured to interface with the hardware, which means you need to take the drive out and make the appropriate adjustments or
2) The drive is messed up somewhere in the electronics and probably can't be fixed. You'll need a new one.

OK dammit! I'll step in so you can at least stop chasing your tail! i hate when that happens!

First need MORE exact DETAILS..what kind of unit is it, whats the original OS, new or old system.

I figure its a laptop from what you said above, so I would doubt any new hardware has been added.

Guessing, you have "bootlegged" software and or been doing the "bootleg boogie" from places like Limewire, kazaa, etc and you now got stung!

But give me more details and I can give you more guidence. the hard drive is DEFINITELY where the problem is..but it MAY be recoverable, depnding on what exactly is going on.

So don't try to "leave out details" I'm NOT the computer police and I will KNOW by experience anyway if you are trying to hide things like "bootleg" or "illegal software/downloads" crap...been doing this too many years . So the sooner you tell me EVERYTHING thats went and going on, the faster i can help you get things fixed.

Gateway Laptop 2 years old, XP original OS, just got back from shop in early spring, worked great, but was in for a 'special scan.'

Downloaded limewire/morpheus songs/movies.
No waraz sites.
High security settings.
No new hardware, no new software updates, changes, conflicts.

Storms a few weeks ago, wasn't on surger, just recharging batt, next morning, would not boot up, but had some flashing clocks which meant either power flickered, surged or off...

Talked to Gateway he said it was the unmountable boot volume and would cost 129.99 + tax LOL <----smart arse

Talked to the pc op who did the 'scan' and he can't get to it till after holidays and was hoping for quicker results, he did say he could retrieve certain things needed off the drive if it was fried....

OK, thanks, that does HELP.

Now, when you state "unmountable boot volume", did the person from India..I mean Gateway tell you this or is this the message that you get from the laptop screen?

I am looking for what YOU see on the system when you try to boot. Lights, any error messages, etc. Not what someone from India/gateway told you it was..I need to know what the LAPTOP says.

PS..my inital "guess" from what you have told me would be one of two things. Possible surge, however that would usually take out the motherboard before the hard drive, but I have seen stranger. The two others could be a tie, first, the Limeiwre "peer to peer" junk. No matter what you think you do for security there..its kinda like going into a prison shower and picking up the soap and thinking you are protected because your have a towel on. "Peer to peer" puts you WIDE OPEN for ANYTHING to ATTACK YOU! That is the most common spread of virus in the computer world now. And for the real serious ones i might add. The other thing is your HD is simply failing. There is a reasonable chance that is what happened also.

If you do not have a Windows XP OS CD, then you are in serious hurt, because then you can't even manually try to rebuild the boot sector to get your system back up and running. So your only real help to attempt things yourself is borrow a XP cd from a friend and I can try to walk you through a few steps to see if we can manually rebuild the boot sector...I have had to do that a few times before. It can work IF the drive is good.

PSPSPS...see this is why I can HATE computers...the unforgiving SOB's!

Gateway customer service said it.....

turn on.
bios info real quick
black screen with flashing cursor

Standard "we apologize for the inconveience..." yadda yadda
safe modes and you get 30 secs to pick one....

When you hit safe mode....it scrolls at 55mph a series of
multi(0)disc(0)rddisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\_______ last part all vary with.sys extensions

and eventually that screen goes away on its own back to 5 start up modes...

safe mode with networking same as above - multi(0)etc....

F5 brings you more options, when you do the safe mode with command prompt, you see blue screen and words for like 1 sec... then tries to reboot back up....

F2 BIOS setup utility pulls up
BIOS/KBC Version :52.00.14/K52.00.06
Mobile Intel(r) P4

Silent Boot [disabled]
1st Boot Device [CD/DVD]
2nd Boot Device [IDE HDD]
3rd Boot Device [Disabled]

HDD LOCKED: No
Passwords: Not installed

IDE Controller [Both]
USB Legacy [Enabled]
Intel Speedstep(TM) [Disabled]
Embeded controller update [E]
Hyper Thread Tech [E]
Network Boot [E]
Wireless Power Setting [Restore]
Auto Dim Setting [auto]

reboot F10 will pull up CD/DVD & IDE HDD blue screen, but any option you try to click on goes to reboot safe mode options page...

If you do nothing it keep going through it's cycle... there is that blue page that has words on it but it is less that miliseconds and no way to stop it to read it...

try getting a copy of knoppix - self contained bootable linux on CD...boot up in linux and you can access all of your files and put them on a thumb drive...at least that way you won't lose any crucial data



http://www.knoppix.org/
and
http://www.knoppix.net/

Thanks S1ow will give that a shot too...
So even if it's XP you can boot up in Linux? Interesting... never knew that.....

OK, sounds like your HD will probably be ok, from what you are describing. Since it at least pops up and give you some options and starts into any mode, then reboots, "most likely: (not absolute) something have screwed up your Windows OS..most likely cause, something from Limewire, etc.

You will need a Windows XP install CD. If there is nothing that is critical to be saved, I would honestly just fdisk and format that sucker, because who knows exactly what all has been toasted in the OS. If critical stuff on the system, I can try to walk you through a manual rebuild of the boot sector. Thenm IF we can get it back up, backup what you need to, then see how it runs. if its still "glitchy" then reformat to take out any potential threats from the old stuff.

OH and lets NOT forget DRIVERS! you;ll want to jump online and grab at LEAST the ethernet/wireless drivers, the video and sound drivers. Then you can get back online and get whatever other drivers you might need..but the ethernet/wireless is CRITICAL.

Great idea too!

Ahhhhhhhh thus enters Scenario #2
(life is never simple, makes it too easy to go through lol)

No "original" XP install CD.
My original is no longer with me.
A friend gave me a bootleg XP, but very leary at this point to try it.

And yes important data on this HD that can't be lost.

next option if any?

The idea from slowhand works for the backing up and it should also let you see if your HD is fully accessible.

Use the "bootleg" copy, cause you will have no other choice. It's really not a "Bootleg" since the OS came on the laptop, you are simply using a different install CD..you still have the COA sticker on the laptop, so that makes it legit.

will give that a shot...... and also try S1ow's idea too

Will keep ya posted to see if it works or not....

Thanks Guys for the time & patience.....

Good luck..it should work.

But what tdo I know..I'm a dog!

knoppix can work i have done it before....but you might need a little help if you are totally unfamiliar with linux