magnethead

My dad's work computer (read: important non-backed up docs) just had a hard drive failure..this happened a few days ago but a reboot fixed, not so this time around. Even put his HDD in my computer, my computer declared it unformatted. Is there anyway to recover the contents? He works in the medical industry so ne needs them docs!

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME







(CPU1 in left pane)

Zazula

"STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer

magnethead

the HDD is SATA

Zazula

So, in this case (the HDD is plugged in a SATA controller), only the "Damaged File System" section applies.
Please perform this step from aforementioned article (i.e. Recovery Console, chkdsk /r & fixboot) and post back!

P.S. Due to the fact this HDD contains non-backed-up data, I strongly recommend you to slave it in a functional PC (make sure to set its jumpers right) and see if you can gain access to its contained data for a safe retrieval before moving on to the Recovery Console approach.

magnethead

The HDD's (neither my 160 or the corrupt 80) do not have user-end provisions for pins (they say factory use only and are not labeled), slave and master is set through which motherboard slot use used (SATA-0 and SATA-2). As previously said, I alreadyc onnected the HDD to my computer and it set up as Local Disk (F). When i tried to access it, a notice came up asking me if I wanted to format the drive. The computer goes to BSOD in both normal and safe boot. I attempted to do a safe recover off the Dell XP recover disk, but evidently the computer must first make it to safe mode to be able to read the CD drive (I changed boot sequence to make sure, still didn't work).

magnethead

The Faulty HDD:

Zazula

OK then, let us do the following. You insert the Windows Installation CD in your CD drive, you boot and immediately enter the BIOS Setup to change the boot sequence so that the CD-ROM is first. (While still inside the BIOS Setup, please also confirm that all the settings that relate to your SATA Controller and configuration are acurate and correct - there is a possibility that they produce this error.) You save your changes and exit; your computer reboots and posts a message saying "Boot from CD..." At this point you press any key, and the Windows Installation kicks in. When you see the following screen, you press ENTER.
As soon as you press Enter, you wait vigilantly to see a message posted at the bottom of the screen, saying "Press F6 to load additional SATA/RAID/SCSI drivers". (Make sure if your keyboard has an F-Lock button that it is in the right position.) Press F6 and insert a floppy diskette with the Windows XP driver for your SATA controller. Let it load, and then the Windows installation resumes. Accept the EULA by pressing F8, and a search for existing Windows installations will start:
If you see the following image (that is, that your current installation was successfully found), then proceed to a Windows In-place (Repair) Installation; it won't hurt your documents or data, and it'll make your OS functional again (Great tutorial here, posts #2-4 and don't forget the F6 to load your SATA drivers). If you see no existing OS being posted, then post back to focus on your data retrieval first.
You can create the aforementioned floppy with the SATA drivers from your Motherboard's CD (you can do this in any functional PC). To be on the safe side, you can follow the instructions contained in this post to give us your system's specs, so that you receive additional advice and clarifications, both on your proper BIOS settings for your configuration, as well as how to finally create that precious floppy diskette.

magnethead

we have a 120 GB Seagate in it now (IDE HDD). I tried to use the XP disc to go straight to repair, and it did not recognize any data on the damaged drive. XP recognized the drive as E:\ but could not read it, so in the repair console I typed

CD "E:\documents and settings\[name]"

and it would not read the directory. It also could not find "E:\windows".

Zazula

This is the same as what you had already done when slaving it to another computer:
So, I wouldn't expect different results this time.

The procedure I've outlined above, has to be performed with this problematic HDD as the only hard disk on the computer, and then attempting to launch a Windows Repair Instalation for the OS already installed in this HDD. Please perform this procedure exactly as described above in detail, and see if the existing Windows Installation will come up.

Also, keep in mind this: You cannot launch the Recovery Console for a SATA-controlled HDD if you fail to load the proper Windows SATA drivers. Maybe the Recovery Console gives a "DOS feeling" but it's not DOS... You will still need to have an appropriate floppy diskette with the right SATA drivers and load them via F6 after having pressed "R" for Recovery Console and before the Recovery Console kicks in.

Please keep in mind that me not having the details to your system specs restricts me from becoming more to-the-point regarding your correct settings. Moreover, please do not overlook the BIOS Setup part I already mentioned. A methodical and systematic troubleshooting process can alleviate all computer pains... If you need further clarifications, do not hesitate to ask.

magnethead

it did not find a previous windows install

magnethead

I think it is terminal..the SATA disc in my computer runs at 113°F max (85° room temp) and the other computer is a 4700 (mine's a 4600) and the faulty HDD is 135° according to my heat gun whle inside the case and plugged in. I just removed it due to excessive case heat.

Zazula

Have you attempted running the Recovery Console (for chkdsk /r and fixboot) after having loaded the SATA drivers as instructed in post #9 above?