[Bobbin Threadbare]

Hi there - I have a Dell Inspiron 1545 running Windows 7 which all of the sudden will not boot and gives me the BSOD with the error UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME 0x000000ED.

I don't know what the problem is but I must confess that I was not using an official charger and it was killing off my battery - it had been telling me for a good few months that my battery would need replacing. The last time I used the laptop before this happened the battery had finally give out - it was saying that it was not charging at all and was just running off mains. Could that be the issue? I have since bought a new official charger and battery.

First of all I get a screen asking if I want to Launch Startup Repair (which then freezes on the light blue screen) or Start Windows Normally (which gives me BSOD and restarts). When I try to run the Operating System disc I got with the laptop it asks me about the language and stuff and then freezes on the light blue screen again. Is that even the right disc?

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you

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Welcome to GeekstoGo.

I was not using an official charger

It is not of course, just the charger

It is also the power supply for the laptop.
Genuine laptop power supplies are what is known as certified and stable at the stated output voltage.

Cheap power supplies for laptops MAY show an output of whatever volts with an amperage and wattage limit, but that does not mean that a cheap supply is certfied to supply that voltage and ONLY that voltage.

Inside the laptop on the circuitry is where that power supply voltage is then converted, and distributed as required to the various hardware of the laptop.

If you are LUCKY you will have got away with it.
Obviously the converse is true.

However
To deal with the actual problem UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME means
The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted.

As the computer boots keep tapping the F8 key.
Please tell me then what screen you are presented with - DO NOT please select any option.
IS THERE an option REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER

[Macboatmaster]

Welcome to GeekstoGo.

I was not using an official charger

It is not of course, just the charger

It is also the power supply for the laptop.
Genuine laptop power supplies are what is known as certified and stable at the stated output voltage.

Cheap power supplies for laptops MAY show an output of whatever volts with an amperage and wattage limit, but that does not mean that a cheap supply is certfied to supply that voltage and ONLY that voltage.

Inside the laptop on the circuitry is where that power supply voltage is then converted, and distributed as required to the various hardware of the laptop.

If you are LUCKY you will have got away with it.
Obviously the converse is true.

However
To deal with the actual problem UNMOUNTABLE BOOT VOLUME means
The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted.

As the computer boots keep tapping the F8 key.
Please tell me then what screen you are presented with - DO NOT please select any option.
IS THERE an option REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER

[Bobbin Threadbare]

Thanks so much for replying.

When I press F8 I get the Advanced Boot Options. There is a Repair option but when I try to do the repair it freezes on this screen:



I have left it for like 4 hours just in case it was taken ages to load but still, nothing has happened.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare, 17 December 2011 - 04:39 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

It is important that you TRY and follow the instructions (advice) CAREFULLY

As the computer boots keep tapping the F8 key.
Please tell me then what screen you are presented with - DO NOT please select any option.
IS THERE an option REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER

Would you kindly clarify that you have NOT seen the screen AFTER selecting the repair option.
This one
http://www.geekstogo...ws/page__st__15

Post 26 on that link

OR did you have that and then make a selection.

[Bobbin Threadbare]

No, I have not seen that screen.

[Macboatmaster]

Would you please list the options that appear on the screen at the F8 key

[Bobbin Threadbare]

The F8 options are:

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable low-resolution video (640x480)
Last Known Good Configuration (advanced)
Directory Services Restore Mode
Debugging Mode
Disable automatic restart on system failure
Disable Driver Signature Enforcement

Start Windows Normally



Thank again for helping me out and replying so quickly.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare, 18 December 2011 - 04:19 AM.

[Macboatmaster]

So is there NOT a Repair your computer option on that screen - please. If NOT - where did you access that from please.

It is VERY unlikely it will work but try

Enable low-resolution video (640x480)
This will use your graphics driver, rather than the standard windows graphics driver that is used in Safe Mode, but in Low Resolution mode.

If that does not work - Shut down the computer.
Take out the battery
Disconnect the power supply.
Hold down the power button for 20 seconds.
Reconnect the power supply - BUT NOT the battery.
TRY again please in Normal boot
Safe Mode - NOT safe mode with networking.
and then the LOW resolution again.

If none of those work and you DO have the entry on F8 REPAIR YOUR COMPUTER see if that will get you NOW to the other screen.
If it does select Command prompt

If you get there
type at the prompt
chkdsk C: /r


Please post what happens at each stage, that produces any result except the BLUE screen.

[Bobbin Threadbare]

Yes sorry, I am such a fool - the first option is Repair Your Computer, I forgot to type that bit in.

I have tried this repair option before and that is when it freezes on the screen I tooka photo of. If I turn the computer on and press nothing, the first screen that comes up asks me if I want to Launch Startup Repair (freezes again) or Start Windows Normally (BSOD).

[Bobbin Threadbare]

I have tried all suggestions and each one went to a BSOD and reset again. I tried the F8 repair option but again, it just hangs on that blue leafy screen a took a photo of earlier.

I have also previously tried to do the repair from my OS disc but it does the same thing.

[Macboatmaster]

Does your other computer have a CD burning drive and do you have CD writeables or can you get access to one.
The reason I ask is that some netbooks do not of course have an optical drive and some old computers only had a CD ROM drive not a CD write drive.

[Bobbin Threadbare]

Yes my other computer has a cd/dvd writer and I have discs.

Edited by Bobbin Threadbare, 18 December 2011 - 05:44 PM.

[Bobbin Threadbare]

Is there something I can download that will help?

[Macboatmaster]

My apologies for missing your reply on 18 Dec.
I am assisting on a number of threads. That is really no excuse, as I would have received the notification of your post.
When I was cleaning up my 20 odd emails from GeekstoGo, I must have deleted yours before I read it by accident.
Please accept my apologies.

I suspect that your graphics on the motherboard is faulty or indeed other hardware defects POSSIBLY caused by a power issue. However that remains to be seen.
There is a slight chance that it is the connections from the motherboard to your laptop screen and the various aspects of that - it is more than just a simple cable connection.

If you have another monitor - try that first.

If that does not work make this CD and see if that will boot.
http://www.geekstogo...over-your-data/

THE LINK TO PUPPY no longer takes you to the indicated version ie: Lupo5.2
USE THIS LINK for the PUPPY download and follow everything else as per the guide.
http://distro.ibibli....2/lupu-520.iso

IT is an ISO image and MUST be burnt using the special program in the link, your normal burning software will very likely NOT do this.

Follow the instructions carefully please.

TRY the external monitor FIRST

[Bobbin Threadbare]

Please, I am really so grateful for all your help, you have been very swift getting back to me.

I tried the monitor thing but had no luck. I have downloaded Puppy Linux and put it on disc and I am able to boot from that (and rescue all my files if nothing more so I am sooo happy about that!).

Is there something else I can do here to find out what is wrong or maybe repair it so I can start it normally with windows?