unmountable boot volume 0x000000ED for windows xp

Hi,

I would suggest you to run check disk from the recovery console and check whether the issue is resolved. Follow the steps mentioned in the article given below.

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

Note: Running Chkdsk /r can cause you to lose data. Back up your data first.

I would also suggest you to refer the article mentioned below.

When you restart your computer or upgrade to Windows XP, you receive the "STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error message

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185

Thank you and Regards.

Thahaseena M
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Hi,

I would suggest you to follow the steps mentioned in the article given below.

Stop 0x000000ED Error Message When Volume on IDE Drive with Caching Enabled Is Mounted

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315403

Also, I would suggest you to follow the steps mentioned below.

Method 1:

I would suggest you to boot into Last known good configuration and check whether you are able to boot to the desktop normally. Follow the steps mentioned below.

a.       Restart the system and keep tapping F8 till you reach the boot menu.

b.      Select Last Known Good configuration from the list and then press Enter.

Method 2:

I would suggest you to check whether the Drive is detected in the BIOS.

Method 3:

·        Is there an additional Hard Drive to present install Windows?

If yes, then I would suggest you to install windows XP and check whether you are able to boot from there.

Method 4:

I would suggest you to check the Boot sequence in BIOS and change it to CD/DVD drive to boot first instead of Hard Disk and check whether you are able to use the CD.

If you are able to boot using the CD then access Recovery console as mentioned in my previous suggestion and then run the following commands.

Step 1:

Bootcfg /rebuild  

Check the article mentioned below.

Description of the BOOTCFG Command and Its Uses

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/317521

Step 2:

Fixboot

Step 3:

FixMBR

Check the article mentioned below for further reference.

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

Thank you and Regards.

Thahaseena M
Microsoft Answers Support Engineer.
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

maybe i should go with this one

No.

Those ideas are either impossible to work, unlikely to work, might work sometimes maybe and could break your system in other ways. 

That error indicates a problem with your NT File System (NTFS) on your system of unspecified make and model is.  The file system can get corrupted from things like a power failure, aborted restart, ungraceful shutdown, etc.  Have any of those events occurred?

What you need to do is run a chkdsk with error correction (chkdsk  /r) and to do that you are going to have to boot your system on something - either the Windows Recovery Console or the best idea is to boot on a Hiren's Boot CD and run the chkdsk from there.

Since we don't know anything about your system here are some instructions about how to create a Hiren's Boot CD and run the chkdsk with error correction assuming your system is running XP and you have a working CD/DVD drive. 

If that is not the case, you need to provide more information about your system.

Here's how:

Make yourself a Hiren's Boot CD which you can download from here:

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

The ZIP file is large, so the download will probably take a little while to complete bit it is worth it.  Then unzip the download to extract the Hirens.BootCD.ISO file that will be used to create your new bootable CD.

Creating a bootable CD from a .ISO file is not the same as just copying the .ISO file to a blank CD.  You have to use software that understands how to burn a .ISO file to a CD to create a bootable CD.

In the Hiren's ZIP file are the BurnToCD.cmd file that you can double click to launch it, but I have never used it and prefer to use ImgBurn.

If you need a free and easy CD burning software package, here is a popular free program:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Like many third party programs you might install, the ImgBurn installation defaults to installing things you probably don't want installed on your system in the form of extra Internet browser toolbars or may make other adjustments to your browser.  You don't want to install any of that so you have to pay attention during the installation.

When clicking through the installation screens be sure to pay attention to the screens and always choose a Custom install and UNcheck the following (or any other things like it):

UNcheck:

Install the AVG toolbar and set AVG Secure Search as my default search provider
Set AVG Secure Search as my homepage and newly opened tabs

Choose custom installation again and UNcheck the following:

Uncheck:
Install QuickShare

There could be other things too.

Here are some instructions for ImgBurn:

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

It would be a good idea to test your new bootable CD on a computer that is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. 

These adjustments are  made before Windows tries to load.  If you miss it, you will have to reboot the system again.

When booting on the Hiren's CD you will see a menu of options.  Choose the Mini XP option.  Then it will appear that Windows is being loaded and you will be presented with a desktop that has the look and feel of the Windows Explorer interface you are already used to using.

Remember:  You did not boot on your hard disk - you booted into the Hiren's desktop.

One way to check the disk for errors is to open My Computer and right click your afflicted drive and choose Properties, Tools, Error-checking, Check Now... put a check mark in both the boxes and then Start.

Sometimes that doesn't work, so you can also click Start, Run and in the box enter:

cmd

Click OK to open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command (assuming XP is installed on your C drive)

chkdsk  c:  /r

This disk checking can take a long time (perhaps several to many hours) depending on the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what the disk checking finds to do.

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. 

Depending on the the speed of your system, the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what chkdsk finds to do, it may take a long time for chkdsk with error correction to complete (several to many hours) or it may appear to be 'stuck'.  Be patient.  If the HDD light is still flashing, chkdsk is doing something so don't interrupt it.  It will finish eventually one way or the other.  Keep an eye on the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.  It may even appear to go backwards sometimes.

You may have to run the chkdsk  /r  it more than once.

I had the same problem (probably my own mistake-too hasty) and got the unmountable boot volume message.

I tried booting in safe mode-no luck.

Then I tried with my original WinXP installation dvd, it got to where you can choose between installation and repair, so I did R, and then it tried to find its files or something, but couldn't do it (multiboot system)

So I downloaded Hiren's bootable CD,wrote it to disk and booted with that.

It went great! I got to mini winXP and the did run cmd

and chkdsk c: /r

It took about 2 hours, then I rebooted win in normal mode and...up it went!

Great stuff.

Thanks a lot for helping me out.