Obtaining XP Recovery Console on CD or Memory Stick

[Willybolly17]

Hi

My computer has come up with an Unmountable boot Volume error (after I did not shut down properly). It is clear from this BB that there is a need for XP Installation disk to obtain the Recovery Console. However XP was pre-installed and the manufacturer (Toshiba) provided a recovery CD but the only option seems to be a complete format of the hard disk!

I have read what is said about creating bootable CDs but reading your BB and Microsoft, it appears that I need to load up 6 floppies with the XP system. I was a little alarmed to read that the Microsoft KB said that even after loading the 6 floppies - I would need the XP CD (which I have not got!).

Is the recovery console available to go on CD or could I copy the the equivalent programs onto a memory stick?

I have recently bought a USB floppy drive and am able to get into the BIOS to change the boot order - including USB

Any guidance would be very gratefully received.


Willybolly17

[Allan]

You can download a bootable recovery console .iso here: http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?/topic/150212-boot-to-recovery-console-wo-xp-cd/

Also, for repair purposes it is perfectly acceptable to borrow an XP cd from a friend (must be the same version and service pack as is currently installed).

[Willybolly17]

Hi

Thank you very much for your very rapid response.

I am currently downloading the ISO file to my desktop.

Once I have it, I intend to copy it to a CD using Nero - do I need any switches set? Do I need to set up the CD to be bootable before the transfer?
I am aware that I will need to change the boot order so that the CD is first.
Will the ISO file work straight away on booting up in the broken machine?

Willybolly17

 

[Allan]

The .iso creates a bootable disc.

[Willybolly17]

Hi

I have now used Nero to copy the file rs.iso onto a CD and attempted to boot using the CD drive as 1st boot - but I am getting the same UNMOUNTABLE BOOT error - while the CD drive hums for a while - it does not seem to be reading the CD - should the file on the CD be renamed?


Willybolly17

[Allan]

You need to burn the .iso image to disc using the "burn image" module in Nero or you can use a dedicated .iso burner (ie, http://www.freeisoburner.com/)

[Willybolly17]

Hi

I am sorry to be a klutz - I have managed to burn the image onto a CD.

When I put the CD in I get Press any key to Boot from CD - it displays 4 or 5 dots(.) (without any action by me) and then goes to the We are sorry screen with safe mode options etc.

If I press F8 it goes into a blue Windows Setup screen and a load of drives and then fails with an error and cycles through the error procedure again.

What am I doing wrong please?


Willybolly17

[Allan]

I don't know. If you are actually booting to the disk and if you burned it correctly it should go directly to the Recovery Console.

[Willybolly17]

Hi again

The blue screen has the following on it:

I get A problem has been detected ...

STOP: 0x0000007E ....

pci.sys - Address F748E0BF base at F7467000, DateStamp 3b7d855c

Willybolly17

[JJ 3000]

Go into BIOS
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000192.htm

and set your CD drive as the first boot device. Look for boot order or boot sequence. Set your CD drive as the first boot device. Insert the CD. Exit BIOS and SAVE changes (F10).

[patio]

When I put the CD in I get Press any key to Boot from CD - it displays 4 or 5 dots(.) (without any action by me) and then goes to the We are sorry screen with safe mode options etc.

At this point press Enter...or the spacebar...if you wait too long it reverts to trying to boot the HDD...

[Willybolly17]

Hi Allan, JJ3000 and Patio

First of all thanks for your suggestions and persistence.

Now when I boot from the CD, I go into Windows set up - it spends about 30 seconds loading a number of drivers and controllers then says "Setup is starting" and then goes to the stop screen with the pci.sys error described by me above.

Kind regards



Willybolly17

[patio]

Courtesy MSDN:

A system thread generated an exception which the error handler did not catch. There are numerous individual causes for this problem, including hardware incompatibility, a faulty device driver or system service, or some software issues. Check Event Viewer (EventVwr.msc) for additional information.

Installed any new drivers recently ? ?

If it will boot to safe mode try that...then check Device Manager for any Yellow !!'s or?'s///

[Willybolly17]

Hi

Immediately before I shut the computer off without going through a proper shutdown, it was working fine. I think that my battery is in a very poor state. I have not recently installed any new hardware or software. It loops through the UNMOUNTABLE BOOT ERROR regardless of which starting alternative SAFE, Last working version or .... all seem to loop back to UNMOUNTABLE.

I want to run Chkdsk and Fixboot but am not able to get to the C:>.

Kind regards



Willybolly17

[Willybolly17]

Hi

I borrowed an XP CD from a friend as you suggested originally and this worked! Thanks guys for your help with this!

I am writing this on the formerly broken laptop.

When I got to the C> I typed chkdsk /r - this must have taken about 3 and a half hours (90 GB hard drive) - strangely it took about 20 minutes to get to 75% and then dropped back to 50% and then crawled about a percent every five minutes - I thought it had stopped but resisted the temptation to press the reset button.

The chkdsk /p took about 20 minutes and the fixboot took about 20 seconds.


Thank very much for your help.

Kind regards




Willybolly17