OK..here it goes. I've been trying to install a new primary hard drive (WD 160GB IDE) and then install XP Pro. However, each time it boots to the install disc I get the blue screen with the UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error. Most of the troubleshooting guides I've read in regards to this say to boot to the Recovery Console and run the check disc, however this is a brand new hard drive and I can't get to the Recovery console anyhow as it fails before that. In addition, this is the second drive I've tried so I doubt it's the drive. This is what I've done so far:
BTW..I have a Dell Dimension 8300
1. Per Dells suggestion, boot to XP with at least Service Pack 2. I tried XP with SP3 and that didn't work.
2. Per Western Digitals suggestion, boot using the XP reinstall disc....that didn't work.
3. Swapped old 80 conductor 40 pin IDE cable for new.......that didn't work.
4. Tried setting jumper to master and cable select......neither worked.
5. Update BIOS to latest version...AO7...that didn't work.
For what it's worth...at the bottom of the blue screen there is an error code as follows:
STOP:0x000000ED (0x89E34030, 0xc000010, 0x00000000)..........got this code after I booted to the reinstall disc
STOP:0x000000ED (0x89E3B8C0, 0xc000010, 0x00000000)....got this code after I swapped the cable
Any other ideas?