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#1
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
I managed to toast a perfectly nice machine and now I'm pretty sure I have
to start over. When I got this machine, it came with WinXP installed and had an OEM "Restore" disk. Since getting the machine, we've partitioned the HDD and installed programs off C:. I know I don't want to use the "Restore" disk, since this will definitely destroy the data partition. I'm going to pick up a copy of XP Home today. What I would like to know is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
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#2
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
Elizabeth;
If your issue is "Unmountable Boot Volume", try these first: Power off, open the case and reseat the hard drive IDE ribbon cable at both ends. If that fails: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403 Otherwise go to the website of the hard drive manufacturer and download their hard drive diagnostics. A Repair Installation normally leaves all data intact: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm Back-up important data first just in case. -- Jupiter Jones [MVP] An easier way to read newsgroup messages: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit. "Elizabeth Stapel" wrote in message news:3f1f0110_3@newsfeed... I managed to toast a perfectly nice machine and now I'm pretty sure I have to start over. When I got this machine, it came with WinXP installed and had an OEM "Restore" disk. Since getting the machine, we've partitioned the HDD and installed programs off C:. I know I don't want to use the "Restore" disk, since this will definitely destroy the data partition. I'm going to pick up a copy of XP Home today. What I would like to know is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
#3
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;297185
Brian "Elizabeth Stapel" wrote in message news:3f1f0110_3@newsfeed... I managed to toast a perfectly nice machine and now I'm pretty sure I have to start over. When I got this machine, it came with WinXP installed and had an OEM "Restore" disk. Since getting the machine, we've partitioned the HDD and installed programs off C:. I know I don't want to use the "Restore" disk, since this will definitely destroy the data partition. I'm going to pick up a copy of XP Home today. What I would like to know is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
#4
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
If your issue is "Unmountable Boot Volume", try these first:
Power off, open the case and reseat the hard drive IDE ribbon cable at both ends. It's not the power cable (this wasn't an upgrade). I did something bad. If that fails: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403 I'd seen these. They give great advice for if you can get to the Recovery Console; I can't. A Repair Installation normally leaves all data intact: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm I didn't see where the above article said anything about preserving data on non-C: partitions of the HDD containing C:...? Back-up important data first just in case. Since I can't boot the system, I'm not sure how I would go about doing that...? Eliz. |
#5
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;297185
Yes, I've seen this. But since I can't access the Recovery Console, I'm not sure how to move forward from this. In any case, the question I have now is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
#6
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
No, your Data partition will definitely be safe. Installing WinXP to the C:
drive only effects the C: drive. Your new copy of WinXP will get you into the Recovery Console and this may fix the problem. Brian "Elizabeth Stapel" wrote in message news:3f1f30f9$1_4@newsfeed... http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;297185 Yes, I've seen this. But since I can't access the Recovery Console, I'm not sure how to move forward from this. In any case, the question I have now is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
#7
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
You don't need to boot your computer to the C: drive to do a Repair install
or access the Recovery Console. Boot to the CD. Brian "Elizabeth Stapel" wrote in message news:3f1f30f9$1_4@newsfeed... http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;297185 Yes, I've seen this. But since I can't access the Recovery Console, I'm not sure how to move forward from this. In any case, the question I have now is: Will reinstalling Windows XP on C: destroy the data partition that shares the same HDD? Or is there a chance that I can save my data and only have the hassle of reinstalling a lot of programs? Thank you. Eliz. |
#8
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
Elizabeth;
I said the IDE ribbon cable, you can also reseat the hard drive power cable. I have seen several of these issues resolved simply by reseating the ribbon cable. It is not important if this is an upgrade or not. The cable may have worked a little loose or not have a real good connection. If you perform a Repair or Clean Installation on just C drive, the data on other driver (D) will be safe. Just be sure and not delete the partitions with the retail Windows XP. If you use the OEM Windows XP, there may be no options and all data may be destroyed. -- Jupiter Jones [MVP] An easier way to read newsgroup messages: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p...oups/setup.asp Please respond to newsgroup only for everyone's benefit. "Elizabeth Stapel" wrote in message news:3f1f2f20$1_3@newsfeed... If your issue is "Unmountable Boot Volume", try these first: Power off, open the case and reseat the hard drive IDE ribbon cable at both ends. It's not the power cable (this wasn't an upgrade). I did something bad. If that fails: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315403 I'd seen these. They give great advice for if you can get to the Recovery Console; I can't. A Repair Installation normally leaves all data intact: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm I didn't see where the above article said anything about preserving data on non-C: partitions of the HDD containing C:...? Back-up important data first just in case. Since I can't boot the system, I'm not sure how I would go about doing that...? Eliz. |
#9
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
I said the IDE ribbon cable....
Sorry; that's what I meant. Yes, we have the correct cable, and we did check that everything was seated properly. Trust me; that's not the problem. As near as we can figure, the boot sector is bad, because you just can't access the hard drive's data any which way. If you perform a Repair or Clean Installation on just C drive, the data on other driver (D) will be safe. Thank you; that was what I'd wanted to know. As it happens, however, the drive is messed up enough that we can't get the install to work. We can't get to the Recovery Console or into a clean install, because the process fails at the "examining [insert size here] Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0...." etc, etc, part. This examination should take only a second or two; I've waited as long as an hour and a half for anything to happen. So we can't recover or install. We may need a data-recovery service. *sigh* If you use the OEM Windows XP, there may be no options and all data may be destroyed. This is what my husband discovered when he attempted to fix the ghosted image of the drive. The computer can now run on what had been the back-up hard drive, but the ghost of the data partition is gone. (It had been inaccessible anyway, for some reason. Does XP just not accept ghosting, or does the ghost have to be on a drive of exactly the same size? My hubbie wonders....) Thank you for your time and assistance. Eliz. |
#10
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
You don't need to boot your computer to the C: drive to do a Repair
install or access the Recovery Console. Boot to the CD. We tried. The process (whether recovery or installation) fails at the "examining [insert size here] Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0..." etc, etc, part. This has been very frustrating. But my husband has been able to recover some of the data, and thinks he may be able to recover much of the rest (through a ghosting using his NT machine). Thank you for your time and assistance. Eliz. |
#11
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"unmountable boot volume": will reinstall destroy data partition?
No, your Data partition will definitely be safe. Installing WinXP to the
C: drive only effects the C: drive. Thank you; that was what I wanted to know. Your new copy of WinXP will get you into the Recovery Console and this may fix the problem. If we could have gotten that far.... *sigh* Thank you for your time and assistance. Eliz. |
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