Unmountable_Boot_Volume on XP Install

[kevstech]

I'm trying to install XP Pro to a Gateway, PIII 733Mhz, 256mb RAM, 40Gb HDD (newer, from Maxtor, didn't come with PC). After I load the XP software (i386 folder) to a freshly formatted hard drive, it produces an "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" error message as it starts the installation process, including this code:

STOP: 0x000000ED (0x81B94830, 0xC000014F, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I've tried reformatting the drive and installing XP a few times, but with the same results. The only suggestions I've seen are to remove all extra peripherals, check for 80-pin IDE cable, etc. The only peripherals currently installed are the monitor, keyboard and mouse. Both cables to the drive and CD-RW are 80-pin.

BTW, I've already been to M$'s page... it doesn't help.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185

Thanks for any suggestions.

[glc]

You need to download Powermax from Maxtor and test the drive with it. If it tests good, both basic and advanced, then zero fill it and try the install again. Make sure it's on the black end of the cable and jumper it to Cable Select.

[kev7555]

Off the subject...

That user name cracks me up. My name is Kev and when I first started doing builds they were called "Kevtech".

-Kev

[GaryRouth]

. . . and one more thing ---

Is the i386 folder from a Recovery Disk or a Windows XP CD? If you have an XP CD, after you finish the procedures glc described, boot from the XP CD and let XP Setup partition and format the drives for you - and continue setup normally. Any particular reason you were copying the i386 folder beforehand?

. . . Gary


[P.S. - tech party trivia = the parallel-ATA (Ultra-DMA) 66/100/133 has 40 pins, just like it's older, slower predecessors (that's why we can still plug them into older IDE ports). But they have 80 wires (or "conductors" - which helps limit the "crosstalk" interference and improve speeds].

[kevstech]

^Oops, gotta get my lingo right, thanks!

Originally Posted by kev7555 Off the subject... That user name cracks me up. My name is Kev and when I first started doing builds they were called "Kevtech". -Kev

You prolly deserve the name more than I do. Right now, I feel like KevsNOTtech the way this PC is giving me issues

glc & GaryRouth, thanks for the suggestions. I ran the Powermax tests and they reported a good drive. I also used zerofill, but I didn't have time to format and try installation again. I've been away from that pc all day, so I'll try that tonight and report the results.

[kevstech]

Hey guys! I'm back after quite a delay. Hope you can still help me with some advice on this issue.

Originally Posted by glc You need to download Powermax from Maxtor and test the drive with it. If it tests good, both basic and advanced, then zero fill it and try the install again. Make sure it's on the black end of the cable and jumper it to Cable Select.

I tried the install again on the zero-filled drive, but I got the same results.

Originally Posted by GaryRouth . . . and one more thing --- Is the i386 folder from a Recovery Disk or a Windows XP CD? If you have an XP CD, after you finish the procedures glc described, boot from the XP CD and let XP Setup partition and format the drives for you - and continue setup normally. Any particular reason you were copying the i386 folder beforehand?

The i386 folder is from a Windows XP CD. I tried installing it directly from the CD, but it seems to loop back into the same routine of wanting to format the drive, copy files to it, and then install. After copying the files, it will reboot the PC and then start the process again of asking me if I want to format the drive, copy files (except now it sees there's a Windows folder and asks to overwrite it), and install.

Instead of doing that again, I got a Win 98 SE bootable floppy from bootdisk.com with smartdrv on it. The process seemed about the same, except setup ran from the hard drive after files were copied to it rather than the CD. I did this before with another PC to install Windows XP and it went fine.

[glc]

Why aren't you just booting with the XP CD?

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

I have to admit, I'm not sure where exactly you are in the setup process.

You shouldn't have to use older versions of Windows CDs for anything while clean installing XP (unless you are using an upgrade CD, and need a proof-of-previous-version disk - but for that, you just insert it when prompted by XP Setup).

If you booted from the XP CD, and let XP Setup partition and format the drive, and then became stuck in a setup loop -- it's possible that you mistakenly are choosing to "Boot from CD" (which starts Setup again), instead of letting the computer "Boot from hard drive", which would allow you to finish Setup normally.

Another thing to check is to look in the Bios Setup screens, and disable any setting that refers to a Bios Antivirus protection (you can re-enable this protection after Windows has installed OK). Such protection can keep Setup from being able to write it's Master Boot Record properly.

See if that does it
. . . Gary

I really think that you just need to wait a few more seconds, and let the system boot from the hard drive, and XP should setup fine.

[macko72]

Review your steps:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_sg_clean.asp

[kevstech]

Originally Posted by GaryRouth If you booted from the XP CD, and let XP Setup partition and format the drive, and then became stuck in a setup loop -- it's possible that you mistakenly are choosing to "Boot from CD" (which starts Setup again), instead of letting the computer "Boot from hard drive", which would allow you to finish Setup normally.

OK, this was the problem. After it formatted the drive and copied files, the system restarted and asked me again if I wanted to boot from CD. I must've selected that option last time. It installed fine this time. Sorry bout all the confusion!

I'm still curious as to how I was able to install the software previously without CD boot. The floppy boot disk I have (Win 98 SE Startup Disk with Smartdrv) allowed the CD to copy files to the drive just as it did from the CD boot. On two other PCs where I used this method (because they wouldn't boot from CD), there was no problem.