So, a friend of mine that lives in Ohio is having computer issues. Apparently I'm the only one she knows with any computer know-how: She doesn't know enough to realize that I barely know anything.

Here's what I know:

OS: Vista

Situation: Didn't have any problems this morning, but she tried turning it on about an hour ago, got boot options, and then got the blue screen of death whenever she tried to enter safemode or start up normally. She doesn't have a system disc, it didn't come with the computer and she didn't think to make one. All system restore points are gone.

Error listed on the blue screen: UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

Is there anything that can be done for this?

Thanks!

 

I would think that the solution she's going to end up with here is to go out and buy a new disk.

Edit: Yup. Windows CD.

 

Disk as in harddrive or disk as in windows CD? I still get those confused on occasion, since I can never remember which spelling of disc is appropriate.

 

Pretty sure he meant Windows CD.

 

This is an issue that can occur from multiple and very different circumstances.

Essentially, the computer can not access the hard-drive on its own. This can, potentially but not always, be a sign of failure in the hard-disk. If this is the case then the hard-disk needs to be replaced. Total lose of data if the failure is total.

However, I am not quite writing off other causes.

I would definitely get a copy of a disk with the same version of the operating system and try running the repair-installation function included on the Window's installation disk.

Most techs that I know of would probably just say to do a clean-reinstall. :fire Problem is that you lose quite a bit of data that way. I would take a linux or Windows Live-CD and see if you can mount the system from those operating environments. If it can be mounted, you may be able to recover the data. It may also be a sign that something is just wrong with the partition. Resizing it can sometimes fix the problem by reassigning the partition's memory.


I digress... This finely crafted and elegant link shows the basics of how to use the Start-up repair option on the Vista DVD.

Also, if your friend can't find the disk, then this finely crafted and elegant link has Neosmart's mirror of the recovery portion of the disk. Microsoft released the software that they are hosting up as a response to manufacturer's and dealers who don't release a windows installation disk for the PCs they sell.

Good luck for you and your friend!