Unmountable boot volume error 3

[bErEsTh]

More a question than a solution. I know what to do with this error. Family member has this error. They bought a HP that has no XP disc, you have to make your own backup disc. (wouldnt have belived it if I didnt read it from the owners manual) To fix this error you need the XP disc to go to recovery console.

***Question*** Does the system need the exact same install disc? Anotherwords isnt the OS looking for files that are unique to that system, like HAL.dll (Hardware Abstraction Layer)Thanks

 

[wolluf]

Any XP install CD should get you into recovery console - or you could use the 6 floppy set (

http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=310994)

to start recovery console.

 

[linney]

Slightly off topic but might be useful.

Wiping Out Special "Recovery" Partitions, Pt. 1
Wiping Out Special "Recovery" Partitions, Pt. 2

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-02-06.htm

An Anonymous Warning

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-03-14.htm

 

[bErEsTh]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate it, but I was aware of the boot disks or the recovery parttions already. At the moment if I go to Safe Mode or any other choice I get this error. I need to boot from CD. My fear was using an XP disc that wasnt used to install the system. ***please note that this system that has the unmountable_boot volume error is an of ficila legally installed XP on the system, it didnt have an actual XP install disc. The owners manual directed the user to "make" a recovery CD. So this is where I come in to try and help.

If I were to use my XP disc and utilize the recovery console, is there any danger of getting a HAL.ddl error? Thanks again

 

[bcastner]

You will not get a HAL.DLL error. All the information for Recovery Console will be read from the drive and not the CD.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=297185

 

[bErEsTh]

Thank you everyone for your help. I thought that the disc was specific to each system. The computer is back up & running. I appreciate all your help