Unmountable_boot_volume error - can't do anything

[user9876]

I have a Compaq desktop running Windows Xp Home.
We previously removed a virus from it and it was working fine. When i went to boot up the other day I get to the windows screen and it restarts. When i go to Last know good configuration, it reboots without starting up to windows. When i go to safe mode it stops at agp440.sys and reboots. When i go to Recovery console the two partitions are D:\miniNT and D:\i386 and i have run everything i can imagine chkdsk, fixmbr, fixboot with switches. When i go to reinstall Windows Xp over the top it doesn't find the previous version and wants to format first. i want to avoid this at all costs..does anyone have any ideas.

 

[linney]

Would this Compaq procedure to perform a "non-destructive recovery" apply to your machine and situation.

Compaq Presario Desktop PCs - How to Perform a System Recovery

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/famiDocument?product=89327&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&docname=c00007689

 

[user9876]

The restore is on the harddrive with this compact, no cd's came with the computer for the restore.

 

[bcastner]

D:\miniNT <== Windows Preinstallation environment
D:\i386 <== Windows installation store

If that is all that is visible something is seriously wrong. And what is on Drive C?

Take a look with a variation of Bart's PE:

http://www.windowsubcd.com/index.htmS

At the very least if there is data there you can copy it off a clean install.

 

[bcastner]

Try Recovery Console again.
FIXBOOT C:
Chkdsk /r c:

 

[user9876]

BCASTNER is a genius...that worked and saved a lot of data and time..thanks again.