Hi,

I have a problem. A big problem (i think). I cant boot my laptop computer; this only started happening yesterday. I get a bsod for about a half a second and it restarts. I cant read it because it goes so fast. I would try a repair install, but my internal cd-rom drive doesn't work anymore. I have a usb cd-rom drive if that helps, i don't think it does though. Even if it did work, i don't think i got an XP installation with the laptop, i have another one from another laptop if it is any help.

Is there anything i can do?

All help and suggestions would really be appreciated!
Ger.

Hello germanio,

Welcome to PCHF.

Can you get into safe mode by pressing the F8 button on your keyboard, and selecting safe mode?

Since the BSOD can be absolutely anything, you will need to write down at least part of what you see on the blue screen. I know it only appears for a split second, you will have to see it a few times to get the information. This in an example of a blue screen:



For this I need the second section "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" and the last but one section that shows ***STOP: Ox00000000A... Yours will be different.

Also do you have a floppy drive?

Hi guys,

Thanks to you both for replying! Much appreciated.

I cant get into safe mode, the same thing happens. I have a floppy drive (in another country - thats what makes this problem a bit worse, im irish but im in university in france for the year!), its usb. Will that help if i get it sent to me?

I wil go and check if i can get anything off the screen for ye, will probably be tomorrow before i can get back to ye with it.

Also (just came to me), the last time ishut down my computer, i was putting music to a minidisc player; i clicked on the remove hardware safely thing and stopped it. I think i may have pulled it out while the pc was shutting down, not sure if it had stopped. I don't know if this is part of the problem or if it is relative at all but its just a thought.

Great site btw, i've been on for over an hour id say. Wil be here a lot more!
Ger.

lol,

As long as your PC can boot to a USB device. If you go into BIOS (DEL, F1, F2) when you boot. Look for boot device priority and see if USB is one of your options. If so the USB Floppy will be fine, otherwise you will need to look at getting your CD-ROM repaired. The most important thing at the moment is finding out what comes up on that BSOD. Hopefully there will be enough information there to determine if it is a Windows problem or a hardware problem.

Hi, I'm back!

On the blue screen that i get for less than a second, it says:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

I fear the worst. I can't read the other line you asked me to get, i tried around ten times and i could't see it at all.
Is there anything that can be done in this situation?

Have a look here germanio
"STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer or Upgrade to Windows XP

Thanks Wolfeymole,

I'm guessing its a damaged file system then. It says to start windows with the windows startup disks or with the windows cd-rom, i thought the windows startup disk was a cd-rom, is it not?

I think i will have to get my cd-rom drive working again, or else get a new one put in. If i get a new cd-rom drive installed in my laptop, will this work, or will i have to be able to boot before it will work?