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Question

Unmountable Boot Volume

Mar 30, 2015 6:34AM PDT

How to fix the "Unmountable Boot Volume" error.

I have a Gateway Laptop Model MX 6121 that's quite a few years old (I'm not sure exactly but it's definitely more than 7 years old).
Recently I have encountered the error screen "Unmountable Boot Volume" that prevents me from booting my computer.
I've read numerous solutions and the closest I've come to solving the problem involved downloading a Windows XP ISO and creating a boot disk. I boot from the disk and once the program has finished loading I get a screen that says this:

The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer.

Use the UP and DOWN ARROW keys to select an item in the list.
To set up Windows XP on the selected item, press enter.
To create a partition in the unpartitioned space, press C.
To delete the selected partition, press D.

38155 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
C: Partition1 [Unknown] 38146 MB <38146 MB free>
Unpartitioned Space 8 MB

I choose "C:" and I hit enter. Then I get to a screen that says this:

An error occurred while Setup was updating partition information on:
38155 MB Disk 0 Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR].
Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3.

There are no other options so I press F3 and I get to one final screen:

Windows XP has not been installed on this computer. If there is a floppy disk in drive A:, remove it. To restart your computer press enter.

Windows XP has been installed on the computer so I don't understand that final message. Do I need to buy a hard drive repair program? Should I buy an actual Windows XP installation disc? Or are there other ways to fix the problem?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
The first thing I'd do is HD diagnostics
Mar 30, 2015 7:19AM PDT

Determine the manufacturer and model # of the drive and download their program to test the drive. You're usually offered a destructive and a non-destructive option. It will perform hardware and media testing. Problems detected should return with an error code. If no error code, the drive may be usable and it might even be possible to do a system repair using original media or, in some cases, another disk that's an exact match for your OS version.

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Answer
run seatools for dos
Mar 30, 2015 7:32AM PDT
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Answer
Download a Linux LIVE DVD iso file
Mar 31, 2015 4:29AM PDT

burn the iso file to a DVD as an "image". Boot to the disc. Open it's file explorer program (they have many differing names) using the HOME icon usually provided on the opening screen. You may then be able to view the volumes on the hard drive, even if the boot process is not working on the drive. If so, then save what you can to a backup.