So I'm getting an Unmountable Boot Volume error which means I can't boot into Windows. It seems that I have a damaged file system. I have Windows XP Home Edition. OEM version. No disks came with the computer. I've read Microsoft's knowledge base articles about this problem but I'm still confused. What exactly do I do to solve this problem with an OEM version of XP? HP says I need a Recovery Console CD. But Microsoft's website seems to imply that I don't need the CD that I can download the Setup disks for Floppy boot install. There are 6 disks. Then if I boot with them then I should be able to access the recovery console. But another Microsoft article says something about installing the Recovery Console. So now I'm totally lost and I really don't want to screw this up. Does anyone know what exactly I'm supposed to do to fix this problem? Banging my head against the desktop and screaming haven't really helped.

I've had this problem and resolved it. I know exactly what you are talking about. You don't need to install the recovery console. I haven't booted from floppy's though because I had the XP cd to boot from and run the recovery console. If the floppys work the same, just boot off the floppys and go into the recovery console and follow microsofts directions. I believe all I had to do was run chkdsk /r or something like that at the command prompt in the recovery console. Once you are back up and running, make sure you install SP1 for Windows XP or it could happen again. SP1 resolves this issue, or at least it is supposed to.

This looks easy: "STOP 0x000000ED UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297185

Yes Chuck that does look easy. But the problem is that HP tells me I need the Recovery Console CD to fix this problem. Microsoft doesn't say I need it. Apparently HP has a different method of fixing this problem. But whose method is correct? Microsoft's or HP's? Or both? Which one do I choose? I don't even know what HP's method is. All I know is that they say the Recovery Console CD is needed. And that I should call them when I'm ready to fix the problem.

Don't listen to HP. Microsoft designed the operating system and knows how to fix the problem more than they do. Boot to the recovery console and follow Microsoft's directions. You won't screw anything up by following Microsoft's procedure first.