I'm trying to install Windows XP pro. I was using Windows 98 but my hard drive hadn't been defragged for so long, I decided to reformat it. Anyway, it formatted fine, and I started installing Windows XP.

The 'first portion' apparantly installed ok, so I restarted like it asked, booted from the HD, and I get one of those damnable UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME errors. I've read on the net to use chkdsk or fixboot, I did this and the problem is still there.

Incase you need them, the hexadecimal values are:

STOP: 0x000000ED (0x80E43CC0, 0xC0000185, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I'm not using an UDMA type hard drive, and since I have reformatted the drive I was hoping there wouldent be any errors on it. Bad luck I suppose...

I've tried booting up in safe mode, but becuase Windows XP setup isnt complete, Windows XP blames me for booting in safe mode, and tells me to restart!

Has anybody got a solution, this is really starting to bug me now...

http://www.ltcom.com/page/FAQ/STOP%20Message%20During%20Windows%20XP%20Upgrade.htm

Read my post. I've already done that.

Make sure no udma is enabled in your bios.

did you use ntfs or fat32 file system?

If ntfs file system try reformatting again with the fat 32. Make sure no cables are loose on hardrive.

I used NTFS. It is already currently reformatting, I did this by going to setup, hitting R to get the the console, then typing Format C:

I'm almost certain theres nothing set to UDMA in BIOS, I've never seen it in there before.

The error message usually signifies a HD error, if u still have probs, then my advice (FWIW) would be to boot a Win98 disk, run fdisk, delete all non-dos partitions, create 2 new partitions (set C as active) format/install. Set ur C drive about 10gb and D for the rest.

Keep ur C drive for the O/S mainly - this way, data/ghost backup can be kept safely on D in case of future probs.

Hope this helps

When you use volumes that use the NTFS file system on IDE drives with caching enabled, you may receive the following error message during startup:

Stop 0x000000ED
Unmountable_Boot_Volume

The normal recovery process in such a case is to run the chkdsk /r command from Recovery Console

Frogger, read my post, I already did that.

well sir if u have already done that then please boot to the recovery console once again and do a chkdsk /p if that doesn;t work too well ur hard disk sure does need a replacement