Technology Simplified

Your Technology Companion

Archive for category Windows XP

Unmountable Boot Volume – Windows XP

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows XP | No Comments


Exact Error Message:

STOP 0x000000ED (0xaaaaaaaa,0xbbbbbbbb,0xcccccccc,0xdddddddd)
UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

(Note: aaaaaaaa, bbbbbbbb, cccccccc, and dddddddd are hexadecimal numbers)

Following are the situations in which you might get this error message

1. UDMA Hard Disk Controller issues

  • You are using UDMA on a 40 wire cable (Which is meant for DMA).
  • The basic input/output system (BIOS) settings are configured to force the faster UDMA modes.

UDMA stands for Ultra Direct Memory Access. This is an improvement over DMA (Direct Memory Access).

UDMA requires 80 Wire 40 Pin cable to connect. whereas DMA requires a 40 wire cable to connect.

 

     2.    The file system is damaged and cannot be mounted

 

Solution:

There are 2 troubleshooting sequences you can try:

  1. Try and Repair the Volume

Warning: You might lose some data in the process of repairing the Volume. Also these steps involve changes in BIOS, if you are not comfortable doing them do not try them!!.

In order to repair the volume, you will have to boot to Recovery Console. You would need either of following to boot the computer to Recovery Console:

  • Startup Disk for Windows XP
  • OS Installation disk for Windows XP

You would also need the Administrator Password to access Recovery Console.

Once you have either the Startup Disk or OS installation disk handy, perform following steps:

  • Change the boot sequence to either Floppy or CD in BIOS, depending on what you are using (Startup Disk – Floppy, Installation Disk – CD)
  • Boot the computer using Startup Disk or CD and press R to select Repair option on Welcome to Setup

       5183-500-275

  • You will be prompted for Administrator Password, once you enter it you will be inside Recovery Console.
  • Type chkdsk /r and press Enter.
  • This will run the repair on the Volume, it will take some time to let it be for a while.
  • Once the repair is complete, check if it has found any errors or not. Restart you computer and check if the issue is resolved.
  • If you are still getting the same error message, boot to Recovery Console again and type fixboot and press Enter.

Restart your computer and check if it works. If it still does not work, in all probability issue is with HDD cable and BIOS settings. move to next troubleshooting sequence.

  

      2.    Check the HDD Cable and BIOS settings

If repairing the Volume does not help, you can try to change a setting in BIOS and check the HDD cable you are using.

Try following:

  • In the BIOS settings for your computer, load the ‘Fail-Safe’ default settings, and then reactivate the most frequently used options, such as USB Support
  • Check your Hard Disk connecting cable. If you are using a 40 wire cable, change it with a 80 wire cable.

 

Hope this helps !!!!

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: boot, boot issues, unmountable, unmountable boot volume, unmountable_boot_volume, unmountable_boot_volume Windows XP, volume, window, window xp, windows, Windows XP

Can I upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7?

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7, Windows XP | No Comments


Yes!!!!! You can.

But here is the catch, Microsoft has not provided option to directly upgrade to Windows 7 from Windows XP. There are various options of getting Windows 7 on the computer, but almost all of them would result in you losing your data and your programs.

There is but one way by which you can atleast preserve your data.

Even though, Upgrade is not an option in the setup if we are running it on Windows XP, however we can migrate files and settings from old installation to new one. In order to accomplish this you will have to use Windows easy transfer. You will basically have to transfer the data using this utility to a removable media and then transfer it back once the installation is done. You will however lose all the installed programs and will have to install them back!!!!.

 Following is the summary of the activites involved:

  • Move your files/data using Windows Easy Transfer onto an external media (External HDD, Flash Drive).
  • Install Windows 7 (Remember to choose Custom Installation – Upgrade).
  • Move the files/data back on the computer using Windows Easy Transfer.

Now, this seems elementary, but this might not be a smooth sail throughout.

Ensure that your computer meet the minimum system requirements for Windows 7 and also run a compatibility check.

In order to get a step by step details of the upgrade process, visit following link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd446674%28WS.10%29.aspx

Also, you will find Screen Shots of the installation steps at BlogsDNA:

http://www.blogsdna.com/3217/step-by-step-guide-to-upgrade-windows-xp-to-windows-7.htm

 

Microsoft has also released video of how data migration can be simplified through User State Migration Tool (USMT) version 4.0. Click here to watch the video. (You will have to install Microsoft SilverLight for this)

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: howto, Microsoft, Upgrade, USMT, Window 7, Windows 7, Windows XP, XP

Windows XP Mode (XPM) in Windows 7

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7, Windows XP | No Comments


The biggest failure cause of Vista was its inablility to provide flexibility to users to run applications that work with Windows XP. To overcome this basic flaw, Microsoft has provided a Windows XP virtualization in Windows 7. This is called the “Windows XP Mode”.

This feature will be available in Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions, but not in Home Edition. This will deprive common users of this feature if they upgrade to the basic version of Windows 7.

This is not all. This feature requires lot more than just a higer version of the Operating System. It requires a processor which supports hardware based virtualization. This would mean that if you intend to use this feature and you have an old system, in all probability, this won’t work unless you upgrade your hardware.

Please ensure that your read through all the details before upgrading to Windows 7.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: compatibility, Windows 7, Windows XP

Windows XP upgrade to Windows 7: Data Migration Issues

Aug 12

Posted by Admin in Windows 7, Windows XP | No Comments


As mentioned in earlier blog post, Windows XP is not a valid upgrade path for Windows 7. Microsoft has maintained this stance and is agressively making an attempt to control the damage with over 60% of PC users still on Windows XP.

An average Windows XP user would have been using the same system for about 4 years or more. This means a lot of emails, documents, pictures, movies, etc. With a clean installation of Windows 7, How can a user migrate all this information the way a user is used to looking at these files?

Microsoft has attempted to respond to this need through their User State Migration Tool (version 4.0). This tool is primarly used for enterprise level deployment of an upgrade while ensuring that all data is kept safe. Microsoft has also released a video for the summary of the process. Click here to download the video.

However, Microsoft has ignored the degree of complexity that is required to use this tool by an average user. With focus at enterprises who have dedicated and skilled workforce to write scripts and automate backup and resoration, the tool will not be handy for a common user. It requires command line and scripting knowledge. To top it all, there are some noted issues with USMT 4.0. There are IT professionals who are troubled by data not getting recovered completely.

There is an immediate need of a tool that can seamlessly provide this assistance to home and small business users to manage data migration. Microsoft must provide this to Windows XP customers.

  • Share/Bookmark

Tags: backup, data, Microsoft, migration, Windows 7, Windows XP