The Unmountable Boot Volume error occurs due to some installed software conflicting with the operating system or due to the computer suddenly shutting down,... In the article below, WebTech360 will guide you through some ways to fix this error.
Table of Contents
Boot volume is the hard drive partition that contains Windows. This error occurs when the computer cannot load Windows properly, resulting in a blue screen of death.
A stop code is a specific error message that identifies the problem Windows encountered - in this case, it's the Unmountable_Boot_Volume stop code.
The error is usually caused by corrupted Windows files or system files. You’ll typically see the error after applying a major Windows update. While this error can also be caused by a misconfigured BIOS , this is rare unless you’ve modified the BIOS yourself.
Fortunately, this error doesn't always mean that your hard drive is about to fail.
The cause of the Unmountable Boot Volume error can be due to errors in the files on the hard drive , system file errors, RAM errors , hard drive errors on old computers, or sudden computer shutdown errors, etc.
To fix the Unmountable Boot Volume error, first make sure that you have a Bootable USB drive that you can use to access your computer.
In case if you don't have a Bootable USB drive you can create a new Bootable USB drive using a 4GB USB drive, then download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from Microsoft homepage .
Like most blue screen messages, the Unmountable Boot Volume error isn't always a cause for concern if you only see it once. Sometimes Windows encounters a temporary glitch that you never see again.
If you see the Unmountable Boot Volume error blue screen while working, restart your PC and try booting Windows again. You should be clear if the error doesn't return for a while.
However, usually, you will see the Unmountable Boot Volume error every time you try to boot into your PC and this error will not allow you to load Windows at all. In that case, proceed with more in-depth troubleshooting.
Since you can't boot Windows normally to fix this problem, you'll need to create a Windows installer on a USB or DVD using another machine. This will allow you to access the troubleshooting tools that Windows provides by booting from another device.
Luckily, the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool makes it easy to create Windows 10 installation media. If you're on Windows 11, use the Windows 11 download page for the same purpose.
Once you have created your bootable device, plug it into your PC and boot from the USB or DVD. You may need to change the boot order on your PC to do this. The exact method for doing this will depend on your computer.
The simplest way to fix Unmountable Boot Volume error is to use the Automatic Repair Option available on Windows 10.
1. First turn off your Windows 10 computer by pressing and holding the Power button.
2. Plug the USB drive containing the Windows Media Creation tool you downloaded into the USB port on your computer and then turn on your computer.
3. After the computer starts to boot, press the function key to access the BIOS screen.
Note:
Depending on the model, there will be a function key to access the BIOS screen . Usually you can use the function keys F8, F9, F12, Escape and Delete .
4. On the next window, select Boot from USB Option .
5. Next select the USB drive you want to boot from (the USB drive containing the Media Creation Tool).
6. Your computer will now boot from the USB drive and you will see the screen as shown below:
7. Next, click on the Repair your computer option in the bottom left corner of the screen.
8. On the next window click Troubleshoot .
9. On the Troubleshoot window, find and click Advanced options .
10. On the Advanced Options window, click Automatic Repair (or possibly Startup Repair) and then click Next.
11. On the next window, click to select Windows 10 or the operating system you currently have installed on your computer.
12. Finally wait for the utility to repair the files . The process may take a long time.
The Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) contains information about where Windows is located on your hard drive and helps the operating system load properly when you turn on your computer. If these become corrupted, it can result in an Unmountable Boot Volume message.
To repair MBR or GPT, restart from your Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation media and select Repair your computer > Troubleshoot . This time, on the Advanced Options screen , select Command Prompt .
At the Command Prompt, type the following command to run MBR repair:
bootrec /fixmbrWait for the process to complete, then run the following commands one by one to attempt additional repairs. If your drive uses GPT, these are the main commands to try to fix it:
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcdType exit to exit Command Prompt after it finishes running. Then reboot and see if the Unmountable Boot Volume error persists. If so, you may want to run advanced MBR troubleshooting.
The cause of the Unmountable Boot Volume error may be due to an error on the hard drive . To fix this error, you can run the Chkdsk command on the Command Prompt window .
1. Turn off your computer by pressing the Power button .
2. Plug the USB drive containing the Windows Media Creation tool you downloaded into the USB port on your computer and then turn on your computer.
3. After the computer starts to boot, press the function key to access the BIOS screen .
Note :
Depending on the model, there will be a function key to access the BIOS screen. Typically you can use the function keys F8, F9, F12, Escape and Delete.
4. On the next window, select Boot from USB Option .
5. Next select the USB drive you want to boot from (the USB drive containing the Media Creation Tool).
6. Your computer will now boot from the USB drive and you will see the screen as shown below:
7. Select the Repair your computer option in the bottom left corner of the screen.
8. Next click on the Troubleshoot option .
9. On the Troubleshoot window, click Advanced options .
10. Next click Command Prompt .
11. On the Command Prompt window, type chkdsk /rc: and press Enter.
Note:
In the above command replace C: with the name of the USB Bootable drive on your computer.
12. Wait until Chkdsk checks for errors on your computer's C: drive. This process will take a long time.
13. Once Chkdsk completes the process, restart your computer and check if the error persists.
SFC, or System File Checker, searches for corrupt Windows system files and attempts to repair them. If none of the above fixes your problem, this tool is worth a try.
Reopen Command Prompt on your recovery drive and enter the following command:
sfc /scannowWait for the process to complete. SFC will let you know if it fixed anything. Like the other commands, once it’s done, you should reboot and try loading Windows again.
If you've done all of the above and continue to see the Unmountable Boot Volume error every time you boot, then your problem may be more serious.
You may have a hardware problem. The storage drive may be damaged or the connection may be faulty. If you are confident, open your computer (this is easier on a desktop than a laptop) and check to make sure the hard drive cable is securely connected. Sometimes faulty RAM can also cause this problem, so make sure the RAM is seated properly.
If you have checked the connections and everything seems fine, you should run some diagnostic tests to determine if a component is broken. Replacing it should fix your problem, but you will need to talk to an experienced computer technician if you are unable to replace the parts yourself.
1. Press the Power button to turn off your Windows 10 computer.
2. Plug the USB drive containing the Windows Media Creation tool you downloaded into the USB port on your computer and then turn on your computer.
3. After the computer starts to boot, press the function key to access the BIOS screen .
4. On the next window, select Boot from USB Option .
5. Next select the USB drive you want to boot from (the USB drive containing the Media Creation Tool).
6. Your computer will now boot from the USB drive and you will see the screen as shown below:
7. Click Install Now and follow the on-screen instructions to reinstall Windows 10 on your computer.
Good luck!
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