[Fixed] Fixing the Unmountable Boot Volume Error in Windows

Overview of Unmountable Boot Volume Issue

The unmountable boot volume error is a common issue when booting up a Windows computer, and it can prevent you from accessing your system and cause a great deal of frustration. The error message indicates that Windows could not mount the boot volume, which a variety of issues, such as corruption or damage to the boot files, file system errors, or hardware problems, can cause.

Some common symptoms of the unmountable boot volume issue include the computer’s inability to boot up, frequent crashes or freezes, and Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors with the error message “unmountable boot volume” displayed.

Fortunately, several methods exist to fix the unmountable boot error, including running System Restore, Automatic Repair, System File Checker, checking and repairing boot drives, and reinstalling Windows. By using one or more of these methods, you can potentially fix the underlying issue causing the error and get your system back up and running again.

What Causes an Unmountable Boot Volume Error?

The unmountable boot volume issue can be caused by a variety of issues, including:

1. Corrupted system files or damaged boot files: The boot files necessary for Windows to start up may become corrupted or damaged, leading to the error.
2. File system errors: If there are errors in the file system on the boot drive, such as bad sectors or corrupted data, it can cause an unmountable volume error.
3. Hardware problems: Faulty hardware components such as hard drives, RAM, or power supplies can cause an unmountable volume error.
4. Outdated or faulty drivers: Outdated or faulty drivers can also cause an unmountable volume error.
5. Malware infections: Malware infections can corrupt or damage files on the computer, leading to an unmountable volume error.

It is important to note that there may be other causes of the unmountable boot volume problem, and the exact cause may vary depending on the specific situation.

Solutions to Fix Unmountable Boot Volume Windows

Restart Your Computer

The Unmountable boot error message on a blue screen in Windows can be a cause for concern, but not always. If you only encounter it once, it may be due to a temporary issue that doesn’t require any action.

However, if you encounter the error message repeatedly and can’t access Windows, you must take further steps to troubleshoot the issue. First, try restarting your computer and attempting to boot Windows again. You should be good to go if the error doesn’t appear again.

If the error persists, you must proceed with more advanced troubleshooting methods. This can include running diagnostic tests or attempting to repair the operating system. It’s important to address the issue promptly to avoid data loss or further damage to your system.

Check and Repair Boot Drive Errors

1. Right-click on the system partition that you want to check.

2. Select the “Check partition” option from the context menu.

3. Choose the preferred method to check the hard drive and click “OK.”

4. Wait for the software to automatically scan the hard disk partition for errors and repair them.

5. Once the scanning and repairing process is completed, click “OK” to finish.

Create a Windows Install Disk

To fix the unmountable boot volume error, you must create a Windows installer on a USB drive or DVD using another device since you can’t boot Windows normally. This will allow you to access Windows troubleshooting tools by booting from a different device. Fortunately, creating Windows 10 installation media is a breeze with the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool.

On the other hand, for Windows 11, you can use the Windows 11 download page for the same purpose. Once you have your installable disk, please insert it into your PC and boot from the USB or DVD. Remember that you may need to change the boot order on your computer to do this, and the specific method will depend on your device.

Repair MBR or GPT

The Master Boot Record (MBR) or GUID Partition Table (GPT) is a crucial component that contains information about the location of the Windows operating system on your hard drive. It ensures the OS can load properly when you turn your computer on.

However, when this gets corrupted, you may encounter an unmountable boot volume error message. This error prevents you from accessing your system, usually indicating an issue with the boot process or a hardware malfunction.

1. Boot your PC from your Windows 10 or Windows 11 installation media and select Repair your computer > Troubleshoot.

2. On the Advanced Options screen, choose Command Prompt.

3. Type bootrec /fixmbr at the Command Prompt to run an MBR repair.

4. Wait for the repair to complete, then run the following commands one at a time for additional repairs: bootrec /fixboot and bootrec /rebuildbcd. These commands are for repairing disks that use GPT.

5. Once the repair is complete, type exit to leave the Command Prompt.

6. Reboot your PC and check if the boot volume error still occurs. If it does, consider running advanced MBR troubleshooting.

Run CHKDSK Command

The CHKDSK utility is a built-in Windows tool that checks the file system and hard disk for errors and repairs them automatically.

1. Open a Command Prompt from the recovery menu.

2. In the command prompt window, enter chkdsk /r c: to locate and fix any bad sectors on your disk.

3. Replace c: with the appropriate letter if your Windows partition is located elsewhere.

4. If Chkdsk asks to run at the next system restart, enter Y and reboot.

5. Wait for the Chkdsk process to complete, then reboot again.

6. Check if the boot volume issue has been resolved.

Run System File Checker

Running the System File Checker (SFC) is one of the common methods that can help you fix the unmountable boot volume error on Windows.

The SFC is a built-in Windows utility that scans for any corrupted Windows system files or missing system files and repairs them automatically. If the unmountable boot volume error is caused by corrupted system files or missing system files, running the SFC can help fix the issue.

1. Open a Command Prompt from the recovery menu.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

3. After running the command to attempt to fix any errors on your disk, wait for the process to complete. The command will inform you if it has fixed any issues.

4. Once it finishes, reboot your computer and try to load it into Windows again.

Run DISM Command

DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) is a Windows command-line tool that can be used to repair a Windows installation. It can be particularly helpful if the SFC (System File Checker) tool can’t fix the issue. Here are the steps to run DISM:

1. Open Command Prompt from the recovery menu.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

dism /online /cleanup-image /scanhealth

This will scan the system for any issues.

3. If it finds any issues, type the following command and press Enter:

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

This will download and replace corrupted files with a good copy from Microsoft’s servers.

4. Wait until the process is complete; it may take some time.

5. Reboot your computer and check if the issue has been resolved.

Run Memory Diagnostic Tool

1. Run the Hardware and Device troubleshooter from Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooter > select Hardware and Device.

2. Run the troubleshooter to check for any faulty hardware devices causing the issue.

3. Remove recently installed third-party applications to check and ensure application compatibility is not causing the problem.

4. Open Control Panel > Programs and Features.

5. Select the recently installed application and click uninstall. Restart Windows and check if the issue is resolved.

6. Open Device Manager and update/reinstall the Display driver with the latest version, as users report that reinstalling the Display driver mostly fixes maximum BSOD errors on Windows 11.

Use Windows 10 Automatic Repair

If your Windows computer encounters the “unmountable boot volume” error, it can prevent you from accessing your system and cause frustration. However, one possible solution to this problem is to run Automatic Repair, a built-in Windows utility that can automatically diagnose and repair issues preventing Windows from booting properly.

By running Automatic Repair, you can potentially fix any boot configuration problems that may be causing the unmountable boot volume error and get your system back up and running again.

1. Insert the Windows installation disc and turn on your computer.

2. Access the BIOS screen using the key specific to your computer.

3. Select the option to boot from the Windows installation disc.

4. Click on Repair your computer at the lower-left corner of your screen.

5. Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Repair.

6. Select the Windows operating system currently installed on your PC.

7. Wait patiently for the utility to attempt to repair the files.

If the Startup Repair tool does not solve the problem, move on to other troubleshooting methods.

Use System Restore

Using System Restore to roll back your system to a point before the unmountable boot volume error occurs, you can fix any software-related issues causing the problem and get your computer back to a stable and usable state.

1. Boot your computer using a Windows installation media, such as a DVD or USB drive.

2. Click on Repair your computer in the bottom-left corner.

3. In the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.

4. Click on Advanced options > System Restore.

5. Choose your user account, enter your password, and click Next.

6. Select the restore point created before the unmountable boot volume error occurred.

7. Click Next, then Finish to confirm your restore point selection.

8. Click on Yes to start the system restore process.

9. Wait for the process to complete.

Once the system restores are complete, restart your computer and check if the unmountable boot volume error is fixed.

Reinstall Windows

Unfortunately, the unmountable boot volume error in Windows 10/8/7 can be quite stubborn and cannot be resolved through conventional troubleshooting methods. The only reliable solution is reinstalling Windows, which can be time-consuming. Reinstalling Windows involves completely wiping your computer’s hard drive and installing a fresh copy of the operating system. Therefore, it is important to back up all important data and files before reinstallation.

It’s worth noting that reinstalling Windows can often solve many other issues and bugs that may have been affecting your system. After the reinstallation, you must reinstall all of your software and device drivers and restore your backed-up files to your computer. While reinstalling Windows can be a drastic solution, it is often the best way to get your computer back up and running when other troubleshooting methods fail.

Resolving the Unmountable Boot Volume Error in Windows for Seamless System Recovery

In this comprehensive guide, we explored effective solutions to fix Windows’s unmountable boot volume error. Following the step-by-step instructions and employing various troubleshooting techniques can overcome this frustrating issue and restore your system’s functionality. Whether it’s running the built-in startup repair, checking and repairing disk errors, or restoring the system to a previous working state, there are multiple approaches to tackle this error and get your computer back up and running smoothly. Don’t let the unmountable boot volume error disrupt your productivity—apply these proven methods and regain control over your Windows system. You can overcome this error with patience and determination and enjoy a stable and reliable computing experience.