The “Unmountable Boot Volume” error is a critical issue that prevents Windows from loading properly, usually caused by file system corruption, damaged boot configuration files, or hardware issues.
When this error appears, it typically means Windows cannot access the system partition where essential boot files are stored.
Fortunately, there are several effective methods to troubleshoot and fix this problem using Windows Recovery Environment and command-line tools.
This guide shows you a step-by-step guide to resolving the error and restoring normal functionality to your system.
What To Do When You Get Unmountable Boot Volume Error in Windows
Follow the methods as given below when you get Unmountable Boot Volume Error in your Windows PC:
1. Use Windows Recovery Environment
Unmountable Boot Volume Error occurs when Windows can’t load because the system is unable to access the boot volume, usually due to a corrupted boot sector or files on your hard drive.
To fix the error, first, create a bootable USB drive using the Windows Media Creation Tool or other third-party tool.
Plug the USB drive into the computer.
- Turn the computer off, then turn it on and press the appropriate boot key for your system:
This will depend on your motherboard. So, check the user manual or visit the manufacturer’s website to find the specific Boot key. - Once you press the correct boot key, choose to boot from the USB.
- If your system doesn’t boot into the recovery environment immediately, you can try restarting your computer 2-3 times. This often triggers Windows to start the automatic repair process.
- Otherwise, boot directly from the USB and select the Repair your computer option.
- From the recovery screen, click Troubleshoot.
- Next, select Advanced options, then click Command Prompt.
- Once you’re in Command Prompt, execute these commands to fix the boot files.
- To identify where Windows is installed:
- Type these commands to open the Disk Partition Tool:
diskpart list disk
- Select the disk where Windows is installed:
select disk 0
- Make sure to replace ‘0’ with the specific disk
Now execute this command:
list volume
- Look for the volume with Windows typically labeled C. Once you’ve identified it, exit diskpart:
Enter the ‘exit’ command.
- Now, let’s run a series of commands to repair the boot files.
- Run the System File Checker to scan and repair system files:
sfc /scannow
- Wait for this process to complete. Once done, restart your system and check if the issue is fixed. If the error persists, proceed run CHKDSK To fix bad sectors and errors on the disk.
chkdsk /f /r /x
- Replace X: with the correct drive letter if Windows is installed on a different partition.
- Press “Y” to confirm when prompted to schedule the disk check on the next restart. This process can take time, depending on the size of the drive.
2. Rebuild the Boot Configuration Data (BCD)
After running sfc and chkdsk, try fixing the boot configuration follow these steps:
- Open an elevated Command Prompt window then execute these commands:
bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /fixboot
- If the access is denied then press the Up arrow key then type this command then hit Enter:
bootrec /nt60 sys - Now press the up arrow key and execute this command:
Bootrec /fixboot
- If the access is denied again, ignore it and type
bootrec /rebuildBcd
- Once you have executed these commands, exit Command Prompt. You can cross it out from here.
- Then Turn off your PC then restart it again. Remove the USB. You should get all the commands in the description below, so you can just copy & paste them from there.
3. Restore or Reset the System
If you created a system restore point before the issue occurred, you can restore the system to a previous state:
- From the Troubleshoot menu, select System Restore.
- Choose the restore point and follow the on-screen instructions.
- If you don’t have a restore point or the problem persists, you can reset your PC.
- To do that, from the Troubleshoot menu, select Reset this PC.
- Choose whether to keep your files or remove everything.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reset Windows.
- If nothing else works, you may need to reinstall Windows. You can do this using the bootable USB drive you created earlier.
Wrapping Up
Dealing with the “Unmountable Boot Volume” error can be alarming, but with the right tools and steps, you can often repair your system without losing data.
Start by using Windows Recovery Environment to scan and fix system files, check for disk errors, and rebuild boot configuration data.
If those methods don’t work, restoring your system to a previous state or performing a reset can help.
As a last resort, a clean reinstallation of Windows may be necessary. Always remember to back up your data regularly to avoid loss during system recovery processes.
