How to Fix an Unmountable Boot Volume in Windows 10: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re experiencing the dreaded “Unmountable Boot Volume” error in Windows 10, don’t panic. This error can occur due to various reasons, such as corrupted system files, disk errors, or damaged boot volume. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue and get your computer back up and running. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of fixing an unmountable boot volume in Windows 10.

Step 1: Reboot and Check for the Error Again

Before diving into more complex troubleshooting steps, try rebooting your computer and checking if the error persists. Sometimes, a simple reboot can resolve temporary issues and clear any glitches that may have caused the unmountable boot volume error.

Step 2: Create a Windows 10 Install Disk

If the error persists after rebooting, you’ll need to create a Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive. This will allow you to access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and perform various troubleshooting steps. You can create a bootable USB drive using the Media Creation Tool provided by Microsoft.

Step 3: Use Windows’ Automatic Repair

Once you have the Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive, boot your computer from it. When the Windows Setup screen appears, select your language preferences and click on “Next.” Then, click on the “Repair your computer” option in the bottom-left corner.

In the “Choose an option” screen, select “Troubleshoot” and then choose “Advanced options.” From there, select “Startup Repair” and choose the target operating system (usually Windows 10). The repair process will begin, and your computer will restart once it’s completed.

Step 4: Repair the Master Boot Record

If the Automatic Repair doesn’t resolve the issue, you can try repairing the Master Boot Record (MBR). MBR is a type of boot sector stored on the hard disk drive that contains the necessary information for booting the operating system.

To repair the MBR, boot your computer from the Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive and access the “Advanced options” menu. Select “Command Prompt” and enter the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

After running these commands, exit the Command Prompt and restart your computer to check if the unmountable boot volume error is resolved.

Step 5: Run the Chkdsk Command

Another troubleshooting step is to run the Chkdsk (Check Disk) command to scan and repair errors on your hard drive. Boot your computer from the Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive and access the “Advanced options” menu. Select “Command Prompt” and enter the following command, replacing C with the drive letter of your system partition:

chkdsk C: /f /r

This command will scan your hard drive for errors and attempt to fix them. Keep in mind that it may take some time to complete, depending on the size of your hard drive and the number of errors found.

Step 6: Try an SFC Scan

The System File Checker (SFC) is a utility that scans for and repairs corrupted system files. To run an SFC scan, boot your computer from the Windows 10 installation disk or USB drive and access the “Advanced options” menu. Select “Command Prompt” and enter the following command:

sfc /scannow

The SFC scan will check for and repair any corrupted system files that may be causing the unmountable boot volume error. Once the scan is complete, restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved.

If none of the above steps resolve the unmountable boot volume error, there may be more severe issues with your hard drive or system. In such cases, it’s recommended to seek professional assistance or consider replacing your hard drive if it’s damaged beyond repair.

Remember to always keep regular backups of your important data to minimize the impact of any potential system failures or errors. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the unmountable boot volume error in Windows 10 and get your computer back up and running smoothly.