How to fix the ‘Unmountable boot volume’ Blue Screen error on Windows

Getting hit with any type of serious Windows error, one that potentially leads to the dreaded blue screen of death (BSoD), can be an incredibly daunting experience. Not only does it prevent you from logging in to Windows, but it also limits your troubleshooting options. However, all hope is not lost. Luckily for you, we did the heavy lifting and found a couple of useful fixes that will help your system get back up and running. But before we dive in, let’s understand the basics. What exactly is the “Unmountable Boot Volume” error and how can you fix it?

Unmountable boot volume blue screen error on a Windows computer

What is the Unmountable Boot Volume Error?

The Unmountable Boot Volume (0x00000ed) issue is a stop code error that usually occurs whenever your computer fails to read the partition of the hard drive that stores the Windows operating system. As a result, users who encounter this particular BSoD error are left with limited recovery solutions to fix the problem especially if you have no other ways to access your Windows system. While incredibly frustrating, understanding the causes of the Unmountable Boot Volume error is usually a great place to start.

What causes the Unmountable Boot Volume Error?

Basically, this error is an indication that your system was unable to mount the boot filesystem. If you encounter the Unmountable Boot Volume error, this issue could stem from a couple of different issues – check out some of the most common reasons below:

  • Damaged Hard Drive/RAM – One of the most common causes of the Unmountable Boot Volume error is a damaged hard drive. As mentioned above, most often we encounter this error is when the system becomes suddenly unable to read the partition of your hard drive that houses your operating system. This impedes the boot process and will hinder your computer from properly loading Windows.
  • Outdated Drivers – Outdated drivers are as much a system risk as they are a security risk. Outdated drivers can bring about a drastic slowdown in the performance of your computer as well as annoying system errors such as the Unmountable Boot Volume BSoD.
  • Corrupted Files – The Unmountable Boot Volume error can also be caused by corrupted files within your Windows system files. If this happens, Windows will more than likely fail to boot or crash without warning. Corrupted files can also occur within key areas of your hard disk or system partition information that will directly affect the way your computer boots up.

7 proven methods to fix the Unmountable Boot Volume error on Windows 10

The good news is that there are a lot of fixes that you can try to be able to troubleshoot the Unmountable Boot Volume error which comes with a stop code 0x00000ed.

Contrary to popular belief, BSoD errors can be easily fixed at home without the help of expert technicians. All you need is a little bit of tech know-how, a USB flash drive, and the ability to follow step-by-step instructions.

When it comes to fixing the Unmountable Boot Volume error, you will often encounter two instances:

  • Troubleshooting a BSoD without desktop access – The BSoD error typically would not give you desktop access as it fails to access the files that would load your operating system. If you can’t boot your desktop, you may have to use a flash drive to be able to fix the problem.
  • Troubleshooting a BSoD with desktop access – More often than not, having desktop access means that the error is caused by newly installed Windows updates or by outdated drivers.

Now that we got the basics covered, check out the list of fixes we have compiled to help you solve the Unmountable Boot Volume 0x00000ed error that is preventing you from using your PC as usual.

1. Reboot your computer

Sometimes all it takes is a simple reboot. If this is the first time you’ve encountered this problem, try restarting your computer first before trying the other fixes in this list.

  1. Press the Power button on your computer until the system shuts down.
  2. Wait 5-10 seconds.
  3. Start your computer again.

2. Use Windows 10’s Automatic Repair feature

If you’re unable to access your desktop due to the Unmountable Boot Volume error, you need to use an installation disc or a USB drive to be able to boot your computer. Before you begin troubleshooting your system, first make sure to download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool using another device. Without it, this fix wouldn’t be possible. Once you’ve downloaded Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool, follow the step-by-step process below:

  1. When your computer starts, make sure to boot from the Windows installation media (either from a disc or a USB drive)
  2. Once your computer boots from the disc and you’ll see a Windows Setup window.
  3. On the first screen, click Repair your computer at the bottom.
  4. Next, click Troubleshoot.
WinRE Repair options
  1. From there, click Advanced Options.
WinRE Troubleshoot options
  1. And finally, click Startup Repair.
Startup repair

After clicking Startup Repair, expect Windows to undergo an automatic repair process that may take a while to finish. It’s also important to make sure that the process has been completed before turning off or unplugging your computer. Once the process is done, you may restart your computer and see if the Unmountable Boot Volume error has been fixed.

3. Repair the Master Boot Record (MBR)

Another solution you can try with the Windows 10 installation media is to access the Command Prompt and fix the Master Boot Record or MBR. In essence, the MBR is a storage device that serves as a vital component of your device’s operating system. Put simply, a damaged MBR means you wouldn’t be able to load your operating system. If you think the Unmountable Boot Volume error stems from a damaged MBR, you can fix it using the following steps:

  1. When your computer starts, make sure to boot from the Windows installation media similarly to the previous method.
  2. Once on the Windows Setup window, click Repair your computer.
  3. Next, click Troubleshoot.
WinRE Repair options
  1. From there, click Advanced Options.
WinRE Troubleshoot options
  1. On the Advanced Options screen, select Command Prompt.
Open Command Prompt from WinRE Advanced options
  1. Once Command Prompt loads, type in the following commands and press Enter after each line:
    1. bootrec /fixmbr
    2. bootrec /fixboot
    3. bootrec /scanos
    4. bootrec /rebuildbcd
bootrec fixmbr, fixboot, scanos, and rebuildbcd commands
  1. When the process has completed, make sure to restart your computer, then see if the Unmountable Boot Volume error is resolved.

4. Check your hard drive

CHKDSK (pronounced as check disk) is a command that verifies the health of a particular volume and attempts to correct any errors that were found. Fortunately, CHKDSK can be performed regardless if you can or cannot access your desktop. We’ll guide you through both processes below.

Without desktop access:

  1. When your computer starts, make sure to boot from the Windows installation media like in the previous methods.
  2. Your computer will boot from the installation media and you’ll see a Windows Setup window.
  3. There, click Repair your computer.
  4. Next, click Troubleshoot.
  5. Then click Advanced Options.
  6. On the Advanced Options window, select Command Prompt.
  7. Once Command Prompt loads, type “chkdsk C: /f /r /x” and press Enter.
    Note: You should replace “C” with the drive letter where Windows is installed.
chkdsk c: /f /r /x command example
  1. Once the scan has completed, reboot your computer to check if the issue has been fixed.

With desktop access:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or select the Start button.
  2. Type “run” and open the Run app.
Open the Run app
  1. Once the Run window pops up, type “cmd” and hit Enter. The Command Prompt will open.
Open Command Prompt from Run
  1. Now that you’re in the Command Prompt window, type “chkdsk C: /f /r /x” and press the Enter key.
    Note: You should replace “C” with the drive letter where Windows is installed.
chkdsk c: /f /r /x command example
  1. Again, you would have to reboot your computer after the scan has finished to check if the issue has been fixed.

5. Run System File Checker

The unmountable boot volume error may also be caused by corrupted system files. To be able to repair corrupted system files, you can use Windows System File Checker.

If you have desktop access:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or select the Start button.
  2. Type “run” and click on the Run app.
  3. Once the Run window pops up, type “cmd“. This will open the Command Prompt.
  4. Now that you’re in the Command Prompt window, type “sfc /scannow” and hit the Enter key.
sfc /scannow command example
  1. Once you press Enter, your system will start scanning for corrupted files and correct any errors that may have been found. Note that you shouldn’t exit the window until the verification process has been completed.

If you don’t have access to your desktop, you can open Command Prompt using a Windows installation media the same way we explained in the previous method.

Note: If you run into an SFC /Scannow error when starting the scan, don’t worry. We have written dedicated articles on what to do if SFC scannow is not working, including:

6. Run Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

If you think this error may have been caused by an installation of new hardware or device, then you can use the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter to fix the problem. You need desktop access for this method.

Here is how to run the Windows Troubleshooter:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or open the Start menu.
  2. Click Settings.
Windows settings
  1. From the Settings window, scroll down and click Update & Security.
Windows Update & Security
  1. On the left side of the pop-up window, click Troubleshoot.
Windows troubleshooters
  1. From there, click Hardware and Devices and then press Run the Troubleshooter button.
  2. Please allow the troubleshooter to run until it is finished. Once the scan is completed, you will see a report indicating if there were any errors that were found and if the errors have been fixed.

7. Use System Restore

If all else fails, most driver-related errors can be fixed by System Restore. If you’re unfamiliar with System Restore, it is a Windows tool that enables users to reverse changes in the operating system and revert back to an earlier system configuration. The only prerequisite is that you need to have an available restore point saved.

Here’s how to use System Restore starting from the Windows desktop:

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard or click on the Start Menu.
  2. Type “Control Panel” in the search box and open the app.
Open the Control Panel
  1. Click System and Security.
System and Security
  1. Choose System.
System menu option in Windows Control Panel
  1. On the left side of the window, click System protection.
System protection settings
  1. There will be a pop-up window where you can select System Restore.
System restore from Windows Control Panel
  1. After clicking System Restore you will now have the option to choose your preferred restore point a Windows-recommended restore point.
  2. Now that you’ve selected your preferred restore point, please give your system a few minutes to restore your files.
  3. After System Restore is completed, note that you may be asked to restart your computer for the fix to take effect.

Note: If you don’t have access to your desktop, you can perform a system restore from a Windows installation media. On boot, you need to select Repair your computer, then go to Troubleshoot, click Advanced options, and finally select System Restore to start the process.

Key Takeaway

Fixing any type of Windows system error is bound to be a pain. Not only are some of them highly technical, but they would also require your full attention. The key, however, is patience. As with anything, you need a great deal of patience to be able to fix your device and recover your important files. Since the unmountable boot volume error is mostly caused by corrupted files, you should take comfort in the fact that the fixes that we provided above will be able to fix your problem.

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