Hey everybody, my old neighbor gave me a compaq presario 5000 desktop before he left(no monitor,guides etc... just "the box") the problem is that every time I turn it on it starts loading up but then the screen turns blue and there is ths message on it.

"A problem has been detected & windows has been shutdown to prevent damage to your computer.
Unmountable_boot_volume
If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed if this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates U might need.
if problem continues disable or remove ane newly installed hard ware or software.Disable Bios memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer press F8 to select advanced start up options, and then select safe mode.
Techinical information:
Stop:0x000000ED(0x81203960,0xC0000032,0x00000000,0 x00000000)
IF ANYBODY OUT THERE CAN HELP ME PLEASE DO I WANT TO GET THAT COMPUTER RUNNING. THANKS A lot
~TRAVIESA~ :p

Well, if your lucky, you might be able to fix this without a reinstall:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q297185/
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/view.phtml/aid/31417

But it is possible this may only be part of a larger problem (eg large parts of the filesystem are just corrupted :( ), in which case you'll probably have to reinstall windows.

Do you have a windows CD?

No I don't have one!!

no I don't have one!!!

Ouch. This is the really sad thing about people who sell used computers. They are supposed to give you the original windows/recovery disc if they sell it with an installation of windows on the hard drive. :(

It looks like the above links require a disc to try it...

Well, I believe you're going to have to get a windows CD, somehow.