xp pro sp1 machine crashing on dialup

psyched1000

I installed what turned out to be unstable software on my pc - which has been running xp pro sp1 quite nicely for quite a while (im on dialup - hence sp1).

As a result, my pc crashed. I tried 'last known good configuration', then fixmbr/fixboot via the repair console - none of these worked. I was unable to boot into safe mode - an option that has always worked in the past - puzzled as to why it would die whilst booting up in safe mode.

So my work around was to do a new install of xp onto another blank drive - which (i thought) went well - and i could access all my data on the other drive. I installed the audio/graphics drivers and firefox. I configured the net connnection to dialup my isp (utv). However, either before or just as connection to the isp is made, the machine reboots. I have gone through this process numerous times this evening and the result is always either lockup or reboot.

Anyone got any ideas?

fletch

As a matter of interest...why are you still using SP1....Microsoft were giving out loadza free cds not so long ago with SP2...and you could order a free cd online too.

psyched1000

fletch wrote:

As a matter of interest...why are you still using SP1....Microsoft were giving out loadza free cds not so long ago with SP2...and you could order a free cd online too.

I installed what turned out to be unstable software on my pc - which has been running xp pro sp1 quite nicely for quite a while (im on dialup - hence sp1).

Contact ms for disks...I had my own reasons for not doing so

psyched1000

It seems to be crashing the minute I click on a browser (following a successful internet connection) - either firefox or IE....

Mr. Presentable

XP by default will reboot if it has a problem, you need to turn this feature off!

If your using "classic Mode" Right click "My Computer" >Properties >Advanced > In the "startup and recovery section click "Settings" > Untick "Automatically restart"
If your not using Classic Menu Start >Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance > System >Advanced > In the "startup and recovery section click "Settings" > Untick "Automatically restart"

Now you should get an error message when the crash occurs, which should help diagnose the problem.

psyched1000

I reinstalled xp and the modem driver. The problem was still the same as before. However, after a couple of reboots, it goes the way of the original system drive - to the 'windows encountered an error on startup' screen. ie. I cant boot into either of them now.

I really have no clue as to what to investigate from here??:mad:

Mr. Presentable

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308041

This article may help. You may have a corrupt BIOS. BTW, did you install the motherboard drivers and settings to the new HDD?

infected_shroom

OP here under a different guise (lost password for other login).


I have had the use of someone elses machine for the last while but desperately need to get the original machine sorted.

I successfully flashed the relevant bios - in case the original bios had become corrupted but it has made no difference.


What should be my next step in troubleshooting this?

Ruu_Old

You can download SP2 and yeah MS still give the disks out. Try and borrow a mates modem and try that.

infected_shroom

You can download SP2 and yeah MS still give the disks out. Try and borrow a mates modem and try that.

Will be on broadband in a couple of weeks and can sort all of that out then. As you can see from the later posts, the machine isnt booting at all now.

When i try to boot via safe mode, it always hangs on mup.sys (or at least thats the last .sys file to be displayed on screen). Is that an indicator of anything in particular???

Ruu_Old

Try removing any new hardware you may have added recently and then booting. Googling suggests going into the recovery console at startup and disabling mup.sys or get a fresh copy of mup.sys file from the xp cd.

infected_shroom

Ok I have read up on this and there is no finite solution when it comes to people finding their systems stalling after loading mup.sys

So,Can I do the following??

If I take both HD's out - then put the one that doesnt have data on it back in as primary master - should i be able to load windows on it via the xp CD?

Is the data on the other HD lost forever?

<EDIT> I will need to format it wont I. Someone please remind me - if i boot up to dos what commands do i need to run from there to format the drive?

vishal

wasn't there a blaster virus that would cause the same symtoms?

infected_shroom

vishal wrote:

wasn't there a blaster virus that would cause the same symtoms?

How would I know if this was the problem? More to the point, what would the fix be?

Troubleshooting steps taken so far

• I flashed the bios with the latest version from the MB vendor (ECS K7S5A). Once it booted up after flashing i get the following error: CMOS/GPNU Checksum Bad
• Have tried booting to XP CD but it hangs after windows starts to load - so cant get to repair console either
• Have taken out all PCI cards except graphics in case there was a conflict there
• Have taken out the CMOS battery for an hour - for CMOS reset
• Have disconnected drive on IDE 0 and made the secondary drive primary. It can't be a bad disk as it would be too coincidental for two drives to crap it at exactly the same time.
• Tried to boot up without mouse plugged in
• REmoved one of the two memory modules and booted - then swapped other module - no difference.

I'm really running dry as regards what other troubleshooting steps to take. I'm not even bothered about retaining data now - I just want my bloody system back working again!

Anyone???:(

Standard Toaster

Remove the mouse and reboot without it.

If not, I'd be looking at memory at that stage. If you have two modules, remove one and see if the problem is still there. If yes, try with just the other module.

If you have just one module, you'll need to get a bootable cd with a mem tester on it like Hiren's boot cd or some linux distros have one (Suse)

infected_shroom

The_Edge wrote:

Remove the mouse and reboot without it.

Tried this a bit earlier - no joy.

The_Edge wrote:

If not, I'd be looking at memory at that stage. If you have two modules, remove one and see if the problem is still there. If yes, try with just the other module.

Had two modules - removed one then the other - as you suggested. No difference - so no memory problems.

I will try and get my hands on another cmos battery. In the meantime, if anyone can think of any other troubleshooting steps, please post them here.

Standard Toaster

I would be very surprized if it turned out to be the CMOS battary.
Sure, you could remove it and load BIOS defaults on boot and the system should still boot normally until you reboot.

If you haven't already tried load the defaults in BIOS.

Anyway, another google search turned up these:

Sounds as your XP Pro disk is stuffed, I have just resolved this problem on a new computer I built for a mate.
Every thing was new, AMD 2500 etc. but upon installing XP Pro it would just hang at mup.
I used another copy of XP Pro and bingo installation went fine.

And this little ditty...

I did get it fixed though... Here's how...

I took the advice of some of the posts in this thread and just waited. I just booted the system in normal mode and walked away. I came back about an hour later and the system, miraculously, was up and running. I went into the hardware manager and found the device that had a conflict, in my case it was a PCI ATA/100 controller card. I powered down, removed the card, and the system booted fine. Of course, I did not have access to my 160GB drive now that the controller was absent. I removed a couple other cards; a PCI modem (which is never used anymore), and a PCI firewire card, and booted again. Everything still good so far.

Then I started adding the parts back in. I added the ATA/100 controller card first and like F'n magic the system booted fine. I added the firewire card and again, no problems on boot up. I didn't want to press my luck, so I left the modem out. I guess to be thorough and satisfy my curiosity (and yours) I should have put it back in, but I was/am pressed for time so, the modem is still setting on my desk.

Bottom line... Be patient... The system will boot eventually (if your lucky), then start troubleshooting your hardware.

Would be an idea to run CHKDSK from the recovery console too.
Keep us posted...

infected_shroom

@The Edge: Meant to post back here a couple of weeks ago but only getting round to it now. One of your suggestions worked. The xp disk I was using was fécked - so I got my hands on another one and I was able to reinstall windows. I'm finding that it locks up a bit when it loads user settings - a remnant of the original problem no doubt. I plan on doing a full format to sort this - and then reinstall.


thanks for your help fella.