Can you do a stepped boot not in safe mode and get hung up at the same place? Mup.sys is blamed a lot just because it is the last thing loaded, it is not really causing the problem in most cases.
-----Original Message----- From: hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com [mailto:hardware-boun...@hardwaregroup.com] On Behalf Of DHSinclair Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 6:33 PM To: hardware@hardwaregroup.com Subject: Re: [H] ?small problem John, Thanks. I'll drill into your send. I choose to wait to update the bios; I do not meet the minimum ATM. mup.sys remains the stop for a boot to Safe Mode. I'll find it in time. Time I do still have. Yes, have a new bios also. Already discussed.............. :) Really odd glitch; from my perspective. Have patience. Can wait. winXP-SP3 is still AOK here ... (as long as I don't drill into either mup.sys or "network'.)....... odd I remain in this "Stuff Happens! Mode" right now; still digging. Duncan At 15:36 02/02/2009 -0800, you wrote: >Here are some more to try. :) > > >Here are some troubleshooting suggestions: > >. ESCD corruption, Try resetting ESCD and/or changing ACPI setting in >the BIOS. If there is no specific way to reset the >ESCD data via the BIOS you can force this by reflashing. For added >value check to see if there is a BIOS update available first. > >. If your system is overclocked, Try reverting to the original >standard spec.'s > >. If you have USB devices connected, including any hubs, try removing >them all before you boot > >. If you have devices connected to the serial or parallel ports, Try >disconnecting them, again before you boot > >. If you added any new hardware recently, including PCI,PCI-E, ISA >cards, Or memory DIMMs Try removing them one at a time, reboot >and see if this allows the system to boot correctly > >. If you have access to a DMM (Multimeter), Check all the power supply >voltages and try to watch each as you try to boot. If they are more >than 7% below normal and\or your PSU is over 5 years old, less than >350W and you have a 3D gaming graphics card with 128MB >or more of graphics memory. Consider replacing the power supply with >an upgrade of 500W or better. >For more information on troubleshooting PC Power Supplies see my >article on ATX PSU Troubleshooting > >. If you have PCI, PCI-E or AGP Graphics card and also have a video >connector on your motherboard try taking out the graphics card and >run off the motherboard video. Be sure to adjust your BIOS accordingly > >. Try moving around your System RAM DIMMs and/or try removing one > >. Try running an antivirus scan from CD or Diskette if you have that >capability. If needed boot the recovery CD to a prompt first > >. Try booting with as minimal a system you can. Remember to disconnect >optical and floppy drives. Also, try using a non-USB kybd and a >regular ball mouse that plugs into the PS\2 port in place of an >optical USB type > >. If all this fails to identify or fix your problem, Try Running >Chkdsk from the Windows XP\2000 Recovery Console. >If chkdsk fails to resolve the problem, at this point you may need to >reinstall windows but first ... > >. Try checking out my Windows XP Boot Issues article to find out how >to fix mup.sys hangs by manually restoring your registry. The process >I detail is reversible if you back up the original hives first as >instructed so it is worth a try ;) The fundementals of this procedure >should also work on Windows 2000.I can say from experience that this >absolutely fixes the windows XP mup.sys boot hang when the cause is a >corrupted registry! > >. The motherboard my have failed or was damaged in a particular way >such as from an excessive power draw by USB devices or AGP graphics >card. > >One astute and observant reader provided this feedback: >"We actually found this problem (mup.sys hang) was bulging capacitors >on the motherboard" - Thanks MOH for the much appreciated feedback!On >Feb 2, 2009, at 3:08 PM, DHSinclair wrote: > > > >>Steine, >>Thank you. That share is part of the print I have made and not yet >>read thru. >>Sometimes the Collective Mind is on the same track! >>The bios ESCD business I can shortly fix, but I think I've already >>done this. We'll see. >>I will do this routine immediately! I do understand this from long, >>long ago. >>I did "go" from one asus bios to a brand new asus bios; across m/ b's, >>but WTF! >>Yet again, perhaps I still screwed up! LOL! >>Thank you very much, >>Duncan >> >>At 14:45 02/02/2009 -0800, you wrote: >>>Found this after a google of mup.sys. :) >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>So, we started scouring the Internet looking for other possible >>>causes. We found quite a few instances of the "hung at Mup.sys" >>>symptom, but with a variety of fixes. Several administrators >>>solved the problem by replacing memory. Several others solved it >>>by replacing drive controllers or by simply moving the controllers >>>to a different slot. One administrator even replaced both >>>processors. >>> >>>Then we found a posting by Sean Branham at the Annoyances.org web >>>site. See the full text of the thread at >>>http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1047532372 . >>> >>> >>>Sean correctly determined that the cause of all these disparate >>>"hung at Mup.sys" failures were actually caused by problem with >>>the Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) stored in the system >>>BIOS. >>>The ESCD maintains a static list of Plug-and-Play resource >>>allocations. This avoids recalculating all the allocations at each >>>restart. If the ESCD gets corrupted, then the operating system >>>cannot assign resources correctly. Windows makes this resource >>>decision just after it loads the Mup.sys driver because that's >>>when it loads the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface >>>(ACPI) drivers. >>> >>>You can download the (mercifully short) ESCD specification from >>>http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/6/1/161ba512-40e2-4cc9-843a-9231 43f3456c/escd.rtf >>>. >>> >>>Once we knew that something in BIOS might be causing the problem, >>>solving it was a snap. We downloaded the most current firmware >>>revision from Dell's web site and flashed the BIOS and that was >>>that. (Some motherboards come with an ESCD rebuild option in CMOS, >>>so it would not be necessary to flash the BIOS.) The system booted >>>without a hitch and performance was right back to where it had >>>been before the problems started. If it hadn't been for Sean's >>>insight, we would have spent time and money replacing the PERC >>>controller, which unfortunately might well have solved the problem >>>because replacing the board would have refreshed the ESCD. >>>It's difficult to determine whether the system crash earlier in the >>>week caused the ESCD problem or vice-versa, or if some other >>>problem caused both. At this point, Anon is going to keep an eye >>>on the system and hope for the best. >>>I'd like to thank Sean both for solving this tricky problem and for >>>taking the time to post a detailed account. This was the first >>>time I'd visited the Annoyances.org web site, and it looks like a >>>great resource. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>-- >>>JRS steinie**...@pacbell.net >>>Please remove **X** to reply... >>> >>> >>>Facts do not cease to exist just >>>because they are ignored. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>________________________________ >>>From: DHSinclair <dsinc...@bellsouth.net> >>>To: Hardware Group <hardware@hardwaregroup.com> >>>Sent: Monday, February 2, 2009 2:37:03 PM >>>Subject: [H] ?small problem >>> >>>Have what seems to be a small problem. >>>WXPproXP3...... >>>Was an Upgrade from W2KproSP4..... >>>Otherwise works superb! >>>But, >>>Can Not boot to Safe Mode...........Hangs at "mup.sys". >>> >>>Do have reading for this, but, am wondering if there may be >>>something else going on? >>>My network connection pointer in the CP is at #2. >>>In the past, I have found that #1 was never totally ripped >>>out............ :) >>>I do not recall how to fully erase net connections, if this is what >>>is going on........... >>> >>>I have sat for 40+ minutes waiting, at the blue (Windows is >>>Starting) screen trying to do a Restore Install. Not yet..... >>> >>>I really do NOT wish to erase/reformat my C: partition; UNLESS the >>>Collective convinces me this is the ONLY way. Hmmm. >>>Perhaps Windows CAN NOT really be Upgraded? Sure looks like it at >>>the moment. >>> >>>This is NOT a call to Resurrect. I am not Down. WXP is fully >>>running (and I remain totally confused!) >>>If this is a "boot.ini" file trouble, I can read/correct. (?) >>>If this is a "mbr" partition error, I can read/correct. (?) >>>Where to start? Ideas? Suggestions? Opinions (except Vista) welcome? >>>Duncan > > >-- >JRS steinie**...@pacbell.net >Please remove **X** to reply... > >Facts do not cease to exist just >because they are ignored.