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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
        
(Message started by: TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 4:56pm)

Title: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 4:56pm

Ok guys, just picked this laptop up from my cousin, he bought it the other week and hasn't been able to get it to work. All I know is that it's called a 'Patriot 2006', got a low end 1.2ghz Via processor, onboard graphics, 256mb RAM and XP Home.

Problem is that it boots up fine but it won't load into XP, hangs if you try and start XP normally, hangs on the mup.sys file if I try safe mode (yup, I've tried disabling mup but it just hangs on the next and the next...). Booted it from my XP Pro disc, recovery console works fine, checked the boot sector and restored the backup XP system files, no avail. Alas, I don't think this is an OS issue. Mem card seems seated ok, happens on both battery and mains power so not a power supply issue like some on the net say.

If it was a desktop I could start changing parts out but I don't have any working laptop cards at the mo and I don't really want to start pulling parts out of my working Thinkpad :-X

Any ideas? ;D

Regards, Bruce.

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Highlander on Jun 16^th, 2007, 5:02pm

Now i dont know that much about pc's but i have had that mup file thingy before on a desktop..
I'm sure from memory i got it to boot by using safe mode and "starting in VGA or SVGA" something like that.. graphics setting i think..

Dunno if thats any help at all :)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Kjetil S on Jun 16^th, 2007, 5:16pm

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1075087263

Maybe this will help?

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 5:43pm

hehehe, I've spent the last 2 hours trawling through that annoyances thread ;D

Yup, I've tried a few of the fixes, even tried the miracle 'plug a USB mouse into each port for 3 secs'. Did it work? Yeah, like hell ::). Also tried fiddling with the BIOS, tried loading the optimised settings, not sure how to alter the VGA settings as it's a laptop with onboard graphics??

Got it running check disk at the mo, doubtful though. Problem is he bought it like it so I've no idea what caused this. I don't normally touch anything other than HP, IBM etc...

EDIT: Chkdsk just finished, crikey this thing is slow...still won't boot >:(

Help me!!! ;D

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Kjetil S on Jun 16^th, 2007, 6:29pm

Quote:

I have a user who had this issue with an hp AMD laptop, after he had given me the laptop in a panic as he was leaving to go to Taiwan monday morning at 2 am and it was sat afternoon.... I simply booted the machine got to the boot screen and instead of simply booting into safemode, i booted into safemode with a command prompt, which allowed me to get a command prompt so that I could choose what I wanted to load next, After this, I was able to get into the control panel, and ended up changing some video settings. This fixed the issue for the time being.

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/31874/?o=400

Have you tried disabling whatever loads AFTER mup.sys?

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 6:36pm

No, only mup.sys and it hangs on the next file...I'll give it a go now ;)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 7:03pm

Can't find the file that comes after mup...any ideas? :-/

Can't find the log file, thought maybe I could copy that to a mem stick and open it on my own laptop?

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Kjetil S on Jun 16^th, 2007, 9:28pm

iirc, it should be boot.log, but you probably know that already ::)

Short of getting all his files off it and reformatting, I'm out of ideas.

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 16^th, 2007, 9:55pm

Bruce. Hi......If you can find any Model Number etc from this laptop it would be a help.

All I DO know is that these Patriots were produced by a firm called ADVENT who then sold them through DIXONS.

It's possible that someone out there may have a recovery disc for it if you can be specific with the model number.

I also have a vast amount of laptop repair info here at home, but I need more info to help you.

You may well need system files to enable a proper re-format, and if they aren't on a hidden partition, then they may be difficult to locate etc etc. so for that reason, I'd hang fire on a re-format until everything else has been exhausted.

Let me know if I can help you further.

In the meantime THIS site might help you.

HERE (http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/advent/advidx.htm)

There is a FORUM which is extremely helpful. ;)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 10:10pm

hmmm...

Just . I'm running out of ideas now, have tried everything I've found on the net, can't exactly remove the USB because it's onboard like the graphics and there's no entry in the BIOS. Tried chkdsk, repairing the boot sector, reloading optimum BIOS settings, renaming the various .sys files, restoring the backup registry, even left it on its own for an hour, hoping it might boot up but it was still on the dreaded mup.sys screen...

Loads about this on the net, not one positive fix though...not even a pointer to what's most likely wrong, just loads of guesses and different opinions. But then I guess that's why God cursed us with Mr. Gates and co ::)

Problem is that I've got an XP Pro disc, this one has a licence key for XP Home and my disc won't recognise the Home installation even to do a repair. Not really sure how I go about reinstalling without buying another licensed copy of XP. Last thought is that I have what I think is a full copy of 2000 here, might give that a go if all else fails. But I really want wiping this to be a last resort :(

98 used to be great...wasn't any of this loony anti-piracy ::)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 10:16pm

Hi SD, model is a Patriot 2006, bought new in Currys or Dixons in Jan 2005. I know nothing about this make, all it says on the label is 1.2ghz Via C3 processor, 256mb RAM, 40gb HD.

Did a search with the number, loads about the 2006 US Govt. Patriot legislation, not many laptops }{

AFAIK, it was working fine until this happened, not sure if it was down to an auto update or what but suddenly it just wouldn't work ???.

Problem is that some people have done a fresh install of OS and still get the same issue, I'm stumped really.

Thanks chaps ;)

EDIT: Surely it's a Via chipset? I know they made processors, never seen one before though :-/

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 16^th, 2007, 10:40pm

Can you get it to do a system restore to an earlier date? I know you've probably tried everything, but sometimes the obvious is staring you in the face.

If not, I'll see what I can find, but it won't be until tomorrow now as I've got work in the morning. i'll dig through my stuff ASAP and come back to you. If I can find out how to access the CMOS it MAY be possible to re-set the BIOS which again MAY sort the issue out. Guesswork at the moment.

I DO have some XP 'extras' which Mr Gates definitely wouldn't like, ;D but which MIGHT get round the Licence key problem etc, let me know if you want that and I'll post it to you.

It depends really how urgent the repair is? I'm sure it can be sorted without re-formatting.

In the meantime try THIS.

Start System Restore from DOS
Starting System Restore Tool from Command Prompt
1. Start your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

NOTE: You must log on as the administrator or a user that has administrator rights.
2. At the command prompt, type %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen to begin restoring your computer to a previous, functional state.

Working with you on it. ;)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 16^th, 2007, 10:47pm

hehe, cheers mate ;).

No, it's not urgent at all, it's just bothering the hell out of me. Did try the system restore first of all but it crashed, now it just hangs like it does when I try to start it.

System restore console off of the XP disc is no problem but I can't get a command prompt even if I try to start in safe mode with command prompt, it hangs at the above mentioned mup.sys file and won't budge until I restart it :-/

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Kjetil S on Jun 16^th, 2007, 10:57pm

on 06/16/07 at 22:16:11, TiberiuS wrote:

EDIT: Surely it's a Via chipset? I know they made processors, never seen one before though :-/

Nope, that could very well be a VIA processor. I have a 1.2Ghz C3 on a mini-ITX motherboard in my Scorpio.

It sounds like the laptop is a micro desktop system in disguise. Maybe an micro-ITX or similar.

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 16^th, 2007, 11:09pm

Off to bed now, but here's something for you to play with into the wee small hours. I need to be sharp for tomorrow. It's Father's Day, and I'm going to be MEGA busy!

HERE (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk)

Goodnight........ ;)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 17^th, 2007, 8:56am

Hi again Bruce.

Off to work in a minute, but I have had an hour to look through my stuff here.
Amazingly, I can't find anything that will recover this PATRIOT 2006 Model laptop.

Unless what I gave you on here last night works, then I am stumped on this one.

I DO know that .mup files are susceptible to virus attack, so it may be well worth running a DOS based Virus Scan through the BIOS, before the Boot system gets a chance to mess with it.

Only solutions that I can suggest are:

1. Go to either PC World (with an in house repair department) or Currys and ask them if they have a system recovery disc for this laptop model which they would copy off for you. That said it will probably wipe ALL the existing files anyway. They MAY just have a spare copy for sale.

2. Try Ebay and send a question to any seller who's got this model with same request as above. As it happens

There's one on there at the moment Item Number is : 280125130053

3. Alternatively, totally ZAP the disc, and start again. If there's nothing of value on it, I have to say that I would just go with the complete format and then put another O/S on it. I think you're going to spend a lot of fruitless time going nowhere on this one if I'm honest. :'(

Let me know if I can help further. It's strange that there's no downloadable recovery disc for this model, so I suspect that it may be sold by Advent, but may well be a hybrid from another main manufacturer (HP/Toshiba etc etc)....but that's just a gut feeling.

Sorry buddy.......defeated on this one :(

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 17^th, 2007, 12:32pm

Aye mate, no probs :)

I disabled mup.sys and it hung on the file before it, disabled that and it hung on the one before that...

I've got no problem using the recovery console so I can copy/move files etc but according to what I've read on the net it's not even necessarily a software issue, seems that it could be anything.

Tried copying them from my own disc but same issue. It's not the .sys files, it's whatever loads afterwards. Loads about this on the net, seems to be a 2000/XP bug that affects a lot of people...I don't think it's a virus as such :(

If it was a desktop I'd get the HD into mine as a slave, run a scanner through it and mess with it from there but laptops are different, I have loads of desktop bits here but virtually nothing for laptops. Seems sometimes just changing to another RAM or processor can trip it into loading but again, no guarantee...

I'm still going to have a play around with it, if I can just get it to boot into safe mode I'm halfway there ;)

Alas for the days if Windows 98 :'(

Any input appreciated ;D

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 17^th, 2007, 4:36pm

Good luck with it Bruce. If you want the stuff I've got then just PM me with an address and I'll get it off to you this week. ;)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 17^th, 2007, 5:01pm

Right. Tried a few more things, this is driving me mad.

Tried uninstalling SP2, can't find the uninstall files ANYWHERE, all it keeps saying it invalid file/path. So I copied the spunst.txt file from my machine and ran it as a batch in the recovery console. Reckoned it couldn't find a single SP2 file in the batch list, rebooted with exactly the same problem :-/.

Turned off EVERYTHING in the BIOS, even the parallel and serial ports...nope, still upset. Also keeps telling me the system file is corrupt if I try to revert to a backup, if I copy the backup file from the repair folder it just hangs, I presume at the same point where it does on safe mode :-/

Last thing I can think is try and get in there to force a BIOS reset by removing the battery for a few minutes - then it's ceremonial sledgehammer time...

I think it's hosed :'(

God I hate computers ;D

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Tompion on Jun 17^th, 2007, 5:52pm

On my laptop the drive comes out easily, just under a cover I used one of these from Ebay when I wanted to work on the hard drive on my PC:
2.5" Laptop Hard Disk Drive To 3.5" IDE HDD Adaptor

This is just running out on Ebay 140129114236

Dave

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 17^th, 2007, 9:08pm

hehe, think I'm going mad :(

Stripped it down, took me ages. Finally got it down to mobo level, found a card half hanging out from its socket, thought I might be in luck. Reboot, no go. Pulled the CMOS battery for an hour, reboot and it goes into BIOS setup, reboot, same problem >:(

It doesn't want to be fixed chaps, its will is proving stronger than mine ::)

Into deathmatch mode now, time to start deleting drivers - wish me luck :-X

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 18^th, 2007, 12:33am

IT WORKS ;D ;D ;D

After all that, there was some backup files on one of the discs in the bundle I got with it, the disc that had 'media creator' written on it ::)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Highlander on Jun 18^th, 2007, 12:34am

Thank God!
Glad you stuck with it
now b****r off! ;D

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by cossiejamie on Jun 18^th, 2007, 1:50am

All of the above is gobledigook to me. But my 3month old dell E520 dimension now cant read any discs. My cooker element went the other day and tripped the RCD switch in the mains fuse box while i was on the pc. New element lasted all of 10 seconds ,tripped again element (£40) gone again. Cooker replaced,only 15 months old and out of warranty >:(
I dont know if its related to above problem, or where to start to try to fix it, or if dell will know and not fix it because the fuse box tripped :-/
Any help appreciated ;)
But i am a total novice, so plain English please :-[
Thanks, Jamie

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Highlander on Jun 18^th, 2007, 1:54am

It with still be under Dell warranty, DONT mention the fusebox.
I doubt if this would cause the problem you are experiencing anyway, more likely a software problem or you've clicked something by mistake BUT dont give them the chance to blame the fusebox or i'm sure they will

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 18^th, 2007, 3:08pm

on 06/18/07 at 00:34:41, Highlander wrote:

Thank God!
Glad you stuck with it
now b****r off! ;D

Awww, play nice ;D

Jamie, could've been a surge when the element blew got through the psu and spiked something in the computer?

That's the problem with switch mode power supplies, something like that can kill them :(

If it won't boot up at all, check the thing people always forget - the fuse in the plug. If it won't boot up at all it's most likely a dead psu, I doubt Dell would care, they just shove a new one in and charge it under guarantee...give them a ring and see what they say, as far as they know it just died for no reason :)

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by Spannerdemon on Jun 18^th, 2007, 10:04pm

Nice one Bruce. ;D Well done.

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by cossiejamie on Jun 20^th, 2007, 10:45am

All is fine now, but think they think it got corrupted somehow. Tried a few things over the phone while they told me what to do, but had to revert to factory settings. Its only 3 months old so not much on there to lose apart from a few photo`s of the nipper from the phone, which we deleted from that already.
Missus thinks it could be from My Space, guess we`ll never know. ::)
I only bought the blooming thing to come on this site anyway ;D
Jamie

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by taliban aka Cheekyboy2 on Jun 20^th, 2007, 2:40pm

you also might want to upgrade on memory, 256 is small for xp......

Title: Re: XP won't boot...AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
Post by TiberiuS on Jun 21^st, 2007, 12:39am

Tali, I couldn't care less mate. Re my first post, it's noisy and slow...if he wants more RAM he's welcome to pay for it, he hasn't even learned how to use it yet so I doubt he's looking for a super 'pooter ::)