XP reboot loop. Safe mode hangs at \Drivers\Mup.sys 1

[superjet]

Hello,
I have a box with Win XP pro that has taken a nasty reboot loop habit.
When you start it, SOMETIMES it boots directly to the BIOS and it forgets the CPU/PCI frequency. (Error reads: During the last boot-up, your system hung for an improper CPU speed setting. Your system is now working in Safe Mode. To optimize the system performance and reliability, make sure the CPU speed confirms to the specifications of your CPU.) I reset it to 133/33.

After that, it will boot to the XP Splash screen with the scroll bar at the bottom. Then the screen goes black and the Blue Screen of Death pops up for a millisecond and the machine reboots.
It will go through POST, then a screen comes up “apologizing for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully” and gives me safe mode choices.
If I boot to safe mode, the machine gets to \Windows\System32\drivers\mup.sys and reboots.
I have replaced memory, taken out all of the PCI cards, replaced the Video Card, tried different keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Any ideas? My ears are open!

AMD 1900+ 1.6Ghz CPU
Asus A7N266C motherboard
512 Mb memory (2x256 Mb tried in different slots in different configurations)

Thanks for looking,
Jamie

 

[ladato]

That's my next step. I'll let you know how it goes tonight.

Leon Adato (adatole@yahoo.com)
Measure what is measurable,
And make measurable what is not so.
- Galileo

 

[ladato]

Well, I tried the repair. Interestingly enough, that option was absent. What I got instead was a warning that there was already a copy of Windows in C:\windows, and that this installation would over-write it and I would lose all settings, users, etc *and* that it might overwrite the "documents and settings" folder as well.

The Recovery Console was it's own challenge. I had to make the 6 diskettes and boot from those, rather than use the CD.

Both of those problems go back to the fact that this is an OEM Sysprep image rather than a straight installation.

My last choice (I'll try it tonight after work) is to use XP Pro and see if it will let me do an in-place upgrade and keep the settings, rather than over-write. I'll keep everyone posted.

Leon

Leon Adato (adatole@yahoo.com)
Measure what is measurable,
And make measurable what is not so.
- Galileo