Windows XP Home SP3 Cant boot into safe mode from a crash Sony laptop VGN-A790

When the last thing you see on the screen in Safe mode is mup.sys, lots of folks think the problem is with mup.sys and go to great lengths to try to replace it but that is not the problem at all - mup.sys has already loaded and the problem is what comes after mup.sys.

When XP boots it checks all volumes (hard drives) to see if the "dirty bit" is set on a volume and if the dirty bit is set, XP will automatically run a chkdsk with error correction (chkdsk  /r) to try to clear the dirty bit.  The dirty bit can get set on a volume from a power failure, power interruption, aborted restart, ungraceful shutdown, using the power switch, plug pulling, etc.

In Safe Mode after mup.sys loads, that is when XP checks the dirty bit on the volume and if a chkdsk needs to run, it is going to run and you will not see anything else on your screen - probably for a long time.  The system will appear that it is hung or stuck on mup.sys (but XP has already gone past that) and the chkdsk is probably running.  

You can tell this by observing the HDD access light on your system (if it has one) and/or by listening to the system to hear if the HDD is "working".  If the HDD light is flashing/blinking that means that XP is doing something and if the last thing you see is mup.sys, XP is running the chkdsk with error correction. 

Is your HDD light blinking/flashing when the system appears to be hung on mup.sys?

In that case, you need to wait it out and it could take a very long time (perhaps hours) depending on the size of your HDD, the amount of data on the HDD and what the chkdsk finds to do and even then it still might not clear the dirty bit so the next time you reboot, you will appear to be "stuck" again.

Another way to see it (for those interested) is to schedule a chkdsk with error correction to run on the next reboot of XP and then boot in Safe Mode.  Your system will appear to be hung on mup.sys (but it has already loaded) and that is when the chkdsk is going to run and you will be "stuck" there for a long time.

The trouble is, you can't see the chkdsk running it to know what it is doing or if you need to run the chkdsk again.

You can make a bootable XP Recovery Console CD (no XP media required) and run the chkdsk with error correction from there but it looks like your system has SATA drives and that may make using the Recovery Console an issue since the RC does not include SATA drivers.  You may be able to adjust the BIOS to make it work, but you will not be able to access much on your system from the RC for it is limited.  For example, you would not be able to copy of your personal files since the RC only lets you access a few folders and you won't be seeing any external USB storage devices you might have plugged in.

In the case of using the RC on a SATA system, you will not be running fixboot, fixmbr, chkdsk, or even a "dir" command but you can sure try.

That is why I like Hiren's.  It does not have these issues and you can explore your system just like you can from XP and copy your files off to an external USB device if you need to.

If you make the Hirens's Boot CD you can run the chkdsk with error correction manually and watch it run and run it again if you need to until it reports no problems (it might need to run more than once).

Work more on F8 and getting to the Disable automatic restart on system failure option to see what the BSOD says (assuming you are getting one) and that might reinforce the need to run the chkdsk with error correction.  It will work if you get it timed just right.

If you choose to make the floppies, you will find that you can't Repair a SP3 system using SP2 media, but you can sure try and then you will see a message like this:

Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD.

I have never repaired a system in my life to fix any XP problem and I have never even suggested it (and never will).  To me it is a very desperate move and the next to the last thing to "try" to fix a broken system and you have many other better options that do not involve the word try.

I doubt a Repair is going to fix the dirty bit on a volume anyway (if it is set), but that is another thing you can try.

I am not a tryer.

What is your system make and model?     Sony Vaio VGN-A790 XP home OEM   SP3

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE)

Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or improper shutdown?  It is possible that there was a power surge, I came back to find the comp in the recycle reboot mode upon stepping away for a few minutes.

Does the afflicted system have a working CD/DVD drive (internal or external)? Yes

I would not use any recovery disk that came with your system - sounds too risky. Ok

When you choose to boot in Safe Mode you will see lots of scrolling messages in white text on a black background (this is normal).  Ok

When you choose to boot in Safe Mode, does the system just restart or does it appear to hang? Both, first it hangs for about 15 min in the window above that you mentioned, then it reboots.

If the system hangs, what does the last line on the screen say (exactly)?multi(0) disk(0)  rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\Mup.sys

If it restarts, reboot again and start repeatedly tapping the F8 key to get to the Advanced Boot Options Menu from the Advanced Boot Options menu choose:    Tried F8 at least 5 times nothing.

Disable automatic restart on system failure

If there is a problem booting, XP is configured to automatically try to boot again and you can get stuck in a loop of just being unable to get past the boot options screen or none of the boot options you choose will work.      None work except safe mode takes me to the long list that ends in Mup.sys

Sometimes when XP has a problem starting or crashes and tries to start again, it will give you a "short" menu of boot options and none of them will seem to be the right ones to get your system going again.  Something like this:       Yes, that is what I have!

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

You've tried them all but the system just keeps restarting!     YEP

The options resemble the XP Advanced Boot Options menu, but the one option you need (Disable automatic restart on system failure) is not offered because XP has gone too far along in the boot process and offers you a limited number of boot options.

If that is the case, you must manually invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu yourself until you do see the option:

Disable automatic restart on system failure

When you do get to the correct XP Advanced Options Boot menu you want to see, it has options on it like these:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging

Enable VGA mode

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)

Debugging Mode

Disable automatic restart on system failure   Tried f8 can't get to this point

Start Windows Normally

Reboot

Return to OS Choices Menu

What you need to choose from that menu is the option:

Disable automatic restart on system failure

Then if XP fails to boot normally, you will see an error screen with information and clues regarding the problem and then you can decide what to do next.

If you do not see the Disable automatic restart on system failure option, you need to reset your system and start tapping the F8 key on the keyboard until you do see the Disable automatic restart on system failure option. 

If you miss the F8 window of opportunity, you need to try again and start tapping the F8 key with more urgency (sooner and more frequently) until you do see Disable automatic restart on system failure, then select it.

You need to keep trying the F8 menu until you do see Disable automatic restart on system failure option, and select it.      I have but not getting anywhere.

If your system is experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), we need to know what the screen says:

Here is a BSOD example showing information you need to provide:

Send the information pointed to with the red arrows (3-4 lines total).  

Send the entire *** STOP message line since there are clues in the 4 parameters.

If it looks like there is some kind of file name listed under the STOP message, send that line too.

Skip the boring text unless it looks important to you.  We know what a BSOD looks like, we need to know what your BSOD looks like.

Respond to the queries and report back the results from the Disable automatic restart on system failure screen and you can decide what to do next.

While you are waiting:

You are unlikely to "fix" your system using Ubuntu since Ubuntu uses a different file system and doesn't have the tools built in you need to fix an NT File System (NTFS), but you could hopefully copy your personal files it or you could make a Hiren's Boot CD, boot on that and copy your files off and perhaps use it to do some repairs.  

You really can't tell if you can fix it or not until you know what is wrong with it - then you can decide the best way to see if you can fix it.

Make yourself a Hiren's Boot CD and start with a chkdsk with error correction.  Here's how:

Make yourself a Hiren's Boot CD which you can download from here:   Ok going to attempt this now

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

The ZIP file is large, so the download will probably take a little while to complete bit it is worth it.  Then unzip the download to extract the Hirens.BootCD.ISO file that will be used to create your new bootable CD.

Creating a bootable CD from a .ISO file is not the same as just copying the .ISO file to a blank CD.  You have to use software that understands how to burn a .ISO file to a CD to create a bootable CD.

In the Hiren's ZIP file are the BurnToCD.cmd file that you can double click to launch it, but I have never used it and prefer to use ImgBurn.  I know of this software & used to make my old XP Pro sp2 disc, which I wasn't going to use on this because it is xp home sp3, but I am borrowing a windows 7 laptop for a couple of days and I read that it has software to do an ISO burn, if it doesn't work I will use the imgburn.com site to make it

sIf you need a free and easy CD burning software package, here is a popular free program:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Like many third party programs you might install, the ImgBurn installation defaults to installing things you probably don't want installed on your system in the form of extra Internet browser toolbars or may make other adjustments to your browser.  You don't want to install any of that so you have to pay attention during the installation.    Always

When clicking through the installation screens be sure to pay attention to the screens and always choose a Custom install and UNcheck the following (or any other things like it):

UNcheck:

Install the AVG toolbar and set AVG Secure Search as my default search provider

Set AVG Secure Search as my homepage and newly opened tabs

Choose custom installation again and UNcheck the following:

Uncheck:

Install QuickShare

There could be other things you need to Uncheck too (anything to do with your browser home page, AVG, etc.).  Ok, thank you

Here are some instructions for ImgBurn: Ok, will read this

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

It would be a good idea to test your new bootable CD on a computer that is working.  Don't think I want to do it on this borrowed laptop running windows 7

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. 

These adjustments are  made before Windows tries to load.  If you miss it, you will have to reboot the system again.         Think it's already set this way, as I am able to boot with the XP pro disc I'm just afraid to follow prompts because I have xp home installed and don't know what issues that will cause.

When booting on the Hiren's CD you will see a menu of options.  Choose the Mini XP option.  Then it will appear that Windows is being loaded and you will be presented with a desktop that has the look and feel of the Windows Explorer interface you are already used to using.

Remember:  You did not boot on your hard disk - you booted into the Hiren's desktop.

One way to check the disk for errors is to open My Computer and right click your afflicted drive and choose Properties, Tools, Error-checking, Check Now... put a check mark in both the boxes and then Start.

Sometimes that doesn't work, so you can also click Start, Run and in the box enter:

cmd

Click OK to open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command (assuming XP is installed on your C drive)

chkdsk  c:  /r

This disk checking can take a long time (perhaps several to many hours) depending on the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what the disk checking finds to do.

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. 

Depending on the the speed of your system, the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what chkdsk finds to do, it may take a long time for chkdsk with error correction to complete (several to many hours) or it may appear to be 'stuck'.  Be patient.  If the HDD light is still flashing, chkdsk is doing something so don't interrupt it.  It will finish eventually one way or the other.  Keep an eye on the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.  It may even appear to go backwards sometimes.

You may have to run the chkdsk  /r  it more than once.

When the chkdsk runs clean, remove the CD and restart your system.

Ok will try all this, but I know from past experience like when running a full anti virus scan it can take more than 24 hours. I think I will make the windows xp home sp2 disc from the microsoft site here Windows XP Setup disks and then follow instructions on how to do a repair instal such as these or these if after I've done all of the above, and if I don't have any luck? Do you think this is the right thing to do if i can't use the F8 to read the blue screen? I tried to respond to each of your questions/statements above just in case you missed that.

Kindly,

Stacey

Unfortunately, the MS Answers forums implementation does not prompt for any system information when a new question is asked, so we know next to  nothing about your system.

Not knowing fundamental information about a problem prolongs the frustration and agony of resolving these issues but that is the way they choose to run things here.

Thank you MS Answers owners, for continuing to make the resolution of simple problems as frustrating and time consuming as possible.

Please answer the following questions as best you can:

What is your system make and model?

If you have a Dell computer, what is the Service Tag Number?

Describe your current antivirus and anti malware situation:  Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), McAfee, Symantec, Norton, Spybot, AVG, Avira!,  avast!. Panda, Trend Micro, CA, Defender, ZoneAlarm, PC Tools, Comodo, etc.

Was the issue preceded by a power interruption, aborted restart, or improper shutdown?  (this includes plug pulling, power buttons, removing the battery, etc.)

Does the afflicted system have a working CD/DVD drive (internal or external)?

I would not use any recovery disk that came with your system - sounds too risky.

When you choose to boot in Safe Mode you will see lots of scrolling messages in white text on a black background (this is normal).

When you choose to boot in Safe Mode, does the system just restart or does it appear to hang?

If the system hangs, what does the last line on the screen say (exactly)?

If it restarts, reboot again and start repeatedly tapping the F8 key to get to the Advanced Boot Options Menu from the Advanced Boot Options menu choose:

Disable automatic restart on system failure

If there is a problem booting, XP is configured to automatically try to boot again and you can get stuck in a loop of just being unable to get past the boot options screen or none of the boot options you choose will work.

Sometimes when XP has a problem starting or crashes and tries to start again, it will give you a "short" menu of boot options and none of them will seem to be the right ones to get your system going again.  Something like this:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Start Windows Normally

You've tried them all but the system just keeps restarting!

The options resemble the XP Advanced Boot Options menu, but the one option you need (Disable automatic restart on system failure) is not offered because XP has gone too far along in the boot process and offers you a limited number of boot options.

If that is the case, you must manually invoke the Advanced Boot Options menu yourself until you do see the option:

Disable automatic restart on system failure

When you do get to the correct XP Advanced Options Boot menu you want to see, it has options on it like these:

Safe Mode

Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging

Enable VGA mode

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)

Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)

Debugging Mode

Disable automatic restart on system failure

Start Windows Normally

Reboot

Return to OS Choices Menu

What you need to choose from that menu is the option:

Disable automatic restart on system failure

Then if XP fails to boot normally, you will see an error screen with information and clues regarding the problem and then you can decide what to do next.

If you do not see the Disable automatic restart on system failure option, you need to reset your system and start tapping the F8 key on the keyboard until you do see the Disable automatic restart on system failure option. 

If you miss the F8 window of opportunity, you need to try again and start tapping the F8 key with more urgency (sooner and more frequently) until you do see Disable automatic restart on system failure, then select it.

You need to keep trying the F8 menu until you do see Disable automatic restart on system failure option, and select it.

If your system is experiencing a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), we need to know what the screen says:

Here is a BSOD example showing information you need to provide:

Send the information pointed to with the red arrows (3-4 lines total).  

Send the entire *** STOP message line since there are clues in the 4 parameters.

If it looks like there is some kind of file name listed under the STOP message, send that line too.

Skip the boring text unless it looks important to you.  We know what a BSOD looks like, we need to know what your BSOD looks like.

Respond to the queries and report back the results from the Disable automatic restart on system failure screen and you can decide what to do next.

While you are waiting:

You are unlikely to "fix" your system using Ubuntu since Ubuntu uses a different file system and doesn't have the tools built in you need to fix an NT File System (NTFS), but you could hopefully copy your personal files it or you could make a Hiren's Boot CD, boot on that and copy your files off and perhaps use it to do some repairs.

You really can't tell if you can fix it or not until you know what is wrong with it - then you can decide the best way to see if you can fix it.

Make yourself a Hiren's Boot CD and start with a chkdsk with error correction.  Here's how:

Make yourself a Hiren's Boot CD which you can download from here:

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

The ZIP file is large, so the download will probably take a little while to complete bit it is worth it.  Then unzip the download to extract the Hirens.BootCD.ISO file that will be used to create your new bootable CD.

Creating a bootable CD from a .ISO file is not the same as just copying the .ISO file to a blank CD.  You have to use software that understands how to burn a .ISO file to a CD to create a bootable CD.

In the Hiren's ZIP file are the BurnToCD.cmd file that you can double click to launch it, but I have never used it and prefer to use ImgBurn.

If you need a free and easy CD burning software package, here is a popular free program:

http://www.imgburn.com/

Like many third party programs you might install, the ImgBurn installation defaults to installing things you probably don't want installed on your system in the form of extra Internet browser toolbars or may make other adjustments to your browser.  You don't want to install any of that so you have to pay attention during the installation.

When clicking through the installation screens be sure to pay attention to the screens and always choose a Custom install and UNcheck the following (or any other things like it):

UNcheck:

Install the AVG toolbar and set AVG Secure Search as my default search provider

Set AVG Secure Search as my homepage and newly opened tabs

Choose custom installation again and UNcheck the following:

Uncheck:

Install QuickShare

There could be other things you need to Uncheck too (anything to do with your browser home page, AVG, etc.).

Here are some instructions for ImgBurn:

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

It would be a good idea to test your new bootable CD on a computer that is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk. 

These adjustments are  made before Windows tries to load.  If you miss it, you will have to reboot the system again.

When booting on the Hiren's CD you will see a menu of options.  Choose the Mini XP option.  Then it will appear that Windows is being loaded and you will be presented with a desktop that has the look and feel of the Windows Explorer interface you are already used to using.

Remember:  You did not boot on your hard disk - you booted into the Hiren's desktop.

One way to check the disk for errors is to open My Computer and right click your afflicted drive and choose Properties, Tools, Error-checking, Check Now... put a check mark in both the boxes and then Start.

Sometimes that doesn't work, so you can also click Start, Run and in the box enter:

cmd

Click OK to open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command (assuming XP is installed on your C drive)

chkdsk  c:  /r

This disk checking can take a long time (perhaps several to many hours) depending on the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what the disk checking finds to do.

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find. 

Depending on the the speed of your system, the size of the volume, the amount of data on the volume and what chkdsk finds to do, it may take a long time for chkdsk with error correction to complete (several to many hours) or it may appear to be 'stuck'.  Be patient.  If the HDD light is still flashing, chkdsk is doing something so don't interrupt it.  It will finish eventually one way or the other.  Keep an eye on the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.  It may even appear to go backwards sometimes.

You may have to run the chkdsk  /r  it more than once.

When the chkdsk runs clean, remove the CD and restart your system.

XP cd with SP3,isnt what you need,just a xp installation cd v2002 would

help,otherwise,reinstalling xp or "repairing" the current OS is out because

of IE updates & WMP 11,plus other updates youd have to remove 1st.

Either way,with a installation cd (any version),start pc & enter BIOS,install

cd,set to boot to cd (1st boot priority)hd 2nd,exit & save,press any key

to boot to cd,if SATA or RAID are installed,press F6 option,use floppy

for drivers (follow screen),at cd menu,press  r  key for recovery console,

select 1 for C:  press enter for password.Type: FixBoot  Agree,type:

CHKDSK C: /R  Once its thru,chk data,look for bad sectors,or type:

EXIT  Let xp start auto.

Also,in recovery,software can be stopped,"Disable"  Listsvc  gets you the

running software.Read KB 307654  or  307545

All this can/could solve the problem,unless a hardware failure exist...