XP boots to splash screen then recycles

[oldcorn]

This has been covered before but the solutions did not work. XP Pro was repaired using CD but modem and plug and play and Remote Access Manager did not work. Also RemoteAssistancePrepareSystemRestore with WINSTA.dll could not be located when looking for system infomation.

Saw smah response about installing SP1 which I did from an MS CD.
Now It will not load past the splash screen. There is a flicker of blue as what I assume is the Welcome screen flashes past.More a hello and Goodbye.
Have tried Charlie Whites procedure on mediaworkstation.com to replace the boot up files with fresh copies but it did not load up any further than before so I could not go into Explorer etc.
There are no cards in PCI slots. The video card has been replaced. The memory sticks have been changed. NO modem. Just k.b,mouse and screen.It did work and show a picture although there were XP program faults. Since putting in SP1 it doesn't load at all.
You could say that I have run out of ideas.

 

[MattWray]

Can you boot into Safe Mode? Maybe once there you can check the Event Logs and something will point you in the right direction...

Thanks,

Matt Wray
MCSE, MCSA, MCP, CCNA

http://www.sss-steel.com

http://www.total-tec.com

 

[linney]

Can you run the Compatibility Checking Program by booting from an XP CD?

If SP1 was a backward step a repair installation using a XP CD not loaded with SP1 would remove SP1.

You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Look at the Fixmbr and fixboot options.

Try running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console.

Finally you can try a reformat and clean install, if that doesn't fix it, it would confirm a broken computer in need of repair. If you have valuable data you should remove the drive and use another for a clean install.

 

[oldcorn]

Thanks.
All the F8 Safe Mode options scroll down and stop at Mup.sys. Should have mentioned that before. Tried deleting Mup.sys as stated in one of the google searches but delete is denied.
Have run chkdsk but found nothing.
Will work through your suggestions. Thanks.
I have a spare Hard Drive. Think I will cleaninstall on that to check that the new mobo and PSU work OK. I am where I am because I have a new mobo and PSU due to voltage surge. Yes I have surge protection --- now!.

Can I remove Mup.sys ? Would that help?

 

[oldcorn]

More. Had to activate with MS after install of mobo. Is Mup.sys part of their checks to assess the number of changes to components? How do I get past it into safe mode?

 

[oldcorn]

More info.
When I Rt Click on My Computer a window comes up "rundll32.exe Unable to find entry point." Click OK and My Computer window opens.

 

[linney]

Mup.sys can be a bit misleading as a suggested problem because in Safe Mode it is always the last entry on the list of drivers before the screen loads into Safe Mode proper.

A Multiple UNC (uniform naming convention) Provider (MUP) is a network resource locator that runs in kernel-mode memory in Windows NT.

103925 - Applications Use the MUP or the WNet API for Network Access

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;103925&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

This will give you some idea of the pitfalls in swapping Motherboards.

http://www.mostlycreativeworkshop.com/article11.htm

Are you able to get to your Event Viewer and see what errors are mentioned in there?

Although you have tried changing your RAM it might be a good idea to run a memory checking program to see if that throws up any errors.

http://www.memtest86.com

 

[oldcorn]

Thanks.
I went through most of the previous recommendations. fixmbr didn't like it much. Said the existing mbr was non-standard or similar. Also did fixboot. Nothing allowed windows to load past the flash of blue of the Welcome screen.
Reluctantly repair installed. Seems more or less OK but still have 'rundll32.exe : Entry point not found blah blah WINSTA.dll' when I Rt Click My Computer icon and then Properties. Click OK and it goes .
Probably find other things as I set it up again.
I think its all the result of the MS Anti Piracy features of XP when I fitted a new mobo and tried to fire up using the existing hard drive. As a legal customer I should be able to do it without a repair install.

 

[oldcorn]

More info
There were still problems like the Dial up Modem option in the New connection Wizard being greyed out and also stickiness filling the screen with My Network Places and other network issues and the rundll one.
These all seem to have been resolved by installing SP1 again. This time XP loads up and runs after the splash screen,unlike before. Seems quicker and smoother now.
So fingers crossed. All because the mobo was changed. Not really very satisfactory.
Thanks everyone.