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Bad RAM? Memtest86 Experts, please help!

Y

yangwar

Gawd
Joined
Mar 1, 2001
Messages
825
I've slowly been upgrading my system below. 3 weeks ago I went from a Duron 1ghz to an Athlon XP 2400. About half a week ago I took out my two 256mb sticks of generic pc133 ram and replaced them with a single stick of 512mb PC2100 Viking ram. Since then I've gotten a few intermittent BSOD's and consistently get this error: When I paste an image into MSPaint which is larger than the default Paint size, Paint asks me if I want to increase the size of the Paint workspace. As soon as I click yes my computer either reboots or hard locks, no BSOD or anything, just a hard lock.

System below and Memtest86 info below.

ECS K7S5A
512mb PC2100 Viking Ram
AMD Approved Sparkle 300w PSU
Athlon XP 2400+
BBA 9600 Pro
Windows 2000 Pro

1. When I run the system with my old pc133 ram it is 100% stable.

2. When I run the system with the new pc2100 but my old duron I get the exact same errors as with my athlon xp.

3. When I run memtest86 I sometimes get errors in test 1. The computer always hangs about 20% of the way through test 6. The computer also always hangs about 20% of the way through test 10. I haven't had any other problems with memtest86.

4. I downloaded Microsoft's Windows Memory Diagnostic and it always hangs about 30% of the way through test 2.

5. When I get errors in test 1 of memtest86 the rightmost ecc column reports error. This is not ecc ram. *confused*

6. When I get errors in test 1 of memtest86 it reports the error location at being 712.xx MB. I only have 512mb of ram in the system. *confused*

I'm trying to decide whether or not this ram is bad before I sent it back as I bought it on the forums and don't want to cause uneeded hassle for the seller. Unfortunately, I don't have another system to try it on so I can't rule out the mobo or the PSU. However, the mobo and psu have been rock solid for a couple of years now. It's mainly the ecc errors and 712mb errors that are really getting me. Anyone have any idea what's up with my ram? Further steps to verify if it's bad or not?

A. Yes I've tried it in both slots.
B. Yes my mobo takes both sdram and ddr. It has a SiS 735 chipset.
C. I'm trying to solve this as cheaply as possible. So, I'd rather not buy a new mobo/psu/etc if it's the ram.
 
Well, if you replaced the pc133 ram with pc2100 ddr and you didnt clear the K7S5A cmos, that may be the problem, also i suggest to try latest bios.

0 errors is the only way to know if a stick of ram is ok :D

Good Luck

OldMX
 
The RAM or the Mobo is likely bad if your getting errors in memtest86. It's likely the RAM, but it's still possible that the board is funky. Can you test the RAM in another system?
 
That's the problem. I live in a town w/3 computer stores. 1 refused to run memtest saying that if it boots its fine, 1 works with businesses only and the last 1 only has sdram machines. Ugh, Craptown, TX.

I asked a coworker to test if for me but that fell through so for now I'm stuck trying to diagnose with the parts I have on hand.
 
If your setup didn't have any problems until you put the new stuff in, it will 95% of the time be the new stuff that is causing the problems. The old RAM tests fine and so does the old CPU. The old CPU with the new RAM has errors. It is almost guaranteed that the problem is a bad stick of RAM and it needs to be replaced. When you only have one new part in a previously rock solid system, the new part will obviously be the cause of the problem.
 
Originally posted by yangwar
That's the problem. I live in a town w/3 computer stores. 1 refused to run memtest saying that if it boots its fine.
Click to expand...

WTF? idiots if you ask me...
 
Well, I'd say it's time to get a manager or contact the manufacturer. You have a pretty good case to replace the RAM.

1. PC works just fine.
2. swap RAM, PC BSODs
3. Memtest86 generates errors.
4. swap RAM back, PC doesn't BSOD.

Anyone not trying to rip you off should be convinced at that, even if you take out the memtest86 part (some people just don't know what it is, so they don't trust it). The answer 'if it boots its ok' if an 'Im ripping you off' answer.
 
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