Severe system crash, RAM error

[Pandora]

This is very strange...I had my computer on today, all day. Sometimes I was surfing the internet, then I'd leave it for a couple hours, then come back and surf some more. I didn't run any heavy-duty programs or games. After a few more idle hours, I came back to find a blue screen (!) with something on it about a severe error had occured, Windows had to be shut down to avoid permanent damage to my computer, so on and so on. (BTW, I've never seen this before.) Then it specifically listed this stop code:

Stop: 0x0000008E (0xc0000005, 0xBF801E56, 0xB17B5C44, 0x00000000)

win32k.sys -- Address BF80E56 base at BF800000, Datestamp 43446a58

When I restarted my computer, the error report from Windows said it was caused by my RAM. (I put in another gig of memory about 2 weeks ago). It had me download a RAM test program, but I can't get the thing to work, and can't find my way back to that error report analysis.

What the heck happened? Do I have bad RAM? And how do I run this scan program??

Thanks!

[ski]

If you have more than 1 RAM module installed, then install just one module at a time.

If the system runs with all of the modules except one, then the one module is bad.

If the system does not run with any of the modules in one of the slots, then try a different slot. If it now runs, then the original slot is bad.

[Pandora]

I'll try that. My system just locked up, and when I shut it off and restarted it, it would get to the point of loading Windows, then restart, then try to load Windows again, then restart, then ask me to start in last known good config, then restart. I shut it down and took out the latest memory, and it started up. I think this stuff is no good. :(

[ski]

See if the system runs with the new RAM installed.
If not, then it's either bad or incompatible with the MB.

If it runs with just the new RAM, then the new and old RAM may not like working together.

[Pandora]

Geez, I don't know why they wouldn't like each other, they are exactly the same modules -- Corsair ValueSelect 184-pin DDR PC3200 2x512 sticks.

I tried putting in just one stick of the new stuff (with both of the old sticks in their same slots) and I got a fatal system error as Windows was coming to the desktop upon startup. Then I put the new ram in the old slots, and it started fine. Right now I have new ram in old slots, and old ram in new slots, and the system started. I'll try it like this and see what happens.

I still can't get that stupid Windows Diagnostic Tool to work. I've downloaded it, and when I double-click on it, it asks me to create a bootable CD. When I try to do so, it says it can't find the program. :mad:

[ski]

You can also run Memtest86 off a floppy to check the RAM.

[Pandora]

Mmm, no floppy drive. Can I run it off a CD?

[Pandora]

Ya know, I can't get anything to run off the CD. I've changed my boot drive in BIOS, and for a couple seconds when the computer starts up, I get a blinking DOS cursor, then Windows boots. I've got both the Windows Diagnostic tool and Memtest86 on this disc. Clearly I'm doing something wrong in creating the disc, but the instructions are so vague. Windows website told me to download the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools and use Cdburn.exe to create the CD, but I don't know how to use it (no instructions on their site). I can barely find the stupid thing :confused:

[saphalline]

MemTest86 comes in ISO images for CD's, too. Or if you don't want to waste an entire CD on just a few MB, I think MemTest86 is included on the EBCD and/or BartPE images. Besides, I wouldn't trust the Microsoft RAM tester - it probably doesn't test for advanced matrix/pattern errors like MemTest86 does.

If you're having a problem with slots on your mobo, have you tried cleaning them? They could be dusty or have oxidation on them. Get some Isopropyl alcohol and see if that helps.

[Sylvander]

Some great [free] tools to have handy:

1. How to make a free EBCD bootable CD
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=41485
This has a number of useful utilities included including "Image" [for DOS, by Terabyte], "File Manager" & MemTest.

2. Ultimate Boot CD = www.ultimatebootcd.com includes LOTS of useful utilities.

[no-mbr]

I just spent way too much time tracking down a problem on a machine that had been upgraded to XP from Millenium. The "user" had put additional ram in the machine and it worked fine in Millenium. When he/me tried to install XP the machine would "hang" at installation sometimes, or on and install and "crash" mysteriously later.....

The "long story" short, the ram "mix" was in fact incompatible, in XP but worked in Millenium.... That was "new one" for me.....

So I wouldn't put anything past any "ram stick...." I thin SIS sandra, "scares up" ram errors inf you try to run a ram-benchmark, you'll crash if the ram isn't right...

[Pandora]

Okay, I've managed to create the bootable CD from ebcd, but now I don't know what to do with it. How do I run Memtest? I have a DOS prompt, and I can't even figure out how to exit.

BTW, since swapping the ram sticks/slots (old ram, new slots; new ram, old slots) I haven't gotten a ram error. I have noticed, however, that when I restart my system, it will kind of shut off after Windows has shut down. All the fans are going, but the monitor shuts off, and for about 5-8 seconds, nothing happens. Then I get the system beep.

I hate this stuff.

[saphalline]

Can you tell us more about your hardware? That does indeed sound odd...

[Sylvander]

"How do I run Memtest?"
1. At startup, go into the BIOS setup, and set the boot order with CD-ROM before HDD, put the EBCD in the drive, close the drawer, and "Save & Exit Setup".
2. At restart the PC should boot from the EBCD. You should see white text on a black background which ends up displaying the 1st EBCD menu with about 10 items listed.
3. When the menu is displayed and the DOS cursor is at the bottom, type 6 [item 6 on the menu is the MemTest program] and hit "Enter".
4. The MemTest program will run and begin testing your RAM.
5. To exit at any time, just hit "Esc" on the keyboard.
6. Your PC will restart, so remove the EBCD from the drive before the PC can boot from it.
7. Your PC should boot Windows from your HDD.

[Pandora]

My RAM is Corsair ValueSelect 184-pin DDR PC3200, 4 512MB sticks. Bought one set of sticks in July, the second set three weeks ago. What else? ;)

I'll try running it tonight when I get home.

[Pandora]

Okay, my other hardware:

ASUS P5P800
Intel P4 Celeron Prescott 3.0 GHz
ATI Raedon 9250 256MB
Soundblaster Live! card (really really old)

what am I forgetting that could be important...can't think...

I don't remember seeing a selection for Memtest in the DOS menu when I boot from CD. I remember there were four items listed, and no numbers with which to select them. I didn't mess with it last night but I will tonight.

[Pandora]

Okay, when I boot from the CD, these are my "options:"

/MLX Program is loaded into conventional and XMS memory using DPMS
/BL=16 Lookahead buffer is in conventional memory, size is in KB
/LEND=ON Lend memory to other applications -- 6646 KB available
/DELAY=OFF Write delay is disabled, caching is write-through

WTF is this? :confused: LOL I'm so lost.

[Sylvander]

I've never seen my copy of the EBCD display such information; it always goes straight to the 1st menu that consists of a numered list of options/programs.

You may have a virus.
See http://wwwtest.sunsite.org.uk/sites/ftp.microsoft.com/MISC/KB/en-us/903/251.HTM at "Message 2".
Also http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;903251

Which OS are you running?

[Pandora]

No virus. I can't imagine how, but maybe I created this disc incorrectly. And to top all of this off, my MMOFPS game has gone to hell too, getting <10 fps after their last patch. Thanks Sony! :mad:

I guess I'll try creating the disc again.

[Sylvander]

I hope you're making the EBCD on a PC that's known to be clean of infection and working well. :)

[Pandora]

Well, I'm making it on my PC, which came up clean on a very recent virus scan. And I took out the new memory.

[Pandora]

Bump...

Here's the latest mess. I've never been able to run Memtest86, even though I've tried creating the bootable CD three or four times now (and created three or four drink coasters :p ) using Nero. I'm still getting that bizarre menu option when the system boots from the disc. As an added note, at the top of that menu it says:

"Using DPMS DOS Protected Mode Services"

And the prompt has [DR-DOS] in front of it.

For added fun, I had another memory error yesterday, after which, I got a message saying that Windows could not start because the system file was corrupt or missing. So I've spent yesterday evening and today repairing Windows and updating the hell out of it ;) I can't seem to test the memory because I can't seem to create a Memtest86 disc.

What on earth could I be doing wrong at this point? I really hate to send the memory back to Corsair without testing it myself.

AND -- I've scanned every nook and cranny for spyware, viruses and dust bunnies. Comin' up clean.

[Pandora]

I'm reading the instructions that came with EBCD, and it tells me to double-click on the file (well, not really a file, a DOS window icon) "makeebcd" and when that's finished running, I should have a file called "ebcd.iso". Well, there's a file in the folder called "ebcd016p.iso" and when I burn this to disc, it doesn't work. The instructions say I should have a BOOT folder, INFO_RU.TXT and INFO_EN.TXT files on the disc. I don't. All I have is that ebcd016p.iso. And it doesn't work.

When I run makeebcd is it putting the ebcd.iso file somewhere else? I searched for it and can't find it anywhere.

BTW, I'm using Nero Express to create the disc, and it has an option at the start to create a bootable CD. It's defaulting to burning an image of the file.

[Sylvander]

"ebcd016p.iso" is the correct file to use, but it's no good just burning that iso file to a CD.
You must burn the "IMAGE" that's contained in that iso file.
How to do that was explained in instruction 4 as follows:
"4. Now you must run some program like "Easy CD Creator" or "Nero", go to "File->Create CD from image file..." [or similar]"
This is the special procedure for writing an IMAGE to a CD.
It's simple once you know how and do it right.
You'll smile when you see the difference. :)

[Pandora]

Nero Express doesn't cut it? (It was free with a drive.)

In the Express version, I don't have a File menu. From the startup, there are these cheesy icons, one of which is for data. Under the data selection, there is an option for Create A Bootable CD. It gives me every indication that it is burning an image. However, the end results indicate otherwise. :p

*sigh* I suppose I'll have to cough up some dough for a "real" program. :eek:

[Sylvander]

Meanwhile can you ask a friend or neighbour to make a copy [or two] of the EBCD on their PC?
Below is an image of the main folders on my copy.

[Sylvander]

One of the folders expanded.
Mine is customised to add Maxtors' "MaxBlast" and "PowerMax" utilities.
Yours won't have that.

[Pandora]

Update!

I got a friend to make the memtest86 disc for me, and it worked like a charm. Tested original ram, no errors. Tested suspicious new ram, 120 errors. :eek:

I am currently requesting an RMA from Corsair.

Thank you all so much for your help! You've all been invaluable through this learning process of building and "dealing with" my new PC! :)