RAM issue with random BSOD

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BDrums1971

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Nov 29, 2013
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Hi, I have a desktop that has recently been having issues with BSOD and certain programs crashing. I ran the memtest and got a bunch of errors. So, I reseated the two memory sticks, and the test came out clean. The computer ran perfectly fine....for about 24 hours straight. Then, BSOD.

Tried to restart, and wouldn't even boot. Ran memtest and showed a bunch of errors again. So, I reseated the sticks again and cleaned their contacts with an eraser, and rebooted after a period of time. Voila! Memtest passed! Booted and worked fine....for about another 24 hrs. Then, BSOD.

Here is my question. I have heard that RAM sticks last virtually forever, and these are maybe 4 or 5 years old. I haven't cleaned the slots the RAM sticks go into. Would that help, and should I use compressed air, or contact cleaner?

If that doesn't work, would it really be faulty RAM. The working for 24 hrs., then crashing kind of confuses me. Also, would there be anything else you could recommend that might be the culprit that would cause memtest to show errors when it actually is NOT the RAM, but something else?

Thanks for your help. I appreciate any replies!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
Try blowing out the slots with compressed air and may want to raise the DRAM voltage + 0.05 and see how that goes for a day or two - let me know
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laviniuc

laviniuc

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Nov 29, 2013
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memtest errors can sometime be caused also when the cache mem on the cpu is dead or dying. or when you psu is reaching it's final hours... or even by a broken capacitor on the motherboard.

the only way to tell for cetain is to replace each component and try to see if it happens again.

the 24 hours can mean that's how long windows takes to fill in/use memory and reach the sections that are broken/breaking.
 
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BDrums1971

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Nov 29, 2013
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Thanks Tradesman for your reply. Could you explain why raising the DRAM voltage would help? And if it does, would that be a long term fix or......? Thanks so much for your time!
 
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BDrums1971

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Nov 29, 2013
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Liviniu, Thanks for your reply. That might make sense with the cpu cache. Since this has been going on now for over a week, and my PSU is fairly new, I am guessing it is not that. I guess visually checking the motherboard would be a good idea.

My mobo, cpu and ram are all 4 to 5 years old, and I don't have spare parts. If you were me, (and didn't have alot of money!), what would you start replacing first? Does RAM go bad fairly often? Thanks for your time! I appreciate it!
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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There's lots of possibles, but often the mobo or PSU doesn't fully regulate voltages correctly and a slight increase can actually get it to the voltage the sticks want/need (happens often with AMD rigs, and so-so with Intel), also if anything in the slots like fibers (from q-tips people still often use to clean the contacts with, or just stuff that may have floated in, things can start up and be fine, then after running awhile and thisngs getting nice and warm, the metal expands a little and anything in the slot or stuck to the contacts can then be a problem
 
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BDrums1971

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Nov 29, 2013
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Thanks for all your help. The problem went away, and then just came back yesterday. You guys were on the right track.

What I found was a little piece of plastic that looks like it had maybe broken off of the little locking latch that holds the RAM module in place. It had somehow gotten jammed into a small section of the slot, and was not only preventing RAM from seating properly, but had also bent back slightly one of the contacts. I cleared out the plastic and used a toothpick to bend the contact back, and VOILA problem fixed!!! Who would have thought?

The reason I am posting this is so someone else with the same problem may find this a viable solution. For me, the little plastic piece was white, so it showed up fairly easily, but you may really need to get down close and inspect the slot to see if there is any trash at all.

Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate that those of you who responded did so in a very kind and helpful manner.
 
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