A strange memory/ram problem....

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Download memtest you will need to google for the address. Evey memory fault
I have seen has made the computer unstable. Not sure why your comp is stable
but reporting errors unless there is a bug in the bios somehere.

Glen


"Max Burke" <mlvburke@%$%#@.nz> wrote in message
news:uO6$nH8REHA.4020@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> When I boot my PC with the bios quick memory check disabled the bios
reports
> a memory fail error but still reports the full amount of memory available
> and the computer still boots into XP OK.
> I ran a diskette based DOS memory checker/tester and it always fails at
the
> 381Mb mark with it's memory write/read pattern test not matching...
> Total system ram is 512Mb in two 256Mb SDRAM DDR non parity/non buffered
> modules.
>
> I removed the second bank ram module and the bios no longer reports a
memory
> fail error; neither does the memory checker/tester...
>
> So there is obviously a fault in the second ram module;
>
> This is where it gets strange....
> When the computer boots into XP it does not fail or report any errors; (no
> BOSD's Stops, etc) Nor do any applications fail; XP reports the full
amount
> of memory is available; So does AIDA32, and several other system info
> programs I have tried....
>
> I play Sim City 4 quite a lot, and it uses nearly all of the free ram when
> running and it runs OK as well; I have also started playing Railroad
Tycoon
> 3 which also is a 'memory intensive' program...
>
> I would have thought with a physical fault in ram I would be having (at
the
> very least) lots of program crashes, OS failures, etc.....
> I have googled for info on ram errors, read up on mntce/repair in all my
> books, and everything I read says the system should either not work at
all,
> or at least be very unstable...
>
> The event viewer doesn't show any application, security, or system errors
> either....
>
> Anyone have any idea's why this is happening, or anything else I can check
> before I use it as an excuse to upgrade/increase the ram in the system?
>
> --
> mlvburke@xxxxxxxx.nz
> Replace the obvious with paradise.net to email me
> Found Images
> http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/~mlvburke
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

"Max Burke" <mlvburke@%$%#@.nz> wrote in message
news:uO6$nH8REHA.4020@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> This is where it gets strange....
> When the computer boots into XP it does not fail or report any errors; (no
> BOSD's Stops, etc) Nor do any applications fail; XP reports the full amount
> of memory is available; So does AIDA32, and several other system info
> programs I have tried....

Sounds like your memory error is in a place that doesn't
(usually) cause noticeable damage. You might download
memtest86 from http://www.memtest86.com as a
further check for your memory. Use Crucial's
memory configurer at http://www.crucial.com to find
compatible memory for your computer, in case you're
unsure what memory your computer takes.

-- Bob Day
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