Computer lock-ups: Even RAM chip test freezes the system !

[Dougbert]

For the past several weeks I've been experiencing at least daily computer
lockups, where I have no choice but to push the Reset button. (WinXP sp2)

I've tried running at least 2 different RAM chip test programs that launch
at bootup from floppies. Even these freeze up at some point -- sometimes
after reporting errors, sometimes not. Since the problem happens even
outside of Windows, that rules out software and device drivers and hard
disks and lots of other things. I thought of over-heating, but my fans are
all running and m/b and CPU temperatures are within normal range.

Can I be confident that this is a RAM chip issue? What makes me nervous is
that the problem occurs with various combinations of my 4 512 MB chips, and
it seems strange that more than one of them would have died suddenly.
Thanks,

-Doug

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It sounds like RAM to me.
Have you removed all unessential hardware such as sound, NIC, modem etc?
Disconnect all peripherals such as printer, scanner, camera etc.
You want to try with the bare essential hardware configuration.

Try each of the chips by themselves.
Since they are 256MB, there is no problem with one at a time.
Try different slots as well.
A bad slot can have the same effect as bad RAM.

 

[Guest]

Make sure you run either double sided or single sided ram,many systems
wont let you run both types.Also,what testing utilitys are you useing..try:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

 

[paulmd]

For the past several weeks I've been experiencing at least daily computer
lockups, where I have no choice but to push the Reset button. (WinXP sp2)

I've tried running at least 2 different RAM chip test programs that launch
at bootup from floppies. Even these freeze up at some point -- sometimes
after reporting errors, sometimes not. Since the problem happens even
outside of Windows, that rules out software and device drivers and hard
disks and lots of other things. I thought of over-heating, but my fans are
all running and m/b and CPU temperatures are within normal range.

Can I be confident that this is a RAM chip issue?

Not until we've verified that the capicitors are OK.

What makes me nervous is

that the problem occurs with various combinations of my 4 512 MB chips, and
it seems strange that more than one of them would have died suddenly.
Thanks,

-Doug

There's bad capicitors galore going around. THey look like little soda
cans. If any are bulging or leaking, they're bad. Even an itty bitty
bulge. It means you need a new motherboard.

If you can't find any, back to RAM:

Start with 1 stick at a time, run memtest86+.

I'd consider the hard drive a possiblitity, but it wouldn't affect the
boot from floppy memtest.

 

[paulmd]

For the past several weeks I've been experiencing at least daily computer
lockups, where I have no choice but to push the Reset button. (WinXP sp2)

I've tried running at least 2 different RAM chip test programs that launch
at bootup from floppies. Even these freeze up at some point -- sometimes
after reporting errors, sometimes not. Since the problem happens even
outside of Windows, that rules out software and device drivers and hard
disks and lots of other things. I thought of over-heating, but my fans are
all running and m/b and CPU temperatures are within normal range.

Can I be confident that this is a RAM chip issue? What makes me nervous is
that the problem occurs with various combinations of my 4 512 MB chips, and
it seems strange that more than one of them would have died suddenly.
Thanks,

-Doug

One more thing, if you STILL get freezes on only one stick of ram, and
it seems not to matter which. It's either time to get brutal, or to
give up and buy another one.


Change power supply for a high quality one (if you can), some OEMs use
propriatary PSUs.

Retest, if still freezing, it's even more brutal:

Yank all the cards you can go without. Leave only video, if not
onboard.
Disable as many onboard devices as you can, in BIOS or by jumper. From
IDE controllers, to com ports, to onboard sound. All that. Remember to
keep track of what you did.

Retest: if still freezing, either the video, the processor, or, it's a
goner. This would be a good time to give up if you don't happen to have
any spares laying around.

If not,

Re-enable stuff one thing at a time. Retest between times until it
freezes again. You will have then found your culprit.

 

[Dougbert]

Thank you all for your suggestions. So as I mentioned, the computer locks up
even when running those text-based RAM test utilities from a boot floppy,
when not so much as an O/S is loaded. If I replace the RAM chips (now on
order from Newegg) and still have a problem, the only other components in
use at the time are:

- power supply
- motherboard
- CPU
- graphics card

WHICH ONE OF THESE IS THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT if it's not the RAM? Thanks
again,

-Doug

 

[Loren Pechtel]

For the past several weeks I've been experiencing at least daily computer
lockups, where I have no choice but to push the Reset button. (WinXP sp2)

I've tried running at least 2 different RAM chip test programs that launch
at bootup from floppies. Even these freeze up at some point -- sometimes
after reporting errors, sometimes not. Since the problem happens even
outside of Windows, that rules out software and device drivers and hard
disks and lots of other things. I thought of over-heating, but my fans are
all running and m/b and CPU temperatures are within normal range.

Can I be confident that this is a RAM chip issue? What makes me nervous is
that the problem occurs with various combinations of my 4 512 MB chips, and
it seems strange that more than one of them would have died suddenly.
Thanks,

Check your chips individually, or in pairs if that's all your
motherboard will allow.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

All of them are about equal.
To add a little to my other post, perhaps covered by others.
Also disconnect the IDE and floppy cables from the motherboard.
If you have integrated video, remove your graphics card.
You want the absolute bare essentials.

If you still have a problem, I would start with video card, then power
supply...

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thank you all for your suggestions. So as I mentioned, the computer
locks up even when running those text-based RAM test utilities from a
boot floppy, when not so much as an O/S is loaded. If I replace the
RAM chips (now on order from Newegg) and still have a problem, the
only other components in use at the time are:

- power supply
- motherboard
- CPU
- graphics card

WHICH ONE OF THESE IS THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT if it's not the RAM?
Thanks again,

-Doug

Did you check the capacitors as (e-mail address removed) suggested? This is a very
likely possibility.

 

[paulmd]

Thank you all for your suggestions. So as I mentioned, the computer locks up
even when running those text-based RAM test utilities from a boot floppy,
when not so much as an O/S is loaded. If I replace the RAM chips (now on
order from Newegg) and still have a problem, the only other components in
use at the time are:

- power supply
- motherboard
- CPU
- graphics card

WHICH ONE OF THESE IS THE MOST LIKELY CULPRIT if it's not the RAM? Thanks
again,

-Doug

Motherboard, specificly the capacitors.

CPU is least likely, UNLESS the fan is defective, or the processor is
otherwise overheating.
Newer graphics cards may fail if the fan does.

Google "capacitor plague" there's a lot of defective caps going around.

 

[Dougbert]

I opened up the computer, removed all the cards and everything else even CPU
from the motherboard, disconnected all the cables, vacuumed the fans
(although I had verified that they all were working), plugged everything
back in ... and my problem is gone. Unfortunately I'll never know what the
problem was.

Thank you all VERY much for your information and suggestions. Best regards
to all,

-Doug

 

[paulmd]

I opened up the computer, removed all the cards and everything else even CPU
from the motherboard, disconnected all the cables, vacuumed the fans
(although I had verified that they all were working), plugged everything
back in ... and my problem is gone. Unfortunately I'll never know what the
problem was.

Thank you all VERY much for your information and suggestions. Best regards
to all,

-Doug

Dust, probably, then. Or something improperly seated.