My Computer is Corrupting Files...

[i_wanna_corndog]

I have noticed for the past few months that my Shuttle SS51G system has been corrupting files. First it simply started with a few pictures that, when copied from my camera to my hard drive, had a BUNCH of lines through multiple pictures. Then I started noticing other things, such as Word documents, being screwy when I put them from my computer to my flash drive, then viewed them on another computer. More recently, it has gotten MUCH worse. When I installed some Windows updates a couple of weeks ago, it totally hosed my system. I made a note of which KB item had caused the corruption, then promptly reformatted (using a new hard drive, since I figured the old one was taking a crap on me) and reinstalled Windows XP Pro (w/SP2). When I again went to update first thing, I got corruption of Windows again (i.e. explorer and Dr Watson crashing, etc). This was with a different KB download. Since then I have used a number of different hard drives and completely cleaned out and reseated all cables. I noticed, however, that when I slipstreamed a CD with the latest updates (using nLite), everything worked fine with the exception of data corruption continuing with documents and pictures. I am now suspecting a dying motherboard...would I be correct in assuming this? Since I have used multiple hard drives (and tried multiple cd drives), the only thing left to suspect in my opinion would be the motherboard (since it obviously controls data flow). Please let me know if there is something I am missing here...I would really like to see my Shuttle nice and perky again.

Thanks!
corndog

Simple one is the CPU download Everest and check the voltages and temps, just might shine some more light on the matter, also try Hijack This and post a log

[Novice]

You might try this, http://majorgeeks.com/Memtest86_d4226.html, as bad/faulty memory can also cause data corruption.

[Bold Eagle]

Originally Posted by Novice

You might try this, http://majorgeeks.com/Memtest86_d4226.html, as bad/faulty memory can also cause data corruption.

I concur with Novice sounds more like a failing memory module (had 1 die recently) and memtest86 will help to highlight this! Basically if a RAM stick if failing it may give you a "hexidecimal refrence address" error code (often exactly the same).

Coarse analogy lets say we have two old monks, one orates while the other writes down (scribes) now lets say the writer starts to go deaf and we start to have transcirption errors btwn the orator and the scribe so that the info being spoken is becoming slightly, but ever increasingly garbled, this is what failing RAM can and will do. Goto the sites web page to gain an understanding of how to use and run for at least 3-4 passes.

[jconstan]

My two cents.....

If it was the CPU or the memory, I would expect more system crashes. Now I'm not saying that it is not memory but I would take a shot at the disk controller. I'm thinking of a failure in the data path....it would cause some system crashes and data corruption in general. Most motherboards come with two controllers on board.

[Bold Eagle]

You maybe right jconstan? But when my RAM was beginning to die I never had crashes but was intermittently suffering data corruption. Basically apps would stop loading properly, windows updates would often lead to OS corruption and "serious missions" within the Recovery Console. Often these problems could be fixed (uninstall and reinstall the app, using the Recovery Console, go back to a previous restore point, etc).

Give memtest86 a try and it will either ID that is indeed RAM or rule it out, if you have an AMD CPU better read the web link (google if you need to find the home page).

[jconstan]

Don't disagree with your logic Bold Eagle just was offering another possibility. If there are multiple memory sticks in the machine you could also move them around to see if you can change the symptoms.