Not sure exactly what's going on, Suspect a memory problem

Recently I have been seeing a large number of popups that say something like:

1. ScreenSaver: ssmypics.scr Application error
The instruction 0x0000000000 referred memory at 0x000000000 The memory could not be read. Click OK to terminate the program

Or:

2. Skype.exe Application error
The exception unknown software exception (0Xe0fafafa) occurred in the application at location 0x7c812afb

3. The exception unknown software exception (0xe0fafafa) occurred in the application at location 0x7c812afb

After any of these occurrences I can only hard stop the machine.

I am running XP SP3. The machine is a Dell laptop e1505 w/ 2Gig memory

What I've done so far is to take the memory out and reseat them. After that I noticed that My Computer properties indicated only .99Gig memory installed. Crucial website memory checker only showed one Gig installed.

Here's the facts as I know them. I've been through the Malware section cleaning procedure and all is well they say. I am pretty careful in that regard. Hope that someone can give me an idea what's going on here. Additionally I would say the machine runs pretty good most of the time.

 

Only one thing left to do, test the RAM with Memtest86+, preferably one stick at a time in the main slot, may as well do a diagnostic on your hard drive too while you're at it.

 

Thanks...downloaded the Memtest but how does the .iso format run? Also, I understand that what you suggest is one stick at a time, correct?

 

Burn the .iso to disc and boot from it, you may have to change the boot order in BIOS. Yes, one stick at a time as I suspect your second RAM slot may be dirty or just died. Clean it with a Q-Tip and some strong isopropyl alcohol. I'm just trying to eliminate the variables.

 

Thanks again...CD is burned. Will give 'er a go now.

 

Hmmm...went into Setup and changed the boot order to 1. CD/DVD 2. HDD but it still boots from HDD every time. Can I disable the HD and re-enable after the test?

 

Yes, you can.

 

Tried it but it said there was nothing to boot from (didn't like the CD in the drive I take it).

Going to download again and reburn onto a different CD/DVD

 

You likely burnt it wrong, sorry for not mentioning this. Use
ImgBurn 2.5.2.



That should work. I'm gone for a few hours, hope someone else steps in.

 

Burned a second, same result. Do I need to change the .iso file name? Getting ready to head out here for a while will try your IMGBurn when I return.

 

Hi

To clarify how to burn the CD, install ImgBurn as indicated above. Make sure you allow it to make file associations. After installing, right click the .ISO file, and select Burn with ImgBurn. The .ISO doesn't get burned as a file onto a CD, it gets burned as a DISK IMAGE to a CD. ISO files are essentially a CD/DVD in digital (instead of optically burned) format.

 

Just wanted to update...got the bootable disk. One stick gave me some problems but I am not convinced it is te problem. I plan to rerun Memtest86+ in the morning on both sticks for conclusive verification. Just curious, what happens if both sticks are installed when I run the Memtest86_+ ? Right now if you wanted to pin me down I would say the second mem slot is Kaput. So, if I can test both sticks at the same time that would confirm/eliminate this...correct?

Also, what happens if I use a single stick and run it from the second slot?

Thanks for all your assistance/consultation.

PS: After testing, initially My Computer properties still shows only .99 Gig RAM installed...

 

I was also thinking the second slot is dead and testing the sticks singly would prove this.

.

Try running your machine on only the suspect stick then.

 

I should have explained more clearly...one stick testeted w/ 0 errors for 6 hrs when I was out. The second, before I tested it I cleaned the memory slots with alcohol per your suggestion. I think that perhaps that influenced the start of the second test. Stopped, blew it dry(er) w/ wifes hairdryer and then was able to proceed.

So, what happens if I run Memtest86+ with both sticks installed?

Is there any kind of motherboard test to check the memory slots? Or do we just assume (with some high degree of probability) that slot 2 is dead?

Finally, What I want to do is run each stick again, 1 hr each. If no errors, each stick is good. Unless you have another suggestion or test up your sleeve, I would then run on 1 stick and observe if any more errors come in. If not, problem identified (But not resolved) and I have a good excuse to look for a new machine.

Thanks again!

 

Nothing bad, but if one of your sticks is bad then you won't know which one, I haven't used memtest in quite a while. What does BIOS see as memory installed with both sticks in there?

Sounds like a good plan to me. Anytime I've run Memtest86+ and had a bad stick the errors would show almost immediately. At least let it run through one cycle.

Oh BTW, unfortunately my sleeves are empty now. The only person that can help you more is your local PC repair guy but from the way you're talking that's not going to happen.

 

Once again, I did not fully explain myself. After the 1 hr run on each individual stick (both sticks good) I would then install both sticks and run the test.

I will check the BIOS and see what it shows...

 

Yes, I understood that. Maybe I should look at my responses again.:-o

 

BIOS shows only 1 Gig installed, so that may be somewhat conclusive re: second slot...what do you think?

If so, is that a repairable item? New Mobo? Any idea of cost?

I really appreciate you being on the same early morning schedule.

 

Firstly, I'm not a laptop guy, secondly is I assume that it's out of warranty and thirdly your current machine is 4 years old or thereabouts. Almost anything is repairable but always at a cost and would it be worth it? Going to eBay might an option if you can pick one up cheaply but that's usually a crap shoot for an older used mobo. Other than that, I'd start slowly shopping.

Heck, my first modern day machine had XP and 256MB of RAM so you'll be just fine with 1GB unless you do some heavy lifting with that machine.
As to a schedule, I don't have much of one. I just happen to be on today which is usually not the case for me until noon. Good luck!

 

Thanks again...actually knowing this, I assume taking out the second stick from the defective slot will eliminate all of the random lockups/failures.

The machine for now works fine...just got done Skyping with my kids in Brazil, work stuff (Excel, Word, PP etc) all works. So, like you suggest, start looking slowly for a new machine.

I am happy to confirm it's not some malware madness that was biting me.

Thanks again

Merci et au revoir

 

Sorry, no guarantees here. If the second slot was the only issue then yes, you should be fine. Yes, do shop as the prices are pretty good these days and could be better by mid-month. Keep your current one as a backup.

BTW, my best friend is from Sao Paulo. OI!

 

One last follow up...ran individual stick tests: SAT
Installed both sticks and I noticed when I installed second stick, the backplane of the slot kind of "clicked" or released. I noticed that the seating of the second stick in the second slot was deeper...Hmmmm.

Ran Memtest and low and behold it saw 2 sticks installed, as did the BIOS status. Booted normally from the HDD and low and behold there are now 2 Gig showing on My Computer>>properties General Tab.

So, I think the problem all along was a sticky backplane. Seems problem is solved for now.

My son is American, married to an Argentinian gal. They have a new son, 7 months. Decided the didn't want to put the baby in Daycare so South America was their way to not have to do this. My son speaks both Spanish and Porteugese perfectly. They are in the south in a surfing area and Argentine summer vacation hotspot. They will do some photography stuff for the surf schools, teach some english. My son is a Brazilian State (Bahia) Jiu Jitsu champion and they are totally comfortable there. Normally they live in the mountains in Colorado...32 years old, well educated...I wish I had their lifestyle.

Thanks again

 

Well, had another mini crash...went to tthe "Welcome" screen and it was all hosed up. The screen is kind of out of whack and when I click on my user it asks for a password but my user is not password protected.

Is there a hardware log somewhere that I can see what's happened?