RE: Compaq W8000 memory error

["Chasteen, Howard" <Howard.Chasteen(at)fotf.org>]

Sounds like a loose connection because memory does not usually go bad and then start working again. Check out the board edge connectors carefully there is a large board that has all the memory and blank memory modules on it.BE sure to do proper power downs and observe ESD precautions if you are in a dry climate.

 

Howard

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From: owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM] On Behalf Of Russ Grycza
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 3:01 PM
To: DS(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: Re: Compaq W8000 memory error

Thanks Howard, Christian and Matt.

 

I've downloaded the memory test, and I'll be digging in and trying stuff in the morning, so pray for me that I don't blow something major out. Note to myself - get a can of static guard on the way in to work in the morning, and find the wrist strap.

 

The problem has been so intermittent, I'm not sure how well the pull out or swap out methods would work. Back in August/September I was sometimes getting two or three a day, but then yesterday was the first time I had had one in over two weeks.

 

Russ

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Matt Riley

To: DS(at)Softimage.COM

Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:59 PM

Subject: Re: Compaq W8000 memory error

Go here and download the latest version:

http://www.memtest.org/

It's a great little utility for diagnosing bad RAM. They have a small ISO image you can download and burn and then boot your PC with it. The diagnostics will run automatically when booting from the CD.

It will take it a while to run the test, but it should help narrow the problem to the problematic DIMM.

-Matt

On Dec 20, 2005, at 12:29 PM, Grayden Wagner wrote:

Hi Russ,

 

I've had a simillar experience with one of my own machines.  Some computer shops (the ones with good hardware departments at least) should have a memory tester that could tell you which DIMM is bad.  Failing that, you could buy one new chunk of RAM and then systematically swap out the existing ones until you get a combination that doesn't give you errors... However, if there's some other problem (like the slot for the RAM), trial and error swapping won't find the problem and might drive you a bit insane instead...

 

Hope that helps,

 

grayden

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM [mailto:owner-ds(at)Softimage.COM]On Behalf Of Russ Grycza
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2005 1:22 PM
To: DS(at)Softimage.COM
Subject: Compaq W8000 memory error

Hi all -

 

Our DS 6.0 system on a Compaq W8000 has gotten this annoying habit of late of crashing out to a blue screen (with no warning, I might add) with the following error message:

 

Hardware malfunction. Call your hardware vendor for support.

 

NMI: Parity check/memory parity error.

*The system has halted*

 

Obviously it must have some RAM that's going bad, but is there anyway to isolate which one it may be, or do I have to replace the whole 1.5 gig?

 

Thanks!

 

Russ