Sure can, especially if electrostatic precautions have not been follwed at ANY stage, - I've seen shop assistants get memory out of a box without taking precautions, so what happens when you can't see?

Well, that's all well and good. But are you saying that a computers memory can go completely tits-up without warning? It's not like I've had the casing off or anything!

It can. Rare, but common enough for MS of all people to come out with a memory checking program to stop Windows getting the blame.

It's your sound card drivers, I think.

and what brings you to this conclusion ?

just to rule out hardware you could remove all cards and drives
that are not needed to start the pc then put them back in one at a time and see at what point you start getting the error message again. the problem with vague error messages like this is it could in all reality be absolutely anything and anybodies answer to your question will be no more than a guess.

Fan-bloody-tastic!

Looks like I'm up shit creek, where's my paddle?! :D

Erm, no because I read about this exact same problem last night somewhere.
Nothing has worked so far in this thread.

Yes, Electrostatic damage can be done at any time in the supply chain when precautions are not taken. Circuits are weakened and fail without warning.