RAM Memory?
 

Hey all.

Got another comp problem this time for the desktop, so I hope you lot can help me out again like you did before. Thanks in advance.

The problems i've been having are:
computer kept randomly crashing BSOD, no indication of what was causing it, sometimes tcpip.sys, sometimes usbport.sys, sometimes nothing mentioned at all.
I decided enough was enough and set out to reformat the drive clean and get it back to factory settings.
Unfortunately that didn't work and the process locked up half way through. Now it can't find an OS on the drive, and I can't continue on with the reformatting either.

So i'm trying to work my way through to whats causing this current issue and why...

I was using windows diagnosis tool to check RAM and after a couple of passes, the screen locked up. So just taking a guess but I think the RAM could be at fault. I've taken them out but I don't know the exact specs of them to order new ones, so was wondering if you guys and gals knew.

All I know is that they are DIMMS, SDRAM types, 2 sticks of 128MB. I don't know whether just that is needed or I need more info or not (don't know my max memory capability either). I tried searching model type but no luck (compaq presario 5032 UK - can only seem to find a 5032 which is pretty different to the UK one).

Thanks.

Oh and the other issue could be the HD at fault, but its much harder to remove it than the RAM so im going with ram first than HD.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

check here :)



http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...name=c00006476

Re: RAM Memory?
 

I've tried searching for the model, no luck :-S

Re: RAM Memory?
 

get the motherboard model

then check from that :)
the link i posted is for one of the mobos but you can search for yours there

Re: RAM Memory?
 

oh ok.

Sorry for being dim but where do I find the motherboard model info?

Re: RAM Memory?
 

try this :D



http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport...x=5&submit.y=4

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Thanks.

So it looks like 768MB Max.. 3 sticks of 256MB, SDRAM , PC100/P133 (does it matter which one?), DIMMs...

Is the stuff like parity and nonparity and ECC stuff important?

Re: RAM Memory?
 

if it says pc100/pc133 i would go for the pc133 its a bit quicker
but dont mix memory :)
just stick 1 pc133 512mb in

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Just been having a lot around on crucial, and it seems like its going to cost me a lot... :(

Depending on how much I want in, its going to cost me £52-150+, any cheaper places around?
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i think that might a problem, i get the feeling each slot can only hold 256MB.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

i bet you dont live near me ive got some that you could have

you would be gutted spending so much on an old pc when it might not be the memory at fault
you could upgrade for that sort of money:)

Re: RAM Memory?
 

heh true, and I will be if its not the memory.
But im not using it for anything spectacular - the computer, I just want it fixed rather than get a new one.

And nah i don't live near bolton (boro).

Re: RAM Memory?
 

how many sticks are in it they cant all be faulty

take them out one at a time and try the pc :)

Re: RAM Memory?
 

ahh good point.

See this is why I have such a low IQ :D

Will give it a whirl later on.

Cheers for your help - i'll update if anything happens.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

come on guys any ideas i know theres 8 of you reading this:D

Re: RAM Memory?
 

I would think it's unlikely to be the memory as unless there has been static problems memory doesnt just "go wrong" one day, not usually anyway. Unless it has become unseated for any reason??

It looks hardware related though. CPU Fan maybe? Poorly fitting graphics card, chipset fan overheating etc..

Re: RAM Memory?
 

You can test whether it is the memoru by using a utility such as Memtest86 (http://www.memtest86.com). You create a bootable floppy disk using MemTest86, then reboot your PC from the floppy disk, it runs some memory-intensive tests, and displays whether the memory performed reliably or not.

As markymoan suggested, you might want to remove them and try testing them individually, to determine which (if any) are faulty.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Do you have a usb modem?

Re: RAM Memory?
 

I have the broadband modem which is connected through the network card. A dialup modem was in it but is taken out a while back.
Problems just seem to come out the blue.

I'll be testing the RAM sometime tomorrow, so i'll let you guys and gals know how it went.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Hmm. I'd try uninstalling the USB Host Controllers in Device Manager (right click and select Uninstall) then scan for new H/W changes and reboot.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

BB cant
quote> I decided enough was enough and set out to reformat the drive clean and get it back to factory settings.
Unfortunately that didn't work and the process locked up half way through. Now it can't find an OS on the drive, and I can't continue on with the reformatting either.

So i'm trying to work my way through to whats causing this current issue and why...
:shrug:

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Oops, that will teach me to plunge in.

BBwannabe, you're going to have to low-level format your HD and start again.

If you have a hidden sector recovery thingy it will be different... you could try the DSR again but if the hidden sector's gone silly then you might have to get new Master CDs off Compaq/HP- and thank f*** it's not a Packard Bell or you would be screwed.
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Oh yeah- and MAKE SURE YOU DISCONNECT EVERYTHING APART FROM MONITOR, KB AND MOUSE WHEN YOU RUN THE RECOVERY.

We have so many go wrong cos people leave BB, printers, scanners etc plugged in and it messes up the recovery.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Whats a DSR??

Computer has two partitions.. one is windows etc and the other is the recovery stuff on it for factory restorating.

Gonna head off and put the RAM back in bit by bit.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Have you tried replacing the PSU?

Unfortunately, most peeps are unwilling to spend much money on this item. Consequently, most products are designed down to a price with many corners cut. This is sad, 'cos these components they are subject to high stress and the PC can exhibit all sorts of random errors when they start to fail.

It's the first place I start when a PC is misbehaving. I'll also remove all cards, memory and the CPU then spray some contact cleaner on all the contacts and, except for the CPU, rub them with kitchen towel. Then I'll put the system back together one board at a time. Start with CPU, memory and graphics card; boot and test and, if all is well, add the next most important card.

Re: RAM Memory?
 

sounds like cpu or mobo faulty to me

Re: RAM Memory?
 

nope.

I dont have the experience to replace it, I know how to do RAM (just don't know how to find the types), HD, CD and DVD Drives. Can't do mobo, psu, cpu stuff...
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Well after a few attempts of removing the mem, and switching I mananged to get to the windows boot section.

I took one out, tried to boot off the windows xp cd, and it told me the drive was corrupt. Tried the other RAM stick, didn't get as far as I did to the other stick... Put both in... usually now and then it failed to go as far as the first stick coming up with .sys file is corrupted before then... usually some different file each time. Sometimes it went to the install window, delete partition etc.. screen. When it did i went to install window to be told it was corrupted again.. after trying a few more times doing the same thing I suspected a HD issue.

So I decided to try out the delete partitions stuff.. selected to delete the main partition, and then retried to install windows XP on it. Success... now I just need to find out whether its fixed all the other problems....

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Good job I didnt put a bet on it ;) glad I was wrong

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Well what i thought was successful was a partial success... didn't install windows correctly the first time round, so with some quick cd removing, i managed to get it working now... Hope all the problems are finally fixed.. if so im glad i don't have to fork out my money for ram and or HD.

Thanks everyone for your suggestion!!!:D

Re: RAM Memory?
 

Destructive System Recovery...