Memory Parity Error on Boot

Question

Hi peoples.....first time on this board so be kind to me !! haha !   Problem is this...... after 1 year + of trouble free service with my Dimension 8400 I'm getting memory parity errors on the first boot of the day (After BIOS start). I try a power off/on process but get the same report. If I start up in 'Safe Mode' I can get XP (SP2) to work. On a reboot from there everything is fine, and the beast works OK all day. Any amount of resets or power downs and all is fine......V strange !!!.......only mods recently was the addition of the new Creative X-fi card and breakout box but that was over a week ago and the system has been fine up until yesterday. The memory was upgraded a few months after purchase as detailed below. (The details in red are the new chips). Now as i said there have been no issues up till now so I think the memory setup is ok but I'm open to any comments and advice. I belive the error regarding parity problems does not always mean its a hardware problem associated with the memory chips ??   Memory Module 1 Manufacturer : Samsung Model : M3 78T3253FG0-CCC Serial Number : 450E79ED Type : 256MB DIMM DDR2-SDRAM Technology : 8x(32Mx8) Speed : PC2-3200U 3.0-3-3-8 Version : 1.0 Date of Manufacture : 30 September 2004 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 5.0-3-3-8 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 4.0-3-3-8 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 3.0-3-3-8   Memory Module 2 Manufacturer : Kingston Serial Number : 691B7D64 Type : 256MB DIMM DDR2-SDRAM Technology : 4x(32Mx16) Speed : PC2-4300U 4.0-4-4-12 Version : 1.0 Date of Manufacture : 07 October 2004 Set Timing @ 267MHz : 5.0-4-4-12 Set Timing @ 267MHz : 4.0-4-4-12 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 3.0-3-3-9   Memory Module 3 Manufacturer : Samsung Model : M3 78T3253FG0-CCC Serial Number : 450777C4 Type : 256MB DIMM DDR2-SDRAM Technology : 8x(32Mx8) Speed : PC2-3200U 3.0-3-3-8 Version : 1.0 Date of Manufacture : 30 September 2004 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 5.0-3-3-8 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 4.0-3-3-8 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 3.0-3-3-8   Memory Module 4 Manufacturer : Kingston Serial Number : 691B8964 Type : 256MB DIMM DDR2-SDRAM Technology : 4x(32Mx16) Speed : PC2-4300U 4.0-4-4-12 Version : 1.0 Date of Manufacture : 07 October 2004 Set Timing @ 267MHz : 5.0-4-4-12 Set Timing @ 267MHz : 4.0-4-4-12 Set Timing @ 200MHz : 3.0-3-3-9   Many thanks in advance for help and advice   www.acmechs.com

osprey4 · Answer

A parity error almost always means a memory failure. I would first remove your memory one pair at a time and see if you still get the error. If removing a pair, such as the Kingston DIMMs, eliminates the error, there's your problem.

Please post back after you've tried this. This kind of information is very helpful to other Dell owners.

chasb441 · Answer

Thanks for the advice osprey4. I will try out the removel of each pair in turn over the next few days and will post the results. I take it the the mix of 3200 and 4300 would not cause an issue, although that mix has been fine up till now ??  Dooooh !!!

osprey4 · Answer

No, usually mixing speeds is not an issue.

chasb441 · Answer

Thanks osprey4.....an update from me for the parity problem.

I had another problem with my c drive and was trying to sort out using chkdsk but, as always nothing is easy !! chkdsk informed me that it could only run on this drive on a system reboot so that’s what I did. Big mistake !!! 2 hours with a blank screen on reboot and then I gave in and switched power off,,,,oh dear,,,,,another blue screen reporting that there had been a serious error with windows and to cut a long story short I had lost the c drive !! lucky for me I had a recent backup available on an external drive. After some head scratching trying to get Norton Ghost to find my sata c drive (another story----bios settings needed changing for the drive to be found) I re-installed the back up and as of yet.......2 days.....there has been no repeat of the parity error ?????? very strange....so will monitor and report back if I have any more updates

osprey4 · Answer

Good job!! Yeah, Ghost!! That'll serve as an example of those who prefer to crash their system first, then start thinking about a backup later. :)

XPS Jeff · Answer

I just installed a new 160 gig hard drive for backup purposes this last weekend, and Ghost is already on the way... should be here Thursday or Friday.  Now as long as nothing happens before... no, I'm not even going to finish that sentence.   :smileywink:   Actually, I keep my important data files backed up pretty regularly on an external zip drive.  But it will be nice to have a full and complete system backup.   Glad you were able to resolve your problem, chasb441.. memory problems can be a real female dog (hope that gets by the censors!!).   Jeff

chasb441 · Answer

Will after a few days of trouble free boots it came back with a vengeance !! I removed the original Samsung memory first and replaced with 2 512k modules I borrowed. All now seems to be well but I will wait and see !!!! I thought the reinstall from Ghost had sorted the problem but obviously not...... weird or what ?? Why behave for only a few days then start with the errors again. As for the unexplained reasons for the original error I had forgot to mention in my first post, I had recently upgraded the Dell Bios to its latest version (V05) and a guy in my local PC shop believes this may be the reason for the reports. He advised not to upgrade any BIOS if all is going well. Any comments on any of above ??? Message Edited by chasb441 on 02-03-2006 09:59 AM

chasb441 · Answer

I quote 'A parity error almost always means a memory failure'......I think Im going to have to opt for the key word here....'Almost'......!!! You guessed it! It’s back with a vengeance. All the memory has been substituted and after my last thank you post it’s come back with a vengeance!!! A few attempts at reboot and into 'SafeMode' got me started ok. I have been told by a local PC engineer that the problem could have been caused by the recent BIOS upgrade I carried out. Any comments guys!!!

osprey4 · Answer

You shouldn't be getting parity errors with non-ECC RAM. I'm clueless.

If you suspect a BIOS issue, you can flash back to a previous version. Look for a link to "other versions" on your BIOS download page.

chasb441 · Answer

It does seem like a strange one. I got the standard help auto response from Dell tech help and the advice list is pretty vague to say the least. osprey4, you have covered all of there memory comments much clearer so......don’t really know whats next?? I have left the PC in standby for now as it’s really inconvenient to have to go through the reboots and safe modes 2 or 3 times just to get the machine working,,,,, just had a thought. I think the problem may have started just after I installed the new sound card and breakout board X-fi from SoundBlaster. I wonder if this could be the culprit? Would the bios be looking here so early in its cycle if at all? Message Edited by chasb441 on 02-11-2006 09:15 AM

radaroreilly · Answer

Chasb,

Hate to say it, but I now have the dreaded memory parity error on boot. After reading all the posts on the subject, I think I'm in for a tough haul.

I have not added anything new to this computer recently and only added a DVD burner 6 months ago without issues.

Like Osprey suggested, I have tried to find and remove the faulty memory card. When that card is in the slot, I reboot and get the typical blue screen with the hardware malfunction/parity error message. So I take it out and then put the second card in and get no error message but a screen that allows me to start in "safe mode", "safe mode with network", "safe mode with command prompts" and "start windows normally."

According to Dell I should be able to then boot Windows XP normally---that is, as long as the faulty memory card is removed. All I get though is a cycle of attempts by XP to boot, but the computer slips back into asking me if it can start in "safe mode", "safe mode with network," etc. all over again.

ugh.

P4, 3.4 GHZ, Dual in line 512, 533 M, 80 GB SATA HD, ATI

radaroreilly · Answer

Osprey,

Hello, you seem very helpful! Have read through a number of posts on this subject, but can't seem to break through to the other side. Sorry for the second posting of this same message to both you and Chasb, but wanted to get both your input.

Hate to say it, but I now have the dreaded memory parity error on boot. After reading all the posts on the subject, I think I'm in for a tough haul.

I have not added anything new to this computer recently and only added a DVD burner 6 months ago without issues.

Like Osprey suggested, I have tried to find and remove the faulty memory card. When that card is the only memory card installed, I reboot and get the typical blue screen with the hardware malfunction/parity error message. So I take it out and then put the second card in and get no error message but a screen that allows me to start in "safe mode", "safe mode with network", "safe mode with command prompts" and "start windows normally."

According to Dell I should be able to then boot Windows XP normally---that is, as long as the faulty memory card is removed. All I get though is a cycle of attempts by XP to boot, but the computer slips back into asking me if it can start in "safe mode", "safe mode with network," etc. all over again.

ugh.

P4, 3.4 GHZ, Dual in line 512, 533 M, 80 GB SATA HD, ATI

radaroreilly · Answer

It's a Dimension 8400 with XP, Media Center Edition P4, 3.4 GHZ, Dual in line 512, 533 M, 80 GB SATA HD, Radeon Graphics/ATI, TV tuner   Message Edited by radaroreilly on 03-27-2006 08:10 PM

osprey4 · Answer

radaroreilly: Just so we're sure what we're talking about, please post the model of your system.

chunks79 · Answer

This may help http://www.mypchealth.co.uk/GuideParity.php

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