NMI: Parity Check / Memory Parity Error - Dim 8100

Question

For the last few weeks, I've started getting the ugly blue screen quite frequently on my Dim 8100. It usually happens when the computer is idle for about 15/20 minutes, never while I'm actually working (so far) so I can't tell what the cause is. I don't have many programs running at the time of the crash either.

Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this problem?
I'm running Windows XP Pro on a Dimension 8100 system with 256MB RAM.

Thanks!
cholo

ps. Full error message:

*** Hardware malfunction
Call your hardware vendor for support

NMI: Parity Check/ Memory Parity Error

*** the system has halted ***

Thereal-dbk4297 · Answer

cholo wrote:
-
- Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this problem?
- I'm running Windows XP Pro on a Dimension 8100
- system with 256MB RAM.
-
- Thanks!
- cholo
-
- ps. Full error message:
-
- *** Hardware malfunction
- Call your hardware vendor for support
-
- NMI: Parity Check/ Memory Parity Error
-
- *** the system has halted ***
-
-

Hi,

XP is telling you that your memory is bad.
If your system is still under warranty, give Dell a call and have it replaced.

XP is very unforgiving when it comes to memory. RAM that worked with any problems on Windows 98, ME, ETC, just fails when used on an XP system.
Is this a bug in XP? Or, is the RAM really bad? Only time will tell us.

Mis Dos Centavos,
Darrell

Find the 'EXACT' memory for your Dell here.

Choose from the complete list of FREE internet providers.

My Dell T@lk help site. Computer use help links, use the Crucial RAM picker to find the exact memory for your Dell, and a complete list of FREE Internet Providers.

chuket · Answer

Here's the MS article on Parity: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q315223 It might be just loose RAM

shesagordie · Answer

A dell m 4300 and running xp pro brings up hardware malfunction

call your hardwear vendor for support

nmi: parity check/memory parity error

"""the system has halted"""

odendaal

Do you know that this thread is 13+ years old?

Have you made any changes to the Dimension 4300 recently?

Is the power button LED, solid green, blinking green, solid amber, blinking amber?

Are there any 'Beeps, see page 3?

Check the sequence of the diagnostic lights [page 2] on the back panel of the case and post back? See Here:

http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-4300_User%27s%20Guide_en-us.pdf

As the Dimension 4300 was sold by Dell in 2001, plus all XP support was discontinued in 2014 by Mircosoft, the system may not be worth the cost of repairing, newer used computers with core 2 Duo/core 2 Quad processors and Windows 7 operating systems can be purchased for around $100/150

Bev.

odendaal · Answer

A dell m 4300 and running xp pro  brings up hardware malfunction call your hardwear vendor for support  nmi: parity check/memory parity error '''the system has halted'''

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NMI: Parity Check / Memory Parity Error - Dim 8100

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