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11177
August 25th, 2006 18:00
Bad memory in NEW Dimension E310
So I just got a new Dimension this week. Yesterday, while browsing the internet I get a BSOD with a stop error "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL". Of course a search on Google brings up thousands of articles addressing this issue for any thousand number of reasons.
Through research, you can pretty much narrow it down to Faulty RAM, MB, PSU, new software or bad drivers.
My first approach was to identify any new software and uninstall it. Since I really didn't install much, this was easy and did not solve the problem. Next, I updated all my drivers. This didn't work either. Next, I processed the minudump to determine the cause(s). Since every blue screen identified different errors, this was difficult to diagnose. The fist dump seemed to indicate that MacAfee Firewall was failing to access memory. I updated the McAfee software and still received blue screens.... now with non-McAfee related codes. Next, I turned off all Startup programs and nonessential services. This did not work as well.
After all of this, I decide to call Dell support. As I was on hold, I did a restore to Monday (the day I got the thing). When the rep came on the phone, I had been up and running for about 10 minutes. It started to seem as if the issue was resolved. The rep took down all my info and 5 minutes after hanging up, BSOD!
Now, I think I've pretty much got all the software aspects covered. So I decide to use Window's Memory Diagnostics to check for any memory issues. Since I was doing this at lunch, I could only let it run for about 25 minutes. But, towards the end of this, I received an error...
Test: MATS+
Cache: Off
Address: 0009fcec
Expected: ffffffff
Actual: fefefeff
I will now run the recommended overnight scan and I expect to get more errors.
So now I call back supports and update them on all my findings. I'm instructed to do a restore back to original Dell settings. I finished this but had to get back to work and ended the call. I have a strong feeling that this isn't going to solve my problem. Also, the rep tried to say that bad memory usually results in beep(s) during boot up... which I do not get. However, my test seems to indicate otherwise.
All things seem to point to bad RAM (at least, could be board too). Bad memory according to my test means bad hardware and I would guess it doesn't matter what is installed on my machine.
Does anybody agree/disagree, thoughts?
After more calls to DELL and it's determined that it is bad RAM, do they require a tech to come out? Or can I just send them the bad modules? Has anyone been through the process of replacing hardware in a new machine?
Thanks, Bill
BZip
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August 25th, 2006 18:00
Yes to both questions.
... the code was different almost every time it blue screened. I only wrote down the last one....
0x40200340, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0x8053FAF0
I didn't have much luck finding anything on this. Neither did Dell.
x_lab rat
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August 25th, 2006 18:00
Congrats on having WMD handy. It doesn't register false positives--if it registers a failure, there really is one. There's a remote possibility the fault is in GMCH or interconnect (or sunspots or global warming for that matter) but yes you have a memory defect. If you can remove one strip of memory and WMD passes, the bad one is in your hand.
WMD tests memory more-or-less the way Windows uses it. Whereas, Dell Diag will 'pass' a known defective memory. However, Dell's phone scripts are keyed to the failure codes in DD, so if you can get DD to fail, it's easier to end the call quickly and successfully by giving them the DD code.
ejn63
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August 25th, 2006 18:00
eb007
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August 25th, 2006 18:00
BZip
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August 25th, 2006 19:00
Thanks. Actually, 10 passes with WMD's standard tests didn't catch the error either. It wasn't until the first pass of the extended test that an error was reported.
I guess it can't ever be easy. I just got the computer this week and already it's defective. I'm only hoping the process of getting replacement stick(s) of RAM goes smoothly.
I'm also hoping that it isn't the result of a bigger issue.
I did notice that whenever a failure would occur, I wasn't able to turn the computer right back on or I would receive an immediate "Fatal System Error". I actually have to let the computer sit for a minute before powering back on. Doesn't it take time for the memory to be cleared even after powering off? I know some hardware behaves this way. Either that or it's an overheating problem that's causing issues. However, nothing seems wrong with the CPU and the fan seems to be working properly.
Thanks for the replies.
x_lab rat
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August 25th, 2006 20:00
Eww, 'basic' WMD doesn't show it? Then DD probably won't, at all.
Yes, it can be thermal, has to do with expansion/contraction of parts, something 'loose' or a microscopic defect within a chip. It could still be on the memory stick or the MB. Sometimes, mechanical intermittents can be 'encouraged' to reveal themselves. When it's cold and running normally, gently wiggle the memory one at a time with your finger (it can't shock you). When you wiggle the bad one, you might get a screen freeze or BSOD. (It can still be the motherboard at this point). Put a black mark on the suspect memory, and reverse their positions. If the same one causes the same thing in a different socket, it's definitely bad.
However, the 'efefeff' thing bothers me. That's not a typical mechanical intermittent, and the 'wiggling' may result in nothing. Take the #2 memory out and use the machine as normal. If you never again see BSOD, the bad memory is laying on the table. If you do, take #1 out and put #2 in its place, try again.
Unfortunately, Dell's phone script doesn't respond to these diagnostics, only to DD or the trudgingly slow process of trying everything else first. If they say "it's software" and tell you to reinstall Windows, tell them you already did and it made no difference. If they still argue, hang up and call again. Some agents are more technically knowledgeable than others. Some will respond to "I installed memory from a friend's system and the problem went away".
Message Edited by x_lab rat on 08-25-200604:13 PM