Windows XP SP3 - daily BSODs

[Sharam]

POST error code means either faulty RAM or it is not all the way in, the board counts the memory every time you turn it ON and doesn't care if you have 512MB or 8GB.

Take both sticks out, insert one. Reset the BIOS if you have to but do load the defaults after you get in.

 

[Jackz]

We just had a fine time experimenting, to no avail. The computer continuously gets POST errors and I forgot to mention this but it says, "Booting from a Network device" it also brings up "Broadcom etc." at the loading screen, why would it try to boot from the network? I tried both sticks and nothing at all happened, at one stage the computer wouldn't even boot! I can't change any BIOS settings because it doesn't let me save, it only says, "Exit without saving." There has to be something else I can do, I've consulted my ThinkCentre: Quick Reference. But that simply says to look at the Setup Utility, no further instructions except for, "get your computer serviced" Well, what a great help, Microsoft! I'm awarding you, bravo! Gosh, what can I do? I can't save anything in the BIOS and I can't remove RAM without the computer totally stuffing up. I really would love some help, if further things do not help should I simply get a 1GB stick of RAM? I also looked at the BIOS and saw that the readable amount of memory or something was 509MB, something must have gone wrong. I have never been able to save things in the Setup Utility, if all comes to nothing I'm going to get a 1GB stick, that's the amount the system wants.

Jackz.

 

[Sharam]

509MB is OK since you have on-board VGA.
Try one stick in the first socket, some on-board VGA require first socket to be populated.

Go over everything slowly, all the cables.
You might have disconnected the hard drive data and/ or power cable so it is looking to boot from CD with nothing in it then from Network.

You might be at a point that requires a BIOS reset.

There is a difference between a faulty and dead RAM, all I have been trying to do is try or test one at a time!

Something is wrong for sure, but I bet you anything, it would have taken less than 30 minutes on a work bench to figure it out.

Again, buy RAM in pairs for best performance
We can either do this right and have a proper hardware and software setup or just change a component or drivers … Band-Aid Treatment

I do this everyday, 7 days a week some weeks, I'm not just coming up with ideas to have fun with you at 3:00 AM, and I hope you realize that.

 

[Jackz]

509MB is OK since you have on-board VGA.
Try one stick in the first socket, some on-board VGA require first socket to be populated.

Go over everything slowly, all the cables.
You might have disconnected the hard drive data and/ or power cable so it is looking to boot from CD with nothing in it then from Network.

You might be at a point that requires a BIOS reset.

There is a difference between a faulty and dead RAM, all I have been trying to do is try or test one at a time!

Something is wrong for sure, but I bet you anything, it would have taken less than 30 minutes on a work bench to figure it out.

Again, buy RAM in pairs for best performance
We can either do this right and have a proper hardware and software setup or just change a component or drivers … Band-Aid Treatment

I do this everyday, 7 days a week some weeks, I'm not just coming up with ideas to have fun with you at 3:00 AM, and I hope you realize that.

Of course I appreciate everything that you're doing for me and I'm sorry if I somehow may have woken you up. Well, sometimes I can be pretty thick, I eventually realized that after removing one stick I had to save the BIOS. I'm sorry if you were trying to say this to me. The computer is now running fine except a lot slower than usual. I removed the one that I think CPUZ couldn't recognize. It is made by a company called, 'Starex' Have you perhaps heard of this company? If so, do they make good RAM or faulty? Well, I just hope this fixes it once for all. If it doesn't I'll either consult you, get some new RAM or change the other RAM with the 'Starex' one. Thanks for all the help you've given me.

Jackz.

 

[Sharam]

You didn't wake me, I happen to work late every day

If the symptoms are gone, then the "Starex" was the cause of your problems. I don't know amything about them

The chances are you just got a bad module,
May be it is because of running them in single channel or the 2 modules are fine and just don't like each other's company!

To be safe, get 2 X 1GB DDR2 667MHz (get a kit or identical pairs) and run them in dual channel.

If you want to know for sure if the Starex is faulty, test the system alone with that but not for long, you don't want data corruption leading to Windows not being able to boot.

Keep us posted.

 

[Jackz]

Wow! No BSODs! I've swapped the sticks and I've still gotten no Blue Screens, as you said, I think it must be the accompaniment of the two. I'm going to put them in together and see what it's like, if it truly is the accompaniment then should I get one stick of 512MB RAM and place it in with one of the others, the same brand? Or should I simply replace the sticks of RAM with shiny, new ones? Thanks for all your help through this!

Jackz.

 

[Sharam]

It does seem like they don't like each other, we still don't know if they play better in dual channel mode.

You should get 2 X 1GB if not 2 X 2GB, I wouldn't get "another" 512MB and hope it will have same speed, timing and work well with the one you are going to keep. 1GB total system memory is considered low these days.

If you got 2 new identical modules, run them in dual channel.

Keep us posted.

 

[Jackz]

I put both sticks in a while ago, today I got a BSOD stating, "BAD_POOL_CALLER." I don't think I have ever gotten a BAD_POOL_CALLER. I have gotten others starting with BAD_POOL, I am surprised but, deep down I knew it was only a matter of time. I'm going to get some new sticks. By the way, how do I get them to run in Dual Channel? Does the system somehow detect it or must I change something? Thanks for all the help.

Jackz.

 

[Sharam]

How many RAM sockets do you have and what color are they?