Still getting BSOD after replacing RAM

michaelra · May 24, 2011

Hi, I was being pointed that my BSODs were caused by a faulty ram on another thread.

I decided to just buy new RAMs but even then, I still experience 2 BSODs so far (in 2 days) so I'm wondering whether you can have a look at the last two minidump files (attached) after using the new RAM to find out why

I've also attached the old RAM's BSOD minidump if you need to compare. Should I just reformat my Windows? It might be it?

Appreciate the help! Wish I can read these minidumps myself and understand them.

Mark56 · May 24, 2011

OK, the dumps with the new RAM are both F4 a critical object termination, this can have more than one cause. It will need a process of elimination to find the problem but I would start by running diagnostics on the hard drive, follow this guide below.

When did the problems start and did it coincide with any changes to your system, downloads, new software, new anti virus, anything that you have altered.

Identify the make of your hard drive and then use one of the links below to get the manufacturers diagnostic for ISO CD. Burn the image file to a CD, boot the PC with the disc in the drive and run the diagnostics. You first need to set the CD drive to 1st in the boot order in the Bios setup.

If you do not have an image burner use this free software to make the CD.

http://www.isoimageburner.com/

ExcelStor: http://www.excelstor.com/eng/support.php?sub_id=3

Hitachi/IBM: http://www.hitachigst.com/support/downloads/

Samsung: http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/support/downloads/support_in_es.html

Toshiba Fujitsu: http://sdd.toshiba.com/main.aspx?Path=SoftwareUtilities#diagnostic

Seagate, Maxtor & Quantum:http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads

Western Digital:http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?lang=en

michaelra · May 25, 2011

Thanks Mark, I'll do the scan later.
I can't tell - as I'm a reviewer, I often install/uninstall software (antivirus, system cleaner, etc) or webcam/keyboard/mouse drivers....
I was thinking if it's a driver/software problem then you can find that out from the minidump. I guess it's not that easy

If scan looks okay, I'll just do a reformat and try again from there. If harddrive is okay and a fresh install still gives BSOD, then it may be the motherboard, I guess?

Mark56 · May 25, 2011

If you have been running various system cleaners you may have damaged the registry.

Most anti virus software have uninstall tools available on there sites. These should always be used to ensure all traces are removed. Remnants of anti virus software still on your system can cause conflicts and result in a BSOD.

You could simply run a repair install from the OS disc which will leave all your existing software and files intact. It must be at the same service pack level (or higher) than what you have installed or you will need to uninstall the service packs first.

The BSOD's I analysed would suggest something is causing a conflict rather than just a bad driver.

If you have no important files on your system then a clean install would probably be the quickest solution.

You can run Driver Verifier to check the drivers as follows.

For windows XP - Click on Start and then Run. Type verifier into the box and hit the Enter key.
For Vista and Windows 7 - Click on Start and type verifier into the search box then click on verifier in the list that pops up.

Driver Verifier Manager will open.

Select the first choice "Create Standard Settings" and click on the "Next" button.

Now select "Automatically select all drivers installed on this computer" and click on the "Finish" button.

A box will appear asking you to restart the PC for the changes to take effect. Click on "OK" and reboot the PC.

To stop Auto reboot so you can read the error message do this for Windows XP:
Click the Start button, right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Under System Failure, uncheck the "Automatically restart" check box.

And do this in Windows 7 and Vista:
Click Start, select 'Control Panel' select 'System' in the left pane select 'Advanced System Settings' in the box select the 'Advanced' tab then under 'Startup and Recovery' select 'Settings.' In the box under 'System Failure' uncheck 'Automatically Restart'.

If the PC reboots normally then there is no problem with any of the drivers. If you get a blue screen straight away it will name the faulty driver. If you are absolutely certain that the named driver is OK then make a note of it.

You will then have to go back into the Verifier and instead of selecting all drivers select "Select drivers from a list". Click on "Next" and the list of drivers will appear. Select them all apart from the one you know to be OK. Click on "Finish" and reboot.

Once you have identified the faulty driver or confirmed that there are none go back to the first page of the Driver Verifier Manager and select "Delete Existing Settings" and click on "Finish"

michaelra · May 28, 2011

Tried checking the hard drive. I stopped it at 50% (took a while!) and decided to reformat/reinstall. Seems okay so far - 3 days straight without BSOD.

Thanks for the help so far

Mark56 · May 28, 2011

Hard drive scans can take a long time (especially on a big drive) and do appear to have stopped even though they are still running.

Anyway, sounds like the going is good. Having done a fair bit of installing and uninstalling I would say thee is a very good chance that remnants of old software was causing a conflict. If you continue to frequently do this then you may benefit from software like CCleaner which will clean out all the leftovers. Some say registry cleaners are liable to damage the registry but I have myself just started to use the latest version of CCleaner and so far it has only improved my PC's performance so may be this particular cleaner has got better.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

Click on either link just below "Version 3.07.1457" at the bottom of the "At Home" box.

michaelra · May 28, 2011

Yeah I used CCleaner but recently been reviewing the TuneUp Utilities and System Mechanic releases (both are good software).

Cheers

michaelra · May 31, 2011

GRRRRRRRRRRR the Blue screen is back! Do you think you can have a look again (for the last time) at the minidump? (attached)

Was running fine until I added a network card driver, webcam driver, and installing Peer Block yesterday. Maybe it can come up in the minidump?

Mark56 · May 31, 2011

This minidump clearly states memory corruption. Follow this guide to clean and reseat the memory. You could just do a few passes with memtest with all the sticks fitted, if it finds a fault then run it on one stick at a time to isolate the faulty stick. If the test comes up clear then run the PC on one stick at a time. I appreciate you have new memory but even new sticks can be faulty, it can also be a fault in the RAM slot or the associated circuitry on the motherboard. A long successfull run on one stick can then be followed by trying the stick in different slots to test if the slot has a fault. You could also try blowing out the slots with a can of compressed air (do not use a vacumm cleaner).

Power off the PC and remove the mains connection, always touch the metal of the case with your hands to avoid any static electricity from causing component damage. (On laptops ALWAYS remove the battery before removing or replacing memory modules). Remove all your memory modules. Clean the contacts with a soft rubber (up and down not from end to end) then insert just one module and reboot to test for any change in performance. Repeat this for every module one at a time and run for at least 24 hours (or until an error occurs) with memory intensive programs, playing games or a video. Obviously if you only have one module this cannot be done, but you should still remove and clean the module and reseat it and test.

If you only have one stick download this to test it. http://www.memtest.org/

You need to scroll down the page until you see the three blue screenshots. Just below is the list of downloads for Memtest86+ V4.20. Click on Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip)and save to your desktop, When the download is complete right click the file and select Extract Here and burn the image to a CD. In windows 7 right click the extracted file, select Open With, then select Windows Disc Image Burning Tool then follow the prompts. For all other versions of windows (if you do not have an ISO burner) download this free software. http://www.isoimageburner.com/

Boot the PC into the Bios setup and set the CD/DVD drive to 1st in the boot sequence. Insert the disk in the drive then reboot and the disc will load into dos. Leave the test to run through at least 8 cycles.

The memtest will not be 100% accurate but should easily detect any major faults.

michaelra · May 31, 2011

Dang.. memory corruption again? You remember that I have already run them (from the other thread) for 8 hours straight (individually) for 28 passes with no error

I guess this is running in circles as other BSOD files will then show inconsistencies in drivers conflict, etc etc..

I'll try a few things then..thanks

Mark56 · May 31, 2011

Dang.. memory corruption again? You remember that I have already run them (from the other thread) for 8 hours straight (individually) for 28 passes with no error

I had forgotten about that.

That was with Memtest, as I have pointed out it will only find major faults and is likely to miss the minor ones. You need to run the PC (not the test) on one stick at a time to try and isolate which stick or which slot is causing the problem. I suspect you have a fault in one of the slots or the associated circuitry on the mobo. Follow my cleaning suggestions with the rubber and compressed air as that may help. It only needs a small spot of oxidisation on one contact and a fault will occur. Also to clean oxidisation from the slots push the sticks in and out several times to clean the slot contacts.

Still getting BSOD after replacing RAM

michaelra

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