Random Reboots (Crashes)

[mattdonders]

My computer randomly started to reboot/crash a few days ago. When I log back into Windows I get a "The system has recovered from a serious error" dialog box.

Here is my System Information:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name DONDERSDESK
System Manufacturer INTEL_
System Model DG33FB__
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 11 GenuineIntel ~2333 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Intel Corp. DPP3510J.86A.0293.2007.1002.1519, 10/2/2007
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume3
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name DONDERSDESK\Matthew Donders
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.12 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 5.08 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Here is from Event Viewer > System (Error @ time of reboot).
Event Type: Error
Event Source: System Error
Event Category: (102)
Event ID: 1003
Date: 3/5/2009
Time: 10:57:42 PM
User: N/A
Computer: DONDERSDESK
Description:
Error code 1000008e, parameter1 c0000005, parameter2 8054b168, parameter3 abf3f778, parameter4 00000000.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
Data:
0000: 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 45 System E
0008: 72 72 6f 72 20 20 45 72 rror Er
0010: 72 6f 72 20 63 6f 64 65 ror code
0018: 20 31 30 30 30 30 30 38 1000008
0020: 65 20 20 50 61 72 61 6d e Param
0028: 65 74 65 72 73 20 63 30 eters c0
0030: 30 30 30 30 30 35 2c 20 000005,
0038: 38 30 35 34 62 31 36 38 8054b168
0040: 2c 20 61 62 66 33 66 37 , abf3f7
0048: 37 38 2c 20 30 30 30 30 78, 0000
0050: 30 30 30 30 0000


Here is from the dialog box:
BCCode : 1000008e BCP1 : C0000005 BCP2 : 8054B168 BCP3 : ABF3F778
BCP4 : 00000000 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

Not sure how to post the .dmp log, but your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Route44]

0x8E errors are almost always caused by hardware (though sometimes by drivers) and is a strong indicator of memory corruption. So the best recommendation for right now is to run Memtest on your RAM. The good thing about this test is that it loads and runs long before your Windows splash screen even has a chance to load.

1. Go to www.memtest.org and download the latest ISO version. It is free and perfectly safe.

2. Burn to a CD.

3. Place CD in your drive and reboot with CD in drive. (You might have to place your drive as first bootable in your BIOS) The test will take over.

4. Let it run for a LONG time. The rule is a minimum of 7 Passes. There are 8 individual tests per Pass. Many people will start this test before going to bed and check it the next day.

5. If you have errors you have corrupted memory and it needs to be replaced.

6. Also, with errors you need to run this test per stick of RAM. Take out one and run the test. Then take that one out and put the other in and run the test. If you start getting errors before 7 Passes you know that stick is corrupted and you don’t need to run the test any further on that stick.

* Get back to us with the results. Remember, let it run a long time and if it goes beyond 7 Passes that is quite fine.

 

[mattdonders]

Okay so I let it run for 8 hours overnight and it detected an astronomical amount of errors on one stick of RAM. So far everything seems to be running smoother and I have had no programs crash on me yet.

Do I need to take out the RAM in pairs or can I just remove the bad RAM stick. Also if I do need to remove the pair, which would be considered its pair. I have DIMM's 0, 1, 2, 3 and DIMM 2 had the bad RAM in it.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Route44]

Glad things are smooth now. Corrupted memory will cause all kinds of headaches but thankfully its one of the easiest to test for and resolve.

One stick will run your system and as long as you can purchase a matching stick of the same type, i.e., DDR and timings, you should be okay.

if you are not sure of the type, etc., go to Crucial.com and let their free and perfectly safe online system scanner for memory upgrades do its work. It will tell you how much your system is rated for in the amount, what type it takes, i.e., DDR, DDR2, etc.

Then go to NewEgg.com and buy the memory that is right for your system. Then place the RAM back in the slots it was in originally, i.e., if it was DIMMS 0 and 1 then that is how you want to configure it.