Author Topic: A bit of help? Random BSODs  (Read 957 times)

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Offline delta_7890

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A bit of help? Random BSODs
This is really getting on my nerves..  For a few weeks now I've been getting random blue screens of death, and I just can't pin down what the cause is...

I'm not infected with any viruses or serious spyware/adware.
My RAM *should* be good.  I switched some out while trying to fix this problem and it hasn't helped matters.

I tend to get this problem very...well, randomly.  Sometimes while I'm doing something, other times when the computer is just idling.

Among the messages I've gotten with these BSODs are:

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGE_AREA
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
PFN_LIST_CORRUPT
MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

So..um..any ideas what's causing all this?  I've tried looking up a solution online, but I just can't get a straight answer.
~Delta

 

Offline Scuddie

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
You are definately having ram related issues.  If you indeed changed your ram out and still getting the same errors, you may likely have a bad memory controller.  Just to be on the safe side, run memtest86+ and see if the errors are consistent.  If so, you have bad memory modules.  If they are random (same general area never hit more than once), you have a bad CPU or northbridge.
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Offline delta_7890

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
Alright, let's say I have a bad memory controller.  What needs to be replaced?  The entire mobo?
~Delta

 

Offline Taristin

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
Quote
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL


There's a familiar one... I get that one when trying to run max 8 or install corel draw 12.

Memtest86+ says ram is fine... I guess my mm controller is teh suck too, eh? :sigh:
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Offline Scuddie

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
Memory problems of that type either come from the memory controller or RAM.  Sometimes the BIOS will misread the SPD of the modules, so the response times are not set correctly.  Too low DRAM voltage will also result in these errors without a memtest failure.  I saw this all the time when I was playing WoW, as that is possibly the most memory transfer intensive game on the face of the planet.  Sometimes even a light amount of data can be lost due to a capacitor being discharged before recycling.  Memtest only tests immediate clusters for bad caps and transistors, it doesn't test whether or not it has enough long-term power.

For these scenarios, when Memtest86+ doesnt show results, Prime95 is used to test the long term capability of memory.  You have to run this program for several hours sometimes in order to get a confirmed failure.  If errors pop up ever (more than maybe one error in an hour), your ram is not set up properly.

To fix this, go into the BIOS and increase the SDRAM voltage by 0.1v only.  Most memory modules can run at ~2.6v but can handle up to ~2.8v with proper timing.  Also check the timing ratings in your system BIOS and compare them to the timings as listed by the MFR.  If they don't match, then fix it.  If they do, increase CAS latency by half a cycle.  Also increase the larger number (I forget what its called) by one cycle.

Anyway, try that out and see if it works.

EDIT:  And yes, your memory controller might still be bad.  If you have an A64, you must replace the CPU.  Otherwise, the motherboard will need to be tweaked, and possibly replaced.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2006, 07:43:48 pm by Scuddie »
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Offline delta_7890

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
My mobo doesn't use SD RAM, but DDR RAM.  oo;  Does this change things at all?
~Delta

 

Offline CP5670

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
nah, I think he meant DDR anyway. As he said, increasing the vdimm and loosening the timings (except for possibly tRAS) is worth trying.

What are the specs of your computer? If it's an A64 machine, see if dropping the HT multiplier down to 3 or 4 does anything. This fixed some similar crashes I was having a year ago, although they were caused by the weird processor I was using.
« Last Edit: January 12, 2006, 11:37:20 pm by CP5670 »

 

Offline Scuddie

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
DDR memory is SDRAM.  So is SDR ;).
And DDR2
And XDR

OK, I should shut up now...
Bunny stole my signature :(.

Sorry boobies.

 

Offline Stealth

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Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
yes shut the f*** up please.

you're not helping him at all ;) :cool:

 
Re: A bit of help? Random BSODs
Not Scuddie's fault if someone can't be bothered to look up a commonly-used acronym.

If you're trying to fix a computer fault it makes sense to actually understand what the hell you're fiddling with. Otherwise, go pay someone who has taken the time to learn this stuff.
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