Cannot install or repair windows - Memory Issues!??

[Ryan]

I'm trying to repair a computer for a friend, I'll make a long story short, I couldn't repair the current install, as I kept getting random bsod messages - every one was different, all to do with memory: "Could not write to read only", page file errors, etc, sorry I don't have the exact messages. I suspected a problem with the memory or hard drive. I ran MemTest86+ overnight as suggested which passed 18 passes with no errors. I also ran a long test with SeaTools which came back with no errors. Upon trying to install a fresh copy of windows xp, I keep running into bsod or fatal errors, all at different steps - sometimes further along than others. I have also turned off features in the bios, such as AHCI, and turned off as many onboard devices as possible. Oh yes, I did confirm there was nothing to be saved on the drive, in case you were concerned. I now suspect there must be something on the board which is causing the random errors. Possibly the memory controller or SATA controller - I'm not sure if the memtest or disk diagnosis would be affected by these, as they ran fine. My third time through with a fresh install, I tried another install disc (cannot boot to USB on this system, unfortunately) The system is an old HP Media Center - Pentium D 2.8GHz, 1G RAM - DDR2-400, onboard video, Seagate 250G Hard drive 7200.8. Before you tell me to just recommend a new computer anyway, which will probably happen regardless, I'd really like to find out exactly what is causing the problem, as this is the first computer in probably a dozen I've repaired with similar issues that I can't definitively find the culprit. If anyone needs any further info, let me know - I can't think of anything else relevant.

[Ryan Leech]

Did you try installing all drivers?

[Ryan]

I'll try win 7 now for the heck of it. I was asked to reinstall win xp simply because the computer can't handle anything special than win 7 can do, and she's familiar with xp. I'm not sure what is meant by installing all drivers - I"m doing a fresh os install.

[Ryan Leech]

I'll try win 7 now for the heck of it. I was asked to reinstall win xp simply because the computer can't handle anything special than win 7 can do, and she's familiar with xp. I'm not sure what is meant by installing all drivers - I"m doing a fresh os install.

Install northbridge, audio, gpu, and ethernet drivers. It's also possible that the cpu is starting to degrade. Try booting into linux from a disc to test stability.

[Ryan]

Install northbridge, audio, gpu, and ethernet drivers. It's also possible that the cpu is starting to degrade. Try booting into linux from a disc to test stability.

Umm, strange, I clicked quote, and now there is more quoted here than in the post. Once I've tried win 7, which is installing now, I'll boot into linux as suggested. Any recommendations on software to test stability in linux? I'm not an expert at linux by any stretch.

 

Win 7 install just BSOD'd - IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

From microsoft: "This Stop message indicates that a kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission to access." "If you encounter this error while upgrading to a newer version of Windows, it might be caused by a device driver, a system service, a virus scanner, or a backup tool that is incompatible with the new version."

 

Well there's nothing on there, since the drive is formatted before the install, seems to keep pointing to memory being the issue - does anyone know another memory scanner (possibly that will run inside a linux boot from CD version?)

[Ryan Leech]

Umm, strange, I clicked quote, and now there is more quoted here than in the post. Once I've tried win 7, which is installing now, I'll boot into linux as suggested. Any recommendations on software to test stability in linux? I'm not an expert at linux by any stretch.

 

Win 7 install just BSOD'd - IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

From microsoft: "This Stop message indicates that a kernel-mode process or driver attempted to access a memory address to which it did not have permission to access." "If you encounter this error while upgrading to a newer version of Windows, it might be caused by a device driver, a system service, a virus scanner, or a backup tool that is incompatible with the new version."

 

Well there's nothing on there, since the drive is formatted before the install, seems to keep pointing to memory being the issue - does anyone know another memory scanner (possibly that will run inside a linux boot from CD version?)

You could run prime95 within linux to test stability of cpu and ram

[LogicalDrm]

I get feeling that ram is faulty here. Have you tested with another ram or if its two sticks, one by one?

[Ryan]

Thanks for the suggestions, I highly suspected RAM myself. Booted by cd and tested ram, it was fine - 18 passes. Prime 95 ran for hours ok. Finally found hd errors and swapped to two older drives that were known working with same results. Decided it was a mobo issue, maybe ide controller and called it.