file corrupt, random browser crashes, what?!?!

[daRkKon]

ok this problem is really starting to get to me....

lets start off with hardware first.

memtest86+ tested ram -PASSED
hitachi utility for hdd - PASSED
just bought a new video card.
psu is strong.
dvd rom works i took it out of my good unit

im about to switch cpus and see if thats the problem.

during windows installation it would hault multiple times during the copying files, finally i got it to copy all files without hanging on a file.

but now when im in windows, i try to download things or install things and they say that the file is corrupted... when i know it is NOT corrupted. it works perfectly on my other computer..

i do not understand this problem and why it refuses to install or download certain programs, i get random browser crashes as well.

running windows xp pro

939 platform DFI lanparty ut slidr
x2 4200+
hitachi 80gb
dvdram samsung
some 400w psu
new 4530 video card from ati
i have 4 memory sticks, each passed with memtest86+, i have one installed now. timings 3-3-3-6-9-12 2.7v


just recieved a stop error while installing windows 7 PFN file corrupt 0x0000004e (the stop error says its memory even though memtest passed my memory?! i dont get

i just installed windows 7 without changing anything, it did not display any stop errors, i did nothing else but restart the installation.

 

[KGB]

Check your DFI board for bulging / burst capacitors. It's about that age.

 

[fire400]

just do a cold clone where no OS environment is present.

if you need an OS running, ghost it with software.

some files may be partial and its other half does not exist because even if the drive passed error testing, it needs to be completely reformatted to function properly again.

 

[sandorski]

Check your DFI board for bulging / burst capacitors. It's about that age.

yup. When I upgraded to my current setup last May, my old Socket 939 Asrock mobo had bulging Caps all over the place. The only issue I had with that system was a problem with an HD which kept having corruption issues. This thread kinda makes me wonder though if that HD is actually fine. Hmm, might check into it.

 

[mlc]

that does sound like a RAM related issue.....

1)How many passes did you run the memtest for ? You'll need to run it for at least 7 to 10 passes for each stick....

2) You mentioned each stick passed the test.. Did you run the test with one stick at a time, and then a final run with all of the sticks installed ?

3) Has the problem reoccurred since you gone down to running with 1 stick ?

 

[KGB]

yup. When I upgraded to my current setup last May, my old Socket 939 Asrock mobo had bulging Caps all over the place. The only issue I had with that system was a problem with an HD which kept having corruption issues. This thread kinda makes me wonder though if that HD is actually fine. Hmm, might check into it.

Do you still have the MB?

It's only about $10 worth of caps and 1 hour to replace them.

 

[sandorski]

Do you still have the MB?

It's only about $10 worth of caps and 1 hour to replace them.

Ya, gathering dust. I've thought about replacing the Caps and setting up that system, just don't have much need for it. In fact, I have a perfectly fine SocketA/Barton 2800 that was replaced by the 939 that I thought about using in a second system, but never got around to needing it either.

 

[daRkKon]

that does sound like a RAM related issue.....

1)How many passes did you run the memtest for ? You'll need to run it for at least 7 to 10 passes for each stick....

2) You mentioned each stick passed the test.. Did you run the test with one stick at a time, and then a final run with all of the sticks installed ?

3) Has the problem reoccurred since you gone down to running with 1 stick ?

1. only one pass, good to know i need to run more. i adjusted some settings and havent had a problem yet except the stop error x0000050

2. i did as you explained in my testing method.

3. refer to answer 1.

Do you still have the MB?

It's only about $10 worth of caps and 1 hour to replace them.

i know far too well that route, fixed many mobos and car audio amps lol no caps are buldging

 

[mlc]

good to hear .....

Make sure your running the ram to the specs of what the manufacurer recommends. . You didn't identify who maked that ram.. but the 2.7v sounds a little high . .Is that to spec?

secondly.. once you think you have things stabilized, keep in mind you may still have a file or two corrupted due to the memory issue.. So run checkdisk, etc. and you may need to resinstall or repair windows, and a few other programs.. to ensure stability

 

[daRkKon]

ram is crucial ballistix ddr500 rated.

i will run chdsk when i get a chance and again other drive utilties. and i will get back to you within a day or two or monday

 

[oynaz]

Unfortunately, Memtest86 can give false positives, ie. Memtest finds no errors, but the RAM is still defective. That might well be your issue.

 

[KGB]

Unfortunately, Memtest86 can give false positives, ie. Memtest finds no errors, but the RAM is still defective. That might well be your issue.

Yep! MemTest is not the end-all be-all.

If it gives errors then, more than likely the DIMM is bad.
If you get no errors it doesn't mean, with 100% certainty that the DIMM is good.

 

[daRkKon]

ontop of memtest i also ran windows memory diagnostic... but who knows how good of a stress tester that is you know lol

 

[johnney5]

ontop of memtest i also ran windows memory diagnostic... but who knows how good of a stress tester that is you know lol

Interestingly I was looking for the same answers as you and found someone really praising Windows 7s memory diagnostic (same as me, Win7 x64).

http://www.computer-aid.com.au/blog/2010/07/01/windows-7-memory-diagnostics-tool-works-better-than-memtest86/

The diagnostic forces the PC to restart into the stand-alone diagnostic tool.
Once the tool was running, I found it didn’t detect any memory errors (after a few passes).
However, I did notice I could press F1 to configure the memory diagnostic tool.
Within the configuration area, I selected the “extended test”, set the pass count to 0, then pressed F10 to restart the testing.
After many hours of testing, I found the tool displayed a status of:
hardware problems were detected
At last! Now I’m sure there is a hardware problem.
I send the PC back to the supplier (I didn’t want to waste any more time trying to pinpoint a possible motherboard or CPU fault).

So I still need to try memtest 86 but windows diagnostic simply tells me right off the bat that I have a "hardware problem" - there is nothing except a USB mouse connected to a USB keyboard attached to my computer. I don't even have a video card - just onboard video.
After the test goes to 100% it boots into windows and simply tells me there is a problem with my memory --- no details... no specifics... useless.

I highly doubt I should even believe it - If this is true though I'm going to have to make an exchange :\

Let me kno how things go for you.

One last thing - just about an hour ago one of my crashes resulted in the computer recovering itself - it told me my display driver crashed and recovered (I was getting graphical glitches - it looked like it was ABOUT to blue screen but saved itself).

One big thing that I should note here is that I used my motherboard driver disc (which includes an onboard display driver) to install my drivers after booting into Windows 7.

I might reformat and reattempt to install my operating system WITHOUT adding extra drivers to see if windows automatically installs them - this might ensure best compatibility!

 

[daRkKon]

update: i kept on getting random stop errors so i went to check the memory timings turns out, crucial ballstix ram is rated at 2.8v stock, timings 2.5-4-4-8 so i changed that to 3-4-4-8-12-16 @ 2.8v

im running windows memory diagnostic (the extended test).

if anyone has any more comments or help please post. thank you, i will post later if it passed the memory test and hopefully all these stop errors will go away!

 

[johnney5]

update: i kept on getting random stop errors so i went to check the memory timings turns out, crucial ballstix ram is rated at 2.8v stock, timings 2.5-4-4-8 so i changed that to 3-4-4-8-12-16 @ 2.8v

Helpful post I wouldn't have ever thought of this.

In my case I just reinstalled the OS (Win7 x64) this time NOT using the driver CD included with the motherboard. Audio works, Video looks fine (Windows Update has an optional nvidia driver from Jul. 2010 - not sure if I should bother installing since the monitor is working), Network/Internet is fine, and I attempted running Microsoft's Memory Diagnostic - came up with no errors this time!

No bluescreens yet... Haven't installed anything on the PC yet except updates.

If I were to continue to get blue screen crashes, my next idea would be to remove the RAM from the PC and place it back in a second time.

Good luck

 

[daRkKon]

no problems yet running strong. johnney5 i would suggest when running windows memory diagnostic hit f1 and select EXTENDED test then hit f10 to apply the setting and it will reboot and do the extended test which is much more sufficient than the basic test.

 

[johnney5]

I stepped out of my room today and when I came back the machine had restarted and told me windows recovered from a crash :-\

I might give the extended test a try soon.