HELP computer xms memory address problem?

[Wolfsraider]

ok bottom line this started 2 days ago when xp crashed and wouldn't reinstall

the computer message was your system has a fatal error in blah blah blah run recovery disk to restore win xp

tried that but no go wouldn't get to safe mode or would crash at recover prompt

then i loaded 98se on same computer was in 98 / xp pro dual boot (i was able to go in thru win 98 and save all files

loaded flawlessly after getting garbage files off the hard disk ( format /u /s fdisk /mbr were used to accomplish this took reformatting 6 times to get files in a hidden folder off and for scandisk to report no errors

then as i stated i reinstalled 98se flawlessly but didn't load the sound card drivers . when i did today the system hardlocked and i rebooted but couldn't get to safe mode reboot same thing so i ran scandisk and it said himem.sys file missing.

so i uninstalled formatted reinstalled same thing but then this message in bios screen appeared:

himem is testing extended memory ...done
windows XMS driver version 3.95
extended memory specification (XMS) version 3.0
copyright 1988 - 1995 microsoft corp.
error..himem.sys has detected unreliable XMS memory at address
00851872 XMS driver not installed

to continue starting your computer,press ENTER

what does this mean anybody?

is it bad memory? motherboard? cpu?

could drivers for sblive value caused this ?i think since the xp pro hardcrashed then it is probably a hardware component. but i'll admit i do not know enough about systems to even know where the himem is loaded or if it could in fact be driver related?

please help me get my daughters computer up and running or at least figure which part to look at replacing

thank you

 

[Wolfsraider]

p-3 866
asus cusl2-c
512 sdram
matsushita cdrw
raite dvd
250 psu
40 gig maxtor downscaled due to troubleshooting after reinstall

specs

and win 98 / xp pro dual boot at time of first crash

 

[Woohah]

lol hardwareaddict...I've been having the same issue, where it runs fine but then dies unexpectedly and won't start.

Others have suggested that I scan the RAM for errors. I haven't yet, but I am assuming that it's to blame. Let me find the site that had a Ram diagnostic...It's called DocMemory

DocMem home

Let me know if you find anything fishy, I'm still diagnosing my problems with the same symptoms (no Himem, XMS stuff, etc)

XMS refers to memory, so it probably found a bad memory address and won't load the registry and therefore won't load.

Ever...!!! Ok maybenot, but you know what I mean

Yeehah

 

[Wolfsraider]

thanks Woohah,

will give this a shot and see.

will report back tommorow at latest as company coming from cali in 2 hours

again thank you forthe info

hope you get it figured out if i do i will report back

 

[Wolfsraider]

Woohah

my memory failed all but 1 test removed one module and failed but then smoke and bye bye mobo and ram so i guess problem solved lol


now to go do some research into p-3 motherboards ...

 

[Woohah]

Holy christ, that's crazy...

Do you have any idea what caused the problem? I would guess something foreign getting into the ram slot, eh?

--Woohah

 

[Wolfsraider]

nope believe it or not i think that its the cheap memory

as this is the second time that ive replaced mobo and ram on this computer and same thing is wrong on my p-3 500. all ram bought at the same place and the kicker is that two of my friends are suffering similar fates same ram same place:frown:

since it was the ram i left alone ( i didn't even bump it) and it was same burn as last time (i laid ram side by side) and this happened to me and my friends, all systems are similar but different only 2 items are the same sblive value and ram ?

i hope i am wrong but from now on getting my ram through more reliable sources and no more bargin basement 20.00 for 256mb ram (yea thats what i paid for it last year lol)

and something foreign getting into ram slot was not possible ram was seated less than 5 months and never removed i did remove the other ram was going to remove this one next?

but i think its a weak spot in the ram. as ram was failing

but thanks to the upgrade gods i get to renew again but what flavor for a p3 866?

ddr or sdram what mobo?

open to any and all upgrade options lol