Help with Random Crashes

[mondobyte]

I've had this Shuttle MN31N running as my web server for years without much problems ... about every two months or so it locks up and I have to push the reset button. Other than the lock-ups it has been running OK. OS is Windows 2000 Server.

Shuttle MN31N
3x256Mb Golden Dragon Value PC3200 (2.5 4-4-8)
Athlon XP2400+ (Tbred B)
Adaptec AHA-2940U2W
Compaq NC3122 Dual NIC
350W SFX PSU ...

I finally decided it was time to convert it over to Windows 2003 Server Std. System very unstable. Randomly reboots on almost any activity ... I did notice a bit of ripple in the video (kind of like interference) so I had thoughts it might be the PSU but all testing and monitoring say the PSU is OK.

I swapped out memory ... no change ...

I ran Microsoft Diagnostic memory check ... runs clean until about pass 22 then it starts giving errors on ERAND (Random Read/Write) but all at the same double byte addresses ... so I swapped out the memory and replaced all with known good memory ... same situation ... same addresses ... switched the memory in the slots ... same addresses ...

There are also aberrations in the video screen (all the capital S are hosed as are a block of characters in the lower middle of the screen -- odd colors, odd characters) when the errors start being reported.

Questions:
1. Why can it go 15 or so passes with no memory errors (on the detailed memory analysis) ??? and then start throwing errors ever pass (that is something like 16 or 18 hours before the errors show??)
2. Ambient temperature is about 70F and internal case ambient is about 27C ... CPU is running very cool too -- 37C

3. So now it begs the question ... Is this a motherboard problem, a processor problem, a power supply problem, a thermal problem, ====>> What ?

Any suggestions on what the root cause of this situation is ???

Thanks

mondo

 

[T3C]

mondobyte,

After reading all that you have done, and with my own exprince in dealing with problems like these. I want to say that it is probably a mainboard problem. I really doubt that this is a processor issue.
BUT before you go to far, Have you tried installing 2000 server on a spare drive and running the machine with that OS again to see if the problems clear up? I would try that first before you start dumping money into it. I mean it could be a cowincidence that the problems started when you put 2003 on it but you never know.

Post what you end up finding with it!

-T3C

 

[mondobyte]

[Follow Up]
I pulled all cards and drives except the floppy (LS120) ... ran memory test for about 20 hours ... all 3 sticks tested bad per Microsoft Memory Diagnostics.
I loaded the same 3 sticks into a presumed OK machine ... 20 hours later ... no errors

That machine is still running perfectly with the swapped memory ... I can presume that the memory is perfect and not the problem ...

Next step is to swap the processor and see if it possibly could be the processor. Will update this in another day with the results.

I have ordered a new PSU, socket 939 motherboard, and an inexpensive Athlon 64 processor (3200+ Venus).

If the previous processor swap shows failed memory ... the next test will be to replace the PSU and retest. That will rule out all components with the exception of the motherboard.

Why continue to test? Enquiring minds still want to know exactly what has failed and, more importantly, why.

[/Follow Up]