MASSIVE system failure! Can't even load Windows anymore

[Sulaco]

Hey guys,

Just a quick run down of my system(in sig):

I have my main XP partition loaded on the 200Gb Seagate, but also have a Windows Vista install on a seperate 100Gb drive. Both have been working just fine for weeks now using a dual-boot.

The problem: Tonight, I installed a new LCD monitor, logged into XP, and played around online and with a few games for several hours. I install Medieval II Total War on my XP partition (my main game drive), and start up a game. About 20 minutes or so in, the entire system just reboots suddenly. I'm now back at the dual-boot screen, to choose which OS to load (Vista or XP), and I choose XP. The Windows logo appears and it looks like it's loading, then the machine reboots again. Now I'm worrying. So I try to load my Vista partition. The exact same thing happens.
I try safe mode for BOTH partitions, nothing works. I try to "Load last known good config" for BOTH partitions, nothing works. I try "Reparing" a Windows install for both, and again, nothing works. The system either hangs, I get random error (blue screen) messages, or the computer restarts. This goes on for over 3 hours, and I'm nearing my wits end. I try every last trick I know, and not once am I able to load either version of Windows on either HDD.

Out of sheer desperation, I load up the Windows XP setup CD and decide to format both partitions and just reinstall Windows fresh. It allows me to do that, but encounters various problems while actually installing the OS (saying practically every other file "cannot be found on the install disk")
I try the same thing with the Vista install disk, and I get various "STOP" errors (BAD_POOL_HEADER) and BSODs.

Basically, I have not been able to load Windows normally, in safe mode, with last known good config, repair install, FRESH install/format, NOTHING for EITHER hard drive! I'm quite literally out of options as far as I can tell.

I have absolutely NO idea what could be going on here....BOTH HDDs crashing like this at once? Neither able to be repaired or even reinstall the OS? I've had crashes before, but never anything a format/reinstall couldn't fix.
Does anyone have ANY idea what the heck is going on with my system? Does ANYTHING make sense here? A hardware failure of some sort? Anything make sense? RAM Maybe?

Please, if you have any ideas, don't hesitate to post, and I'll do my best to answer any questions about the situation if it helps.

Please help!

 

[hjo3]

Run MemTest and HDD diagnostics (can be downloaded from mfr's web site).

 

[Lanyap]

Sounds like RAM to me. Memtest should confirm. Try reseating RAM several times. If that does not work and if you have multiple RAM sticks, remove one at a time until you find the bad stick.

 

[Sulaco]

Thanks guys...but I can't even log into Windows on either HDD. Can Memtest run in the DOS prompt?

Thanks guys!

 

[moosey]

You'll need to make a Memtest boot CD off another PC.

 

[Sulaco]

Ok, I went ahead and made a bootable floppy with Memtest on it.

Loaded it up on my main machine, and it seems to have found a huge number of errors. Are there any particular errors or error warning that I should be paying the most attention to? In other words, are they ALL potential system ruiners?

I can provide anyone with the individual error reports if they want...but is it safe to assume then that all these problems (lock-up, crash, restart, and unable to install/repair windows) would be caused by bad RAM?

By the way, my RAM is just over a year old....can RAM really fail in that amount of time?

Thanks again guys!

 

[hjo3]

Originally posted by: Sulaco
Ok, I went ahead and made a bootable floppy with Memtest on it.

Loaded it up on my main machine, and it seems to have found a huge number of errors. Are there any particular errors or error warning that I should be paying the most attention to? In other words, are they ALL potential system ruiners?

If you get ANY errors at all, you need to replace your RAM. If you have mutliple sticks, try testing each individually -- most likely, only one stick has gone bad. (There's a small chance it could be your memory controller, but that's pretty rare.)

Most likely, all the problems you've been experiencing are caused by bad RAM alone. Since your RAM is pretty new, you might have some sort of warranty covering it; if that's the case, you should be able to get a replacement from the mfr for free (or free plus shipping costs).

 

[Sulaco]

Thank you very much for the reply. I'll go ahead and try swapping the sticks around.

 

[Sulaco]

Alright, well, I went ahead and tried swapping RAM sticks out. With both sticks in, it would not even let me install windows (gave a random error), and would reboot at random intervals. I took the second stick out (DIMM 2), and sure enough, everything seemed to work just fine. The Windows install screen loaded and went through the motions just fine.
I tried swapping the second stick to all the empty DIMMs, and nothing would work with it in. As a final test, I removed the good stick from DIMM 1 and inserted the faulty stick, just to make sure. Sure enough, it gave me problems right away.

So it seems the problem was my second stick of RAM, and I'll be looking at Newegg and elsewhere tonight for other 2gb bundles of RAM.
My question is: Since I know what the problem is now, I'd like to go ahead and install Windows again with my 1 working gig of RAM while waiting for my new set to arrive. Will it be fine to just swap out the old stick of RAM with an exsisting install of Windows present? I wouldn't need to reformat for new RAM would I?

I wouldn't think so, but I just don't want any more problems.

 

[dyn2nvu]

You'll be fine, the bios and windows should recognize the new ram modules automatically.

 

[MiamiJones]

I have the same issue!! Funny thing is it seem to happen after I installed VISTA!!! Anyone think Vista is memory killer!!! My sys was fine before I dual booted it !!!

 

[Puffnstuff]

Vista is more memory intensive so if you had problems that weren't exposed before vista will bring them to the front for you. Vista exposed a bad stick of corsair that I had by flaking out at random. Memtest found the bad addresses for me.