hardware malfunction

[S. H. Cochran Jr]

The message 'hardware malfunction. Call Hardware vendor
for support. NMI parity check/memory parity error.
System halted.' appreared several months ago. We
replaced the harddrive as we were out of warranty about
two months. (Dell)

This same message has appeared twice since the harddrive
was replaced. Any ideas?

We are 'almost' computer illiterate!

Thanks for any help out there

Mary Cochran

[Matt DuBois [MSFT]]

This message refers to a parity error in your memory, not with the hard
drive. It could be a problem with the ram, with the motherboard, or
something else. It can be difficult to troubleshoot a problem like this,
which is why the error message suggests to contact the hardware vendor. If
you can't pin down a set of conditions (amount of run time, temperature,
certain operations running, etc) under which this happens, then you won't
know for sure if something you tried fixed the problem. The vendor has
diagnostic hardware and spare parts which are a big help, but if you are out
of warranty it could be expensive to get their assistance unless they have a
flat rate repair service or something of that nature.

If you want to try to keep poking at it yourselves, one place you can start
is with things that have changed since you got the machine from Dell. Did
you add any Ram? Did you start keeping the room where the server is a
little warmer? Are all the fans in the case working? Did you change the
location of the server, or place more things around it or on top of it? If
you can identify anything different, try eliminating that change (one item
at a time) and seeing if the problem reoccurs. It might be worth your time,
however, to give your Dell rep a call and find out what they have to say, or
search their support site at the least. It could be a known issue with the
hardware you have (in which case you wouldn't have to do any
troubleshooting), or maybe they might be flexible with you on the cost of
diagnosis and repair . . . you won't know for sure until you talk to them.

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.


"S. H. Cochran Jr" > wrote in message
...
> The message 'hardware malfunction. Call Hardware vendor
> for support. NMI parity check/memory parity error.
> System halted.' appreared several months ago. We
> replaced the harddrive as we were out of warranty about
> two months. (Dell)
>
> This same message has appeared twice since the harddrive
> was replaced. Any ideas?
>
> We are 'almost' computer illiterate!
>
> Thanks for any help out there
>
> Mary Cochran

[LVTravel]

The memory parity error sounds like it may be memory related.

Turn off the system, open the case. Ground yourself. Unseat and reseat the
memory in the computer. If the chips are standing straight up, press the
tabs at the end of each chip. The chip should come up. Lift it out. Don't
touch the gold or tin contacts. Check for discoloration. Gently blow any
dust out of the computer, making sure that the slots where the memory is
located is clean.

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can place a folded 3X5 card in the
slot and gently work it back and forth to clean the slot. Blow it out
again.

If the memory card has discoloration/dirt on the contacts, you can carefully
wipe them with a swab with "rubbing alcohol" on it. Let it thoroughly dry
before putting the chip/s back into the same slots they came from.

Now for the disclaimer! You do this at your own risk. While I have cleaned
the contacts this way many times and solved problems and not created any
problems in return, you can damage the motherboard and/or memory by
improperly removing or replacing memory or by roughly cleaning the board,
slots or chips.



"S. H. Cochran Jr" > wrote in message
...
> The message 'hardware malfunction. Call Hardware vendor
> for support. NMI parity check/memory parity error.
> System halted.' appreared several months ago. We
> replaced the harddrive as we were out of warranty about
> two months. (Dell)
>
> This same message has appeared twice since the harddrive
> was replaced. Any ideas?
>
> We are 'almost' computer illiterate!
>
> Thanks for any help out there
>
> Mary Cochran

[Amethyst]

S. H. Cochran Jr wrote:
> The message 'hardware malfunction. Call Hardware vendor
> for support. NMI parity check/memory parity error.
> System halted.' appreared several months ago. We
> replaced the harddrive as we were out of warranty about
> two months. (Dell)
>
> This same message has appeared twice since the harddrive
> was replaced. Any ideas?
>
> We are 'almost' computer illiterate!
>
> Thanks for any help out there
>
> Mary Cochran

I'm struggling to figure out why, when the error said you had a /MEMORY/
problem you replaced the /HARD DRIVE/? Add this to the fact that it's
happened /since/ you replaced the drive and that should be enough evidence
to tell you that perhaps the drive wasn't the problem? Memory has nothing to
do with the hard drive.

--
Cassandra
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