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Old March 27th 20, 04:29 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10
n/a
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Default Windows 10 BSOD indicates a hardware problem - but what hardware is the problem?

"Arlen Holder" wrote in message ...

On Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:48:27 -0400, n/a wrote:

When running memory tests and using your numbering of the modules
(1,2,3,4
left to right) you should use two modules that are in the same channel.
i.e. 1 & 3, or 2 & 4 when testing individual channels.


Now that's interesting! I didn't realize that.
Did I do it wrong by not "staggering" the memory in odd or even slots?

Here's what I can tell you from _emperical_ evidence only!
o Originally, there were four 4GB memory cards in the four slots
https://i.postimg.cc/y6bKSHPB/bsod23.jpg
o The two left slots are black, the two right slots are blue.
https://i.postimg.cc/L4ZfrHh0/bsod22.jpg
o I pulled out the two adjacent blue slot cards:
https://i.postimg.cc/J0G9Qp8t/bsod28.jpg
o And the POST message claimed those were memory banks 3 & 4:
https://i.postimg.cc/bY4t9dHw/bsod29.jpg

The slots are color
coded - or should be but if not just use the above. MemTest86 will tell
you
what is what.


I need to find a sacrificial flash drive to install the MemTest86 ISO on.
o Meanwhile, the PC has been running for about 20 hours, which is a record.

If it ran all night without errors using the Windows memory test then I
would stuff all the memory back in and run MemTest86 and see how it
fails.
You really can have intermittent bits only when all 4 memory modules are
in
place - I know that for fact. The tests used in MemTest86 fully exercise
the memory sticks according to testing standards which are explained on
their site and they have years of experience. Never been refused a
warranty
claim when I've run MemTest86 according to the sites instructions.


OK. Given I have _never_ run MemTest86 and you have been successful, what
I'll do is what you suggest, which is re-populate the PC with all four
memory cards, and then run the MemTest86 once I find a spare flash card to
install the ISO on.

I'm shocked that the PC hasn't failed in the past 20 hours since it
wouldn't last an hour before I removed half the memory.

So test all 4 sticks, then 2 sticks in slots 1 & 3, then remove those and
put the remaining sticks into slots 2 & 4 noting the results.


I'll do exactly that:
a. I'll find a spare flash card to put the Memtest86 iso on.
b. I'll run Memtest86 with all four memory cards.
c. I'll run Memtest86 with slots 1 & 3 (the 1st blue, the 1st black slot).
d. I'll run Memtest86 with slots 2 & 4 (the 2nd blue, the 2nd black slot).

That
maintains the original sequence they were in to begin with and if there
are
really intermittent failures, the "Hammer Test" as it's called, will find
them best when all 4 sticks are installed.


Thank you for this advice to run the memtest86 and to run it first on all
four to find the intermittences, if any.

Your memory has a limited lifetime warranty
https://info.patriotmemory.com/warra...ametechlab.com


Thanks for looking that up, as I've never even pulled a memory card out of
its slot in more than a decade or two (or so).

It doesn't seem to have an expiry date for that "limited lifetime" where I
got the desktop with the memory already inside of it at that time (many
years ago).


Arlen,

I see in the photo you posted that the memory slots are color coded black
and blue with 2 of each, side-by-side. So Channel A would be the first blue
slot and the first black slot reading right to left. Your DIMM's have a
label on the motherboard showing left to right numbering of 4, 3, 2, 1. So
channel A consists of two slots, number 1 and 3. Channel B slots are 2 and
4. Saying it another way - to test a pair in dual channel mode you fill
slot(s) 1 and 3 and/or slots 2 and 4 --- and not 1 and 2 and/or 3 and 4.
Hope that didn't make it confusing. But no matter, fill all the slots and
go with MemTest86.

With no errors in 24 hrs with only 2 sticks of memory, that sure is a good
sign - but of what, is yet to be discovered. You could move the same two
sticks over to the empty slots and run 24 hrs and see what blows up - if
anything. But to nail it down, install all memory and run MemTest86 as per
the instructions. Don't get creative and think you know the software better
than the authors - it will only waste your time. And you want to be able to
send the log to the manufacturer so they know what the failures are - for
warranty.

It is most likely a bad stick or two of memory but it could be a cold solder
joint on one of the memory slots pins that goes intermittent - fan
vibration, etc. So do the tests thoroughly to make sure you have nailed
down the memory module/s that are failing. As you've already seen, Win10
memory test isn't of much value for some types of failures. Once you test
all the memory, the test results will show you what is bad. So while
testing with MemTest86 lightly tap on each memory stick to see if you can
aggravate anything to narrow down a failing slot connector or solder joint.

On some of the tests (made up scenario) you can have an intermittent bit 17
but bits 16 and 18 may also show as failures and on the next test while bit
17 shows good. That Hammer Test is probably the best test. I think that is
like Test 13 in the queue but if it finds something, your screen will light
up with red lines of text telling you what it found ***or*** it will come to
a complete halt. If it just halts after a failure, good chance it didn't
save the log so take a photo of the screen.

Do yourself a favor and vacuum the CPU heat sink - I see some dust....;-)
Also, while you are looking at the innards, look very closely at all the
capacitors on the motherboard. The tops of each should be flat especially
those with the X indent on the top. Any bulging in the top or sides = bad
cap. Look at the area around the bottom of each to see if there are any
signs of leakage (brownish colored goop). If you find any bad ones, you can
replace them if you know how to handle a soldering iron - otherwise, think
about a new motherboard.
--

Bob S

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