BSOD Memory Management

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 10:07

So after a few days of playing Morrowind on my new computer (windows 7), it's completely fucked. Now my computer is constantly restarting, giving the blue screen of death with "Memory Management" on it. Sometimes I can start the computer up and use it for a few minutes before it restatrts itself, but I can't seem to make any progress past that. Half the time it won't even let me launch Startup Repair, kicking me back in a loop to the Startup Repair menu. Or sometimes it'll just blue screen/reboot quickly while it's starting windows.

I'm really at my wits end with how to fix this, should I just reformat?

**Isiolia** · 2011-01-03 10:31

Sounds like you have a bad DIMM, unless you're running something outside of spec.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 11:48

now it's giving me errors like PFN_LIST_CORRUPT and DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

any ideas? Time to reformat?

**Cheerios** · 2011-01-03 12:03

Have you tried to run memtest on startup?

http://www.memtest.org/

You don't have to run it very long to see if your RAM is shitting the bed. 10-15 minutes should be sufficient.

It should tell you which specific ram slot is giving you errors if your ram is at fault. If there is a faulty module, sometimes just cleaning the connectors or re-inserting that specific card will "fix" the problem. You can also try to underclock your voltages and speeds.

If the memory is the thing that's really at fault, then reformatting isn't going to do you much good.

**Crowort** · 2011-01-03 12:10

It sounds a lot like a ram problem, again a format will do nothing if that is the cause. Cheerios is right and the best way to test this is memtest.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 12:12

Im not sure if I can get the pc to run long enough for that lol

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 12:15

besides I think I need to reformat anyway because what I thought was a cracked version of Windows 7 is telling me I may have counterfeit software now

**Cheerios** · 2011-01-03 12:16

Can't get it to run long enough to install the program on a flash drive/cd? You can try to use the memory management from the Windows DVD, but I'd suggest finding a way to get memtest.

Is there another PC you can use to get the program?

**Deadgye** · 2011-01-03 12:17

A cracked version of windows is counterfeit software.

**Cheerios** · 2011-01-03 12:20

Perhaps the uploader improperly cracked/patched it, so counterfeit counterfeit.

Or it could just be faulty memory playing mind games with you.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 12:38

I just tried to burn another windows dvd and boot from that but it's not letting me do it. I go into the boot menu from my mobo's home screen thing, then try to boot from a dvd drive, it goes through "Loading files" and then comes up with the following:

File: \windows\system32\boot\winload.exe
Status: 0xc0000221
Info: The file is possibly corrupt. Its header checksum does not match the computed checksum

does that mean the dvd i'm trying to boot from is fucked, or just my pc?

edit: nvm I used the disc I originally installed from and got a similar error:

File: \windows\system32\config\system
Status: 0xc0000001
Info: Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing, or corrupt.

I was able to run Windows Memory Diagnostic and it's telling me there's a hardware problem. So I guess my memory is fucked? What are the chances I just need to clean it and reinsert?

**Isiolia** · 2011-01-03 13:19

Try reseating it/etc and see. I'd say fairly low, usually with that sort of issue it'd hang the machine on startup, not try to boot the OS, but you never know.

Since you said it was your new machine, I'd assume that it's new enough that the memory should still be under warranty anyway.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 15:18

it's not, it's past the 30 days. It definitely doesnt hang on startup, it actually usually boots all the way to the windows login or sometimes lets me get to the desktop and even start using programs, then reboots randomly. I'd really like to try reformatting but is it possible that a memory problem is keeping me from booting from the install dvd?

**sruon** · 2011-01-03 15:34

I'd really like to try reformatting but is it possible that a memory problem is keeping me from booting from the install dvd?

From past experience, definitly yes.

What kind of RAM is it anyway? Most semi-serious RAM manufacturers have lifetime warranties, and I'm sure there is at least a 1 year warranty rule for about everything.

**Isiolia** · 2011-01-03 15:34

I'd really like to try reformatting but is it possible that a memory problem is keeping me from booting from the install dvd?

Yes.

A couple machines ago, I had basically the same problem. When I initially built it, I had a few file transfer errors when installing Windows, but otherwise didn't have issues with the machine. Chalked it up to disc/DVD drive issues. Around 6 months or so later, I clicked a file to open it...and the machine bluescreened. After that, it started bluescreening on startup. I tried to reformat, got errors with file transfers again. I thought HDD, so I bought a new one, and -still- had the problems. It was only then that I bothered to do a RAM check, which started showing bad modules almost immediately.
I've since seen RAM problems exhibit similar results at work too. Bad RAM, if it doesn't halt the system immediately, will result in odd/flakey behavior.

I would pull the RAM and/or swap it first and see how things go before reformatting. You know, at the very least, that the RAM is a problem (or the settings, if you're overclocking it). Resolve that and then see if it works, 'cause chances are it'll be fine once you do.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 15:38

regarding autoclocking, I didn't turn it on via the BIOS menu for my motherboard, but it's currently listed at "Auto" (only other choice is "manual"). Is there a way to turn off the overclocking completely or make sure it's not enabled?

edit: here's what it says on the OC menu:

Spoiler: show

If I set it to manual it ungrays a bunch of stuff but I'm afraid to fiddle with it. I can't even tell if it's currently overclocking with the default settings or not.

**Cheerios** · 2011-01-03 15:45

Corrupt memory may prevent you from installing files reliably onto your hard drive, so you need to be sure that the memory is safe to work with first.

Can you tell us what kind of memory you have; brand, speed, etc. 1.5 volts seems pretty low for DDR2.

You still should test your ram by just removing a stick at a time. Even if you end up with only 1 gb that works, it's still better to have a stable PC for the time being.

**Isiolia** · 2011-01-03 15:49

Modern RAM has a chip on it (SPD) that tells the motherboard what to run it at. If it's on Auto, then it's not overclocked. If anything, it's probably running below what it's capable of, since most automatic settings are very conservative.

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 15:50

also I finally was able to restart in Safe Mode and it works fine. I'm backing up my files and then Ill try pulling/resetting the memory, then I guess I'll order some new sticks

**Atreides** · 2011-01-03 15:58

this is the memory I currently have:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=20-231-180

Thread: BSOD Memory Management

Thread Tools

BSOD Memory Management

Latest Threads

Up & Coming Threads

Hottest Threads