Have I got a failing HD drive

[Ray]

Well it looks as though I could have 2 memory modules with faults this is what Memtest has come up with after 2 full passes and still running: -


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[Inactive]

Crucially that looks like bad news Ray, still easier to cure than a Hard Drive.

[Sebby]

[Glenn]

Certainly looks like 2 bad modules

[Inactive]

Don't go ballistix at them when you send it back.

[Ray]

Certainly looks like 2 bad modules

Certainly looks like it, Glenn, I've removed the 2 modules with the errors and started a retest it has done 3 complete passes and is half way through the 4th with no errors found.
The other 2 will be on their way back to Crucial as soon as I get an RMA number as all the memory modules are barely 4 months old.

[esh]

That's pretty lousy luck - 2 dead modules

I've never actually had memory go bad, but I've had a memory *controller* go bad.

I usually characterise hard drive failures with very slow response times, Windows CRC errors, and occasionally the dreaded 'Operating System not found'. RAM errors are always more random, as seen here I think. Good luck getting it sorted.

[Ray]

That's pretty lousy luck - 2 dead modules

I've never actually had memory go bad, but I've had a memory *controller* go bad.

I usually characterise hard drive failures with very slow response times, Windows CRC errors, and occasionally the dreaded 'Operating System not found'. RAM errors are always more random, as seen here I think. Good luck getting it sorted.

Thanks, Esh, It's the first time I've ever had memory failures but it looks like they were the source of my problems. After removing them and doing a 3 hour Memtest run on the 2 remaining modules with no errors being found the PC has been running for nearly 4 hours now with nothing untoward happening. 

[Simon]

It's the first time I've ever had memory failures but it looks like they were the source of my problems...

I know the feeling well, Ray.  Now, where the hell are those keys?!! 

Glad it seems to be sorted though, and it could have been worse! 

[Ray]

I know the feeling well, Ray.  Now, where the hell are those keys?!! 

Glad it seems to be sorted though, and it could have been worse! 

Keys what keys? 

Thanks, Simon, I was starting to get somewhat concerned though, fortunately everything except the case is only about 4 to 5 months old and still under warranty, but it can be tricky working out exactly which components are at fault though. 

[Simon]

Indeed.  Well done! 

[Inactive]

Glad you got to the root of the problem and are able to sort it Ray....

[Rik]

Another truly memorable thread. Well done, Ray. 

[Ray]

Another truly memorable thread. Well done, Ray. 

Thank you, Rik, it's still working OK I'm just waiting for an RMA number from Crucial now so I can return the faulty ones for replacement. 

[Rik]

Let's hope they don't keep you hanging on. 

[Ray]

Let's hope they don't keep you hanging on. 

Hopefully not, Rik, though the weekend may delay things a bit, I'm not desperate for them as the mc is running well on 2Gb. 

[Rik]

I take it the drive is now behaving, Ray?

[Ray]

I take it the drive is now behaving, Ray?

Seems to be, Rik, though I'm still using it as an external, haven't risked putting it back as the boot drive yet. 

[Rik]

I know how you feel, once uncertainties creep in, it's hard to rely on something.

[Ray]

I know how you feel, once uncertainties creep in, it's hard to rely on something.

Very true, Rik, you've always got that nagging doubt at the back of your mind. I might risk sticking it in the server as it wouldn't be a problem if it fails there as it keeps multiple copies of files spread over all the disks and if I add that one it will have 4 HDs in it. 

[Rik]

Sounds like a good idea, Ray.

Just thinking aloud, it's a sign of how computing has changed, that we've gone having a computer, to having multiple computers, to having a peer-to-peer network, to having a client/server network in just a few years.

[Ray]

Sounds like a good idea, Ray.

Just thinking aloud, it's a sign of how computing has changed, that we've gone having a computer, to having multiple computers, to having a peer-to-peer network, to having a client/server network in just a few years.

It certainly has, Rik, I can remember my first PC that I bought in 1991 an Amstrad with msdos and a 40mb hd. 

Well the hd is now installed in the server with no problems so far. 

[Rik]

Chances are it's going to be fine, Ray.

I wonder how many planning applications for computer rooms will be made in years to come?

[Ray]

Just got my rma number from Crucial and it looks from their reply that as the memory modules were supplied as matched pairs I've got to return all of them, there is a faulty one from each pair.

Looks like the laptop will be getting a fair bit of use for a few days.

[Rik]

Typical - otoh, if you'd mixed the pairs, could that have caused the problem, Ray?