It's the RAM

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15 January 2006

Bloody computer started restarting randomly again. Same behaviour as before. At the suggestion of a few people, I checked my RAM. I did a memory test, took out my RAM modules one by one, checked each one, swapped sockets, etc. Near as I can figure, one of my RAM sticks is bad. It failed nearly all the tests on every pass. The other one had no errors on every pass. My computer friend agrees.

I'm operating on a mere 512 MB, until I get a new stick. It's not so bad. At least I can still play all the games I have.

Now the question is whether the problem is only the RAM, or whether the card is also being weird, and the RAM crap was masking an additional problem. I will have to see whether there are problems operating on the good stick of RAM.

Tagged: computer problems, ram problems

15:57 | Permalink | E-mail this post

Probably just bad RAM - it'd be a bit of a coincidence to have 2 things fail at once. Luckily, RAM is pretty cheap these days. Good to hear you found the problem!

Posted by Anonymous | 16 January, 2006 11:01

What RAM is it?

RAM is cheaper today, but I wouldn't claim it cheap unless you buy the cheap RAM... which is just begging for problems.

Posted by Anonymous | 17 January, 2006 20:28

Erm. "Micron"? Specifically: Micron 1GB (2x512MB) Dual Channel PC3200 400MHz DDR

I have little clue as to what is good or bad... :-/ I just followed the advice of one of my friends, who is knowledgeable in these things, though I am learning a lot as I go along.

The remaining RAM seems to be holding up. No problems so far, except a minor incident when my wireless signal dropped for a moment and I got disconnected from the Guild Wars server.

Posted by Anonymous | 18 January, 2006 09:24