What went wrong?

[Nix]

Hey,

Earlier today I was browsing the forums and my computer decided to BSoD on me. The error code looked like the familiar string which you're presented with when the RAM is acting up.

I've tried rebooting the computer only to get to the Windows loading screen before it restarts again. The fact that Windows begins to boot, and I can hear my harddrive running suggests that it isn't corrupt nor is the motherboard or PSU unit to blame.

Is there any software I can use to diagnose the problem in DOS?

Am I correct in assuming that this is probably a RAM fault?

TIA.

 

[Nix]

Hey,

I'm currently running XP home, and I've tried booting up into Safe Mode(s) but the result is the same. As soon as Windows gets to the loading screen, the computer restarts.

The problem is I'm heavily out of pocket at the moment as I've just finished university and was actually using the computer to apply for jobs. Thus, I'm not too pleased with the timing as the computer has all of my CVs, covering letters, and university work, etc. on there and I don't particularly wish to go ripping apart the family computer (one I'm on now) just to test the hardware.

Unfortunately, I don't really have the money to buy any new RAM at the moment either.

 

[Nix]

like J.B said, have you tried 1 stick to see if it helps, try 1 stick in each slot, if it fails in each slot, try the other stick in the slots....if it still continues to fail ull know its not RAM

Sorry, forgot to say. I've only got the one stick (seriously lack of funds since being a student). I've tried it in all four slots but the result is the same.

I haven't got another stick to test it with.

 

[Nix]

Right, so I was playing around with this again trying to see if I could figure out what's wrong. I plugged in my old hard-drive and set it to boot first with the main hard-drive second in BIOS.

Windows decided to load this time, and I was taken to a chkdisk screen where after a scan I was informed that certain sections of the original hard-drive could not be read.

So, I guess that means the hard-drive is on its way out. Once I find my Windows disk, I'll try repairing it but I'm not holding out much hope.

The only question I have is this: Do you think the hard-drive was dying or that the RAM is partly responsible? After having similar RAM (given by a friend from an old rackmount) it corrupted one hard-drive already. I gave the RAM back, told him the problem and he replaced it with new RAM and hard-drive. This is the hard-drive which has just died.