Memory Errors Encountered During Testing Starting on 2009-09-26

My wife's Windows XP Professional PC would boot into Windows, but whenever she logged on and tried to do anything, the system would reboot. I ran memory tests on the system with five free programs and two commercial programs.

Program	Version	Free	Errors Detected
Windows Memory Diagnostic	Beta 0.4	Yes	Yes
MemScope	1.10	Yes	Yes
QuickTech Pro	4.11	No	No
Memtest86+	1.70	Yes	No
Memtest86	3.3	Yes	No
DocMemory	3.1beta	Yes	No
#1-TuffTEST-Pro	3.53	No	No

September 26, 2009

Windows Memory Diagnostic Beta 0.4

I booted the system with a Windows Memory Diagnostic boot CD and left it run for a few hours. When I paused the test at "Pass: 4 Test: 3 of 6", I saw the following:

Results	Pass	Test	Cache	Address	Expected	Actual

465731995	4	LRAND	On	0e4ddff0	17f6d845	ec6872a6
465731996	4	LRAND	On	0e4ddff4	ea20cbff	d9a9397b
465731997	4	LRAND	On	0e4ddff8	6387763d	53677414
465731998	4	LRAND	On	0e4ddffc	3fb15fc5	2268f12b

I hit "M" to go to the menu, where I saw the following:

                                                  | Windows Memory Diagnostic

(1) View errors by memory module
(2) View errors by test
(3) View system information
(4) Advanced options
(5) About Windows Memory Diagnostic
(X) Return to the prevous menu

Enter selection> _

I chose "View errors by memory module" and saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found 465731998 errors. The error distribution
by memory module is:

    Bank ‘BANK0’:      Slot ‘DIMM0’:                 86801728
    Bank ‘BANK1’:      Slot ‘DIMM1':                 Not populated
    Bank ‘BANK2’:      Slot ‘DIMM2':                 378930270
    Bank ‘BANK3’:      Slot ‘DIMM3’:                 Not populated

When I chose "View errors by test", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found 465731998 errors. The error distribution
by test is:

    MATS+ (cache enabled)         0
    INVC                          0
    LRAND                         465731998
    Stride6 (cache enabled)       0
    WMATS+                        0
    WINVC                         0
    MATS+ (cache disabled)        0
    Stride38                      0
    Wstride6                      0
    ERAND                         0
    Stride6 (cache disabled)      0

The colors identify basic, standard, and extended tests.

When I chose "View system information", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found 465731998 errors. The error distribution
by memory module is:

    Bank ‘BANK0’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM0’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM 

    Bank ‘BANK1’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM1’:
	Not populated

    Bank ‘BANK2’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM2’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM 

    Bank ‘BANK3’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM3’:
	Not populated

When I chose "Advanced options", I saw the following:

                                                  | Windows Memory Diagnostic

(1) Change cache settings
(2) Change the memory map
(3) Change the test suite
(X) Return to the prevous menu

Enter selection> _

When I chose "About Windows Memory Diagnostic", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic v0.4

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation 2003. All rights reserved.

MemScope Version 1.10

I then rebooted the system with M2K MemScope Version 1.10 by Micro 2000, Inc.

M2K MemScope Version 1.10, by Micro 2000, Inc.

 Pass Counter:
        6
 Error Counter:
   133120

 Memory Detected: 1023M
     Test: 32-bit Shifting Data Test (7/8)
  Address: 00017000h - 40000000h
  Data:      0100000
 Test 75%:

Test     Pass     Failing Address     Expected     Actual     Xor Bits
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  6         0     0000009eec8         00040000     00044000   00004000
  6         0     0000009eecc         00080000     00088000   00008000
  6         0     0000009eed0         00100000     00110000   00010000
  6         0     0000009eed4         00200000     00220000   00020000
  6         0     0000009eed8         00400000     00440000   00040000
  6         0     0000009eedc         00800000     00880000   00080000
  6         0     0000009eee0         01000000     01100000   00100000
  6         0     0000009eee4         02000000     02200000   00200000
  6         0     0000009eee8         04000000     04400000   00400000
  6         0     0000009eeec         08000000     08800000   00800000
  6         0     0000009eef0         10000000     11000000   01000000
  6         0     0000009eef4         20000000     22000000   02000000
  6         0     0000009eef8         40000000     44000000   04000000
  6         0     0000009eefc         80000000     88000000   08000000

Press <M> for Main Menu or <ESCAPE> to Reboot

I hit "M" for the main menu. I then hit "2" for "Error Summary". I then saw the following:

Walking 1's Test (1/8)	- Errors:	0
Address Test (2/8)	- Errors:	0
All 1's and 0's Test (3/8)	- Errors:	0
8-bit Pattern Test (4/8)	- Errors:	0
Random Data Test (5/8)	- Errors:	0
Block Move Test (6/8)	- Errors:	0
32-bit Shifting Data Test (7/8)	- Errors:	134061
Random Data Sequence Test (8/8)	- Errors:	0

QuickTech Pro Version 4.11

I then booted the system with a QuickTech Pro version 4.11 boot CD and ran an extended memory test for 11 passes using that program. The program ran for several hours before completing the 11 passes. It did not detect any errors.

From	1 M
To	1024 M
Rfrsh Time	15 uSec
Data Width	64
Loops	11

Passed	11

Status	100.0000%

Memtest86+ v1.70

I then rebooted the system with an Ultimate Boot CD version 4.1.1 CD. Ultimate Boot CD provides free software for running diagnostics on a PC. It has several memory test programs. I started a test of the system with one of those, Memtest86+ v1.70. I left it run overnight for 12 hours. The program did not detect any errors.

      Memtest86+ v1.70      | Pass 75% ##############################
Pentium 4 (0.09) 3199 MHz   | Test 76% ###############################
L1 Cache:   16K 22367 MB/s  | Test #7 [Random number sequence]
L2 Cache: 1024K 19623MB/s   | Testing: 116K - 1024M 1023M
Memory  : 1023M  2840MB/s   | Pattern: fefffffff
Chipset : Intel i848/i865 (ECC : Disabled) - FSB : 199 MHz - PAT : Disabled
Settings: RAM : 199 MHz (DDR398) / CAS : 2.5-3-3-8 / Dual Channel (128 bits)

WallTime   Cached  RsvdMem   MemMap    Cache  ECC  Test  Pass  Errors  ECC Errs
--------   ------  -------   -------   -----  ---  ----  ----  ------  --------
12:00:01    1023M     352K   e820-Std    on   off   Std    37       0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(ESC)Reboot (c)configuration (SP)scroll_lock (CR)scroll_unlock

Memtest-86 v3.2

Since Memtest-86+ was derived from Memtest-86, I didn't expect Memtest to produce any diiferent results, but I rebooted from the Ultimate Boot CD and ran Memtest as well. I left it run for two hours. It didn't detect any errors.

      Memtest86 v3.3       | Pass 68% ###########################
Pentium 4 (0.09) 3199 MHz   | Test 60% ######################
L1 Cache:   16K 22367 MB/s  | Test #8 [Modulo 20, Random pattern]
L2 Cache: 1024K 19623MB/s   | Testing: 116K - 1024M 1023M
Memory  : 1023M  2840MB/s   | Pattern: 1b547bdf-8
Chipset : Intel i848/i865 (ECC : Disabled) - FSB : 199 MHz - PAT : Disabled
Settings: RAM : 199 MHz (DDR398) / CAS : 2.5-3-3-8 / Dual Channel (128 bits)

WallTime   Cached  RsvdMem   MemMap    Cache  ECC  Test  Pass  Errors  ECC Errs
--------   ------  -------   -------   -----  ---  ----  ----  ------  --------
 2:00:01    1023M     352K   e820-Std    on   off   Std     2       0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit

(ESC)exit (c)configuration (SP)scroll_lock (CR)scroll_unlock

DocMem RAM Diagnostic V3.1beta

I then rebooted from the Ultimate Boot CD again and ran another memory test from that CD, DocMem RAM Diagnostic V3.1beta. When I selected that test, the system froze. I had a boot CD with DocMemory Diagnostic V3.1beta on it, i.e. the same software, so I booted the system with that CD, instead. The test started successfully. I left it run for 1/2 hour with no problems found.

Test Loop # 1
 ** Loop # 1 : Pass

Test Loop # 2
 ** Loop # 2 : Pass

Test Loop # 3
 ** Loop # 3 : Pass

Test Loop # 4
 ** Loop # 4 : Pass

 Press <ESC> to abort testing
Error Counter: 0 

I replaced the two 512 MB memory modules in the system with two other 512 MB memory modules and ran another test with Windows Memory Diagnostic. It reported LRAND errors again. So I tested the power supply with a power supply tester. It reported the power supply was marginal. I replaced the power supply. I tested the new power supply with the power supply tester, which reported all of the power supply's voltages as normal.

October 4, 2009

I then put the two original memory modules in the system, so I had the two orginal ones plus the two new ones I had inserted for a total of 2 GB of memory.

Windows Memory Diagnostic Beta 0.4

I tested the system again with Windows Memory Diagnostic v0.4. I left the test run for several days. But, again, it reported LRAND memory errors. The test display was showing "Pass: 31 Test: 3 of 6" when I paused it on October 4, 2009 at approximately 10:50 A.M.

When I chose "View errors by memory module", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found 465731998 errors. The error distribution
by memory module is:

    Bank ‘BANK0’:      Slot ‘DIMM0’:                 305035982
    Bank ‘BANK1’:      Slot ‘DIMM1':                 711296450
    Bank ‘BANK2’:      Slot ‘DIMM2':                 1015019836
    Bank ‘BANK3’:      Slot ‘DIMM3’:                 1371409332

When I chose "View errors by test", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found -892205696 errors. The error distribution
by test is:

    MATS+ (cache enabled)         0
    INVC                          0
    LRAND                         -892205696
    Stride6 (cache enabled)       0
    WMATS+                        0
    WINVC                         0
    MATS+ (cache disabled)        0
    Stride38                      0
    Wstride6                      0
    ERAND                         0
    Stride6 (cache disabled)      0

The colors identify basic, standard, and extended tests.

When I chose "View system information", I saw the following:

(PGUP/PGDN) Scroll (X) Exit                       | Windows Memory Diagnostic

Windows Memory Diagnostic found 465731998 errors. The error distribution
by memory module is:

    Bank ‘BANK0’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM0’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM 

    Bank ‘BANK1’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM1’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM 

    Bank ‘BANK2’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM2’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM 

    Bank ‘BANK3’: 
      Slot ‘DIMM3’:
	Type: 512 MB DDR SDRAM DIMM

MemScope Version 1.10

I then rebooted the system with an M2K MemScope Version 1.10 boot CD and started a memory test with at approximately 11:07 A.M. When I stopped the test at 5:43 P.M., no errors had been detected.

M2K MemScope Version 1.10, by Micro 2000, Inc.

 Pass Counter:
       12
 Error Counter:
        0

 Memory Detected: 2047M
     Test: Random Data Sequence Test (8/8)
  Address: 00017000h - 80000000h
  Data:      273d6380
 Test 57%:

Test     Pass     Failing Address     Expected     Actual     Xor Bits
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Press <M> for Main Menu or <ESCAPE> to Reboot

DocMemory Diagnostic V3.1beta

I then rebooted the system and tested it with DocMemory Diagnostic V3.1beta at 5:45 P.M. I let it complete two passes with no errors found when I stopped it at 6:25 P.M.

Test Loop # 1
 ** Loop # 1 : Pass

Test Loop # 2
 ** Loop # 2 : Pass

Test Loop # 3
 ** Loop # 3

 Press <ESC> to abort testing
Error Counter: 0 

I attempted to reboot the system into Windows. The system displayed the Windows logo during the boot process, but froze.

#1-TuffTEST-Pro 3.53

I rebooted the PC with a #1-TuffTEST-Pro 3.53 CD and ran an "Extended Memory Test (1Mb and above)". From the "Extended Memory Menu", I chose the "Extensive Extended Memory Test". I ran the test for about 45 minutes and 11 passes with no errors found.


 EXTENSIVE TEST     TEST RANGE 00100000-7FFFFFFF    PASS   11



MEMORY TEST         RESULT              ERROR CODE       ADDRESS



ALLZEROS            Passed
ALLONES             Passed
CHECKERBOARD        Passed
ADDRESS             Passed
MARCHING ONES       Passed
WALKING ONES        Testing

QuickTech Pro 4.11

I ran 3 passes of QuickTech Pro 4.11. It didn't find any errors.

From	1 M
To	2048 M
Rfrsh Time	15 uSec
Data Width	64
Loops	51
Current	4
Passed	3

October 8, 2009

PC-DIAG Pro v1.3.21

I ran a test with PC-DIAG Pro v1.3.21 a couple of days ago. I had configured the program to run a test on memory for 10 passes and to stop the test on encountering any errors. It stopped at the "Random block test" on "Step 9 of 10". On October 8, I repeated the test, but with the program configured to run for 11 passes. It stoped on "Step 9 of 11" at the "Random block test" again.

Test Group: Memory
Test Name: Random block test
Step 9 of 11








Address test............................Passed
Bit stuck test..........................Passed
Checkboard test.........................Passed
Inverted checkerboard test..............Passed
Pattern test............................Passed
Flood 0s test...........................Passed
Flood 1s test...........................Passed
Fuzzy 0s test...........................Passed
Fuzzy 1s test...........................Passed
Random block test.......................Passed

References:

Windows Memory Diagnostic
Microsoft Corporation
M2K MemScope Memory Testing
Micro 2000 Ltd.
Memtest86+ - An Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
#1TuffTEST-Pro
#1-PC Diagnostics Company/Windsor Technologies, Inc.
Beginners Guides: Diagnosing Bad Memory
PCStats
Fast Accurate Memory Test Suite
By Michael Barr
Date: July 2000
Netriono - The Embedded Systems Experts