I have a hardware / sofware problem, can you help

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by waxrebel, Mar 17, 2009.

  1. waxrebel

    waxrebel Member

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    Recently - a few months ago, my PC stopped working whilst I was using it. By not working I mean the picture disappeared from the monitor, although the monitors power was still on and the base unit was still running. Having phoned tech help I was told to remove the RAM sticks and reinsert and see if that works - it did. This has happened on two other occasions (a few months apart) and on both occassions I've removed and reinserted the RAM. I'm now beginning to doubt the problem is with the RAM. And I don't like to constantly open my system to remove and reinsert the RAM. I've run WINDIAG and that hasnt reported any problems - although I will conduct a more thorough test this weekend.

    Has anybody had the smae problem?
    Does anybody know what the problem is?
    Does anybody know how to resolve the problem?

    My system is running:

    Windows XP Home Edition
    AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core processor 4200+ 2.21 GHz
    1.00 GB of RAM

    Your help is very greatly appreciated. :)
     
  2. ferguj1

    ferguj1 Active member

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    Sounds like you may have a bad stick or sticks of RAM. I take it from your post that you have two sticks? If so then you can try removing one and running with the other and see if the problem persists, and then switch them around and try it that way. You can also download a memory test program to run diagnostics. One of the simplest that I have found is here: http://hcidesign.com/memtest/
    it is pretty straightforward. Give it a try and see what you come up with.
     
  3. waxrebel

    waxrebel Member

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    I've run WINDIAG which is pretty much the same thing as MEMTEST. No problems so far. Like I said I'll run a more thorough test soon.

    Also ive alternated the sticks of RAM and both stick work independantly of each other. I'm begining to think this may be a driver problem???
     
  4. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    What graphics card / chip do you have?
     
  5. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    i would lean to a motherboard problem or possibility a psu problem. any of the silver topped can shaped capacitors domed or leaking brown stuff on the motherboard?
     
  6. varnull

    varnull Guest

    could be no more than a badly seated graphics card.. especially as opening it up and wiggling things about clears the "fault"
     
  7. waxrebel

    waxrebel Member

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    Sammorris, I hav
    e an Nvidia GeForce 7300 LE 256MB 16x PCI Express Video Card
    DDP, nope there's nothing leaking onto the motherboard

    Thanks for the help, it's appreciated
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    reseat all cables to drives & motherboard. reseat all cards & ram on motherboard. try using 1 ram at a time to see if still have a problem.
     
  9. waxrebel

    waxrebel Member

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    Ok, so far i've reinstalled windows, all my drivers and updated the bios.

    I suppose I just have to wait and see if its made any difference. Thanks for your help guys, much appreciated!
     
  10. ferguj1

    ferguj1 Active member

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    Hope it all works out for you this time :)
     

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