Computers Faulty Ram?

Quesadilla Joe · 03-14-2009, 07:01 PM

I have seen some of you guys make some recommendations to people with computer problems and was wondering what you guys think...

Whenever I go to turn the computer on it has a problem starting up on Windows. Most of the time I get this error message on startup "Disc Boot Error Insert System Disk And Press Enter"

Other times it goes to the XP loading screen but it doesn't load and the progress bar goes on endlessly.

I also have gotten a few blue screens.

Eventually Windows will come up after 5-10 tries and after Windows starts everything is fine for the rest of the day...

I have went into safe mode and ran virus scans with AVG and Malwarebytes and they didn't find anything. Anyone have any idea of whats wrong with this thing?

**DaFace** · 03-14-2009, 07:23 PM

Are all of your problems on startup, or do you get frequent blue-screens while you're using it normally? Typically, RAM issues will cause problems all over the place - not just on startup.

Are you able to start up in safe mode consistently without problems? If so, I'd think it's something program or corrupted file that is the culprit rather than RAM. Or maybe a hard drive with minor issues that's causing read errors.

Quesadilla Joe · 03-14-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

Are all of your problems on startup, or do you get frequent blue-screens while you're using it normally? Typically, RAM issues will cause problems all over the place - not just on startup.

Are you able to start up in safe mode consistently without problems? If so, I'd think it's something program or corrupted file that is the culprit rather than RAM. Or maybe a hard drive with minor issues that's causing read errors.

I don't have any problems after Windows loads. Starting safe mode is no problem either.

I have gotten an error message once or twice in the past 2 months saying one of my files is corrupt.

I don't remember which file it said was corrupt though.

**DaFace** · 03-14-2009, 07:32 PM

I would probably say to run a full hard drive scan to see if there are any corrupt sectors. You can technically do that by getting properties on the drive, then tools, then run the scan, making sure to check the box that says "check for bad sectors". However, if you have a Windows installation disk, it's better to startup to the disk, go to the repair/recovery console when it asks, and running "chkdsk /r" from the command prompt. That will scan for issues with the drive and repair them if necessary.

If that doesn't fix it, you might try running "sfc /scannow" while booted into safe mode from the command prompt. That will scan for all the possible system files that are screwy and replace them if necessary.

If THAT doesn't work, you could look into RAM, but it's harder to test so I'd hit the other two first.

Quesadilla Joe · 03-14-2009, 07:35 PM

Can I run the Windows installation disk while Windows is on? Sorry I'm kind of dumb with computers.

**DaFace** · 03-14-2009, 07:56 PM

Nope. You'd need to start your computer with the disk in the drive. Ideally, it will boot up to the disk on its own. (You may have to hit a key to confirm that's what you want it to do.) If not, it gets a lot more complicated and you may want to try the version through my computer first.

Here are general instructions to get to it:

http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/chkdsk.htm

**DaFace** · 03-14-2009, 08:04 PM

Oh, by the way, no matter how ya do it, it's gonna take a while (could be hours), so make sure and do it when you don't need to be on your computer for a while.

Quesadilla Joe · 03-14-2009, 08:06 PM

Thanks a lot DaFace.

"Bob" Dobbs · 03-14-2009, 08:31 PM

FWIW, it DEFINATELY sounds like a flaky hard disk to me.

htismaqe · 03-15-2009, 05:34 AM

First, rule out your RAM.

Do you have a 3.5" floppy drive? If so, load this program onto a disk, pop it in, and reboot. http://www.memtest.org/

It will automatically boot into the diagnostic app. Then select "C" to configure, then press - in this order - 1, 3, 5. That will select the correct diagnostic test. Hit enter and then zero to continue.

Let that run overnight and if there's no red lines at the bottom of the screen, your RAM is good.

Quesadilla Joe · 03-15-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I would probably say to run a full hard drive scan to see if there are any corrupt sectors. You can technically do that by getting properties on the drive, then tools, then run the scan, making sure to check the box that says "check for bad sectors". However, if you have a Windows installation disk, it's better to startup to the disk, go to the repair/recovery console when it asks, and running "chkdsk /r" from the command prompt. That will scan for issues with the drive and repair them if necessary.

.

I tried doing this and it said something like it couldn't find the hard disk so it couldn't repair.

So the hard drive is probably messed up right?

Quesadilla Joe · 03-15-2009, 12:23 PM

It's weird... The only way I can get Windows to run the past 2 days is to boot into safe mode and then restart my computer out of safe mode and then Windows boots right up no problem.

**DaFace** · 03-15-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutler7624

I tried doing this and it said something like it couldn't find the hard disk so it couldn't repair.

So the hard drive is probably messed up right?

Eh, just try it the GUI way. Boot into Safe Mode, go to My Computer, right click on your C drive, go to tools, check disk for errors, and make sure both boxes are checked.

Quesadilla Joe · 03-20-2009, 05:23 PM

Took it to a computer guy and he said my fan wasn't working and it fried my motherboard. I guess I have 2 fans in my computer now

htismaqe · 03-21-2009, 12:36 PM

A faulty fan would NOT cause your motherboard to fail. It would definitely cause problems with your CPU and/or memory stability.

If it runs a couple of days and then starts crashing, it's probably overheating.

Replace the fan and the problem may go away. If not, have you run memtest yet?

03-14-2009, 07:01 PM
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Faulty Ram? I have seen some of you guys make some recommendations to people with computer problems and was wondering what you guys think... Whenever I go to turn the computer on it has a problem starting up on Windows. Most of the time I get this error message on startup "Disc Boot Error Insert System Disk And Press Enter" Other times it goes to the XP loading screen but it doesn't load and the progress bar goes on endlessly. I also have gotten a few blue screens. Eventually Windows will come up after 5-10 tries and after Windows starts everything is fine for the rest of the day... I have went into safe mode and ran virus scans with AVG and Malwarebytes and they didn't find anything. Anyone have any idea of whats wrong with this thing?
Posts: 19,907

03-14-2009, 07:23 PM	#2
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1993101	Are all of your problems on startup, or do you get frequent blue-screens while you're using it normally? Typically, RAM issues will cause problems all over the place - not just on startup. Are you able to start up in safe mode consistently without problems? If so, I'd think it's something program or corrupted file that is the culprit rather than RAM. Or maybe a hard drive with minor issues that's causing read errors.
Posts: 53,157

03-14-2009, 07:32 PM	#4
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1993101	I would probably say to run a full hard drive scan to see if there are any corrupt sectors. You can technically do that by getting properties on the drive, then tools, then run the scan, making sure to check the box that says "check for bad sectors". However, if you have a Windows installation disk, it's better to startup to the disk, go to the repair/recovery console when it asks, and running "chkdsk /r" from the command prompt. That will scan for issues with the drive and repair them if necessary. If that doesn't fix it, you might try running "sfc /scannow" while booted into safe mode from the command prompt. That will scan for all the possible system files that are screwy and replace them if necessary. If THAT doesn't work, you could look into RAM, but it's harder to test so I'd hit the other two first.
Posts: 53,157

03-14-2009, 07:35 PM	#5
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Can I run the Windows installation disk while Windows is on? Sorry I'm kind of dumb with computers.
Posts: 19,907

03-14-2009, 07:56 PM	#6
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1993101	Nope. You'd need to start your computer with the disk in the drive. Ideally, it will boot up to the disk on its own. (You may have to hit a key to confirm that's what you want it to do.) If not, it gets a lot more complicated and you may want to try the version through my computer first. Here are general instructions to get to it: http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/chkdsk.htm
Posts: 53,157

03-14-2009, 08:04 PM	#7
DaFace Kind of a mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Donkey Land Casino cash: $-1993101	Oh, by the way, no matter how ya do it, it's gonna take a while (could be hours), so make sure and do it when you don't need to be on your computer for a while.
Posts: 53,157

03-14-2009, 08:06 PM	#8
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Thanks a lot DaFace.
Posts: 19,907

03-14-2009, 08:31 PM	#9
"Bob" Dobbs Kickin' it in Dobbstown. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southeast Kansas Casino cash: $9814317	FWIW, it DEFINATELY sounds like a flaky hard disk to me.
Posts: 3,315

03-15-2009, 05:34 AM	#10
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8049900	First, rule out your RAM. Do you have a 3.5" floppy drive? If so, load this program onto a disk, pop it in, and reboot. http://www.memtest.org/ It will automatically boot into the diagnostic app. Then select "C" to configure, then press - in this order - 1, 3, 5. That will select the correct diagnostic test. Hit enter and then zero to continue. Let that run overnight and if there's no red lines at the bottom of the screen, your RAM is good.
Posts: 104,529

03-15-2009, 12:23 PM	#12
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	It's weird... The only way I can get Windows to run the past 2 days is to boot into safe mode and then restart my computer out of safe mode and then Windows boots right up no problem.
Posts: 19,907

03-20-2009, 05:23 PM	#14
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Took it to a computer guy and he said my fan wasn't working and it fried my motherboard. I guess I have 2 fans in my computer now
Posts: 19,907

03-21-2009, 12:36 PM	#15
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $8049900	A faulty fan would NOT cause your motherboard to fail. It would definitely cause problems with your CPU and/or memory stability. If it runs a couple of days and then starts crashing, it's probably overheating. Replace the fan and the problem may go away. If not, have you run memtest yet?
Posts: 104,529