🚀 go-pugleaf

carmody@quake.net wrote:
>"Richard P. Hanson" <richard.hanson@gecm.com*REMOVE*> wrote:
>
>>GuyDS@www.dma.be wrote:
>>>When I boot my computer for the first time that day ( =  power on), I
>>>get the following error message: "memory test fail".  If I then press
>>>the reset button or <ctrl-alt-del> my computer restarts without error
>>>messages.
>>>When I shutdown my computer (after I've worked for a while) and
>>>restart it (power on) within (about) an hour, there is no problem at
>>>all.  But when I restart it (power on) after a few hours, I get the
>>>error message again.
>>>
>>>It seems that the error message only appears when I litteraly "COLD"
>>>boot my computer.
>>>Do I have a bad simm ?  Or is it something else ?
>>You might have a dodgy connection between your SIMMs and their sockets -
>>try cleaning the contacts on the SIMMs with ethanol and a lint-free cloth.
>>Clean the contacts in the sockets if you get at them. Be gentle, and make
>>sure you are earthed (get an anti-static wrist band from Maplin or similar).
>Turning the computer on/off with the power switch is a cold boot, the
>system does it's POST, (power on self test) the message indicates that
>there is a problem with your memory.  This is a non fatal error and
>your system will continue to run. Try removing the SIMMs, by bank to
>find out if there is a defective.  When you reboot the system with
>ctrl ^alt^ del  (warm boot) the POST does not do a check of the
>memory, that is why you do not get this error.


Given that he says that when he cycles the power
when the computer has been running for a while the
error does not appear, it is likely to be a
temperature related fault. Could be dirty contacts,
dodgy solder joint, a crack in a PCB track, dirty
joints, or even an intermittent fault in one of the
chips.


Always try the cheapest solution first, and progress
towards the options that cost more money if necessary :)


--
Rich Hanson, Software Engineer, +44 (0)1634 844400 x4937
richard.hanson@gecm.com
GEC Marconi Avionics Limited, Rochester, Kent, ENGLAND
Speaking for myself, of course!