🚀 go-pugleaf

On Tue, 10 Dec 1996 12:40:15 GMT, 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 ?
>
If cleaning doesn't cure the problem, its a bad simm.

I had the same problem a short while ago, it only showed up when
booting cold.  Although the power on system mem check found no probs,
Himem.sys 'which does a more thorough check' would sometimes  indicate
a problem (but  only on the first boot) booting a second time would
often clear the problem. 

Replacement of the faulty simm was the only sure remedy,  it also
cured some stability problems which I had previously been getting with
my system prior to the mem failure reports... so I suspect that
certain address bits had also been intermittently changing state even
when warm.
Scan Computers had to swop 2 of my 4 (8k edo simms) for this problem
over 3 mths... a real pain.

Regards.

Brian  
 

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).

--
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!

"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).

>--
>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!


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.

Una

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!