I don't know to much about this stuff but could you upload the file "C:\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log" and "C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log". It's possible the SP1 error has nothing to do with your hardware even though thats the cause of other problems your had or having.
I'm not to good with finding errors in logs but others here probably are, I'll definitely give it a shot though.
1) Much appreciated. I will upload them tonight.
2) Will also again run SFC -SCANNOW Command
3) After running the System Update Readiness Tool (64bit) , I ran the SP1 off the downlaod centre early this morning ; it too gave me similar 'Not Sucessful' error messages. This was done with all the MSCONFIG services off and no AV.
4) Keeping memory to 2GB only DELL , in slot 1, served me well for the first 94 updates. so will I pull out sticks tonight to get back from 6 GB to 2 GB tonight and try again.
5) Failing that I will pull out the 2GB and use the 'after market' set, again starting with slot 1 only.. its a 4GB stick.
6) I can also try other slots... but I think the motherboard might complain about that with a few POST beeps... but maybe not.
7) If SP1 is still failing, I will initiate a warranty claim with DELL... and request, as a first step, they ship me a a DELL Win DVD with SP1 ( if such a thing exists)
I think I will be out of options at that point, and will need to bring the unit in for service.
You may have mismatched RAM. I'd also try just the old and just the new separately.
You want it fully functional for doing things like SP1, although having the disk would be nice. If under warranty maybe they will help you replace the RAM correctly.
Thanks. Purchasing mismtached memory is certainly a possiblity in some cases - not in this case however.
In my case, I was not the type to simply pick up some chips at Best Buy. Rather I spent weeks reasaerching it, and tripled checked by contacting Dell directly, Kinsgton directly and the vendor directly( who specialized in ram sales). I also cross checked with other vendors (eg Crucial) and teh Dell forum gurus.. I could not have had this verfied any further. I have the correct memory -there is no mismstach.
That said, yes , one or more sticks could be failing and yes I could have a bad slot, but its the correct memoory for my machine.
After 10 months of operation and 25+ years of experience , I must say, have never come across a sceanrio where a memory failure or slot failure or mismatch exists, but it only manifests itself on a Windwos SP1 upgrade, and at no other time - ie oit therwise works fine in day to day operation, memory tests, etc.
You mentiend it may take 5 or 6 test to fully test memory. have not done that yet, but will do could, so we can rule all that out.
Ref: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html
I do have Fast Boot on in my bios - if I recall, turining it on will do a memory test on every bootup - will do that for awhile.
It it all passes an overnight run, I will then
- remove the chips to get back to 2GB so I can try SP1 again
- a some point put back all chips ( all 18GB) and run the overnight tests again
Last edited by mediaman09; 17 Oct 2011 at 19:39.
Run the memtest86 for 5-6 passes or overnight to really stress test RAM. RAM - Test with Memtest86+
Thanks. Will run it tonight.... Found it pretty ironic that on thier web site , ther report corrections/bug fixes, eg:
- Fix for erroneous errors in tests 7 and 8 errors when the number of cores is not a power of 2 (6 and 12 cores).
- Fixed cache detection for newer Intel CPUs
So, even the exhaustive tests may not be conclusive :)
VERY INTERESTING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS...
1) Last night I ran the System Update Readiness Tool (64bit) , and let it intall the KB947821nstall a hotfix, and then prompt to close. Rebooted and powered down and up.
2) Ran SFC - no integrity problems
3) I ran MSCONFIG, hid all MS services, deselected everything incl AV, and rebooted.
4) Ran SP1 via Windows update ; same issues (said it succeded, prompted for reboot, and then said it was unsuccesful after the reboot).
5) Tonight I pulled the memory back 2 GB
6) Ran SP1 via windows update again, same issues. No SP1.
7) Ran SP1 via dowload centre. Said it could not install with a reboot. OK, did a reboot and no further prompts. It just took me to the desktop. No SP1.
8) While at the desktop I read the tutorial for the memtest6 and strated to prepare the USB drive
9) I reboot, and went into BIOS setup to disable the fast boot, so that on the next reboot I would see the basic powerup mem tests
10) It then continued its normal bootup and then a very interesting thing happened - it started to display the blue update screens as if it were installing SP1. So some
how (6) or (7) kicked in.
11) And lo and hehold SP1 is now installed !
So it would appear that "2GB plus some other combination of events", it what was needed to get SP1 installed.
More tests, specifically, memory, will of course help pinpoint.
So I think I have two prorirties right now :
1) Create a sllpstream SP1 DVD , asap, in case, heaven forbid, I need to reinstall.
2) Do a whack of overnight memtest6 tests. For this one should I :
- simply throw in all 18GB in there and let it test everything????? so the memory issue can be rulled in or out...
or- let if first test the 2 GB in there now, then test 6GB another night, then 12 GB a third , then 18GB a fourth night? as in that way it will be easier to pinppoint the stick/slot if indeed memory is an issue.
I was thinking there were so many theories presented on what my Sp1 install problems might be atributed to, ie bad hard drive, too much memory, bad memory sticks, failed memory slots, bad factory DVD image, not enough voltage supply from the motherboard , etc., etc.
Many possibilities, and one or more of them could be the issue.
But I have my own theory of what the problem might be - a flakey software update.
Its just a theory, like the others. I might be wrong ; might not be.
- It would explain why it works on some machines and not others
- It would explain there is a hotfix speficially designed for the update
- It would explain why my hard drive is in fact fine
- It would explain why my memory is in fact fine
- It would explain why I have had no other issues - only SP1 installs
- It would explain why all the diagnostics I run show no errors
- It would explain a lot of unpreditable behaviour
- It would explain why such drastic measures are needed to install the update on some machines (ie reformt/ clean install of Win 7, removing memory, unloading all processes etc
Last edited by mediaman09; 18 Oct 2011 at 05:17.
The mem tests do take a long time to run, but its a very straghtforward process.
Result for 2GB only are done (7 passes)
Results for 6GB (all Dell) are in progress (4 passes)
Hope to do balance (12GB Kingston, and 18GB combined) later this week.
As for putting the SATA cable for your boot drive into the SATA 0 port, it was the standard for Dell a couple of years ago and still is, as mentioned, for custom builds.
Didn't mean for you to try and move the physical component, just where the SATA cable plugs into the motherboard.
Your Dell system may be designed to run with the ODD in SATA 0, the blue port from your picture, at this point it is a non-issue, you can just leave it where it is.
When testing your RAM, as mentioned in the previous post, and since you have already started:
1) Test the 6GB (3X2GB) Dell Nanya RAM first.
If no errors,
2) Then pull the 6GB (3X2GB) out.
3) Install the 12Gb (3X4GB) Kingston RAM and test with memteset86+ for a full 7 passes.
As you have noticed already, the more RAM you have installed the longer the tests will take, be patient, all these tests are very important.
If there are no errors,
4) Install all 18GB RAM (3X2GB and 3X4GB) and run memtest86+ for a full 7 passes, this will take a long time to complete.
If there are no errors, this indicates your RAM is good but, doesn't mean that it is absolutely 100% good.
It is a fact of electronics and therefore hardware, especially RAM, that tests can not guaranty that there are no problems with the components.
At this stage, all tests pass and no errors, you can move to testing other components.
If you have any errors during the RAM resting, this can be due to faulty RAM or a bad motherboard RAM slot.
If you get an error with 3 RAM cards installed, test each RAM card in the previous testing motherboard slot, one at a time. This will identify the bad RAM card or bad motherboard RAM slot.
Let us know if you have any questions.
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