Memtest86+ crashes as soon as it starts

[paul545]

Hi,
I hope this is the right forum.

I'm trying to run memtest 86+ because I suspect I'm having a RAM issue - was getting lots of BSODs and now I am unable to reinstall windows (currently using ubuntu).

I have made a bootable dvd with memtest86+ on it and a bootable usb as well as the built in memtest that is built into the linux grub bootloader. When I boot from any of these devices, the memtest screen (blue, with some writing - I recognize it from screenshots of the program) will pop up for about half a second, then it goes away and my computer restarts. This happens in an endless cycle until I turn the computer off or take the disk/usb out.

Any help?

Thanks,
Paul.

 

[Pauly]

If you fill in your system specs it will be easier to help

Have you tried removing all but one stick of ram, then you can try each stick in each slot to see if you can get it to run

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hiyya Paul and welcome Mate you got any RAM you could swap out? if a fresh stick works then probably is something wrong. But as Pauly said mate some specs would be nice.

 

[paul545]

sorry about my late response.

My specs:
Windows 7 64 bit
intel i5-450m
ATI radeon HD 5650
750 gb HDD (I upgraded to this)
4/8 gb RAM ddr3*

So a little update:
I managed to get windows 7 installed by luck basically, but I was still having some BSOD and gaming problems so I took out one stick of ram (I randomly chose) and was finally able to play a game without it crashing. *This is why I put 4/8 gb RAM, currently just using 4gb.

However, I am still getting some BSOD's, about one a day and some gaming issues (though everything is much better than it was before this whole ordeal, but still very annoying).

As far as memtest86+ , I have tried running it with both stick of RAM in separately, and it did the same error. Screen pops up for half a second, then computer restarts.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[paul545]

you got any RAM you could swap out? if a fresh stick works then probably is something wrong.

No I don't have any other RAM other than the 4gb stick that is currently in my laptop and the 4gb stick I just took out.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum might be time to run if we can a Hard disk tester a Seatools test might give up something Paul rty it anyway.

SeaTools for Windows - CNET Download.com < just watch out for the addons - AVG bar etc the main site has changed and wants to know drive numbers etc - a pain but....

 

[paul545]

ok cool I'll run this tonight.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

ok cool I'll run this tonight.

Ok mate there are other ones if this dos not come up with anything

 

[paul545]

so I couldn't get seagate tools to run, it required .NET 4 and for some reason that would just not install on my computer. The installation screen just hung at beginning of the installation and the progress bar never moved.

But I looked around and found HD Tune pro (trial). On the health section it says I have 16 unstable sectors.
This is a screenshot imgur: the simple image sharer

I then ran the error scan and for some reason when it got to the end it seemed to reset the test and not show me the results. However, I looked at the test when it was pretty close to the end and there were two damaged blocks. There might be a log file somewhere but I can't find it.

Does this mean my hard drive is breaking or what?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No Paul seem like you have a really bad install there mate.

Now there are few ways of looking at the drive in addition to what you have already run.
Now if you haven't done it yet try a sfc / scannow

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

another one http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

These may pick up the problem they can take a little while depending on the system but it has to be done mate.

 

[Pauly]

Thats not great news, i would get any important data off of the disk asap to be on the safe side before proceeding

Sometimes bad blocks are written out and not used anymore and the disc will still function ok, sometimes its a sign of a failing disc thats about to give up
Its your call if you want to persevere with it but get your data backed up just in case

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes Paul what Pauly says is a good idea too mate if you have any stuff you don't want to lose.

Hum just how old is this machine mate?

 

[paul545]

ok I just tried the sfc /scannow in the commmand prompt.

It began verification phase of system scan. it got to 13%.
Then it said: Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
And then it quit.

I will try the disk check now.

 

[paul545]

I just got done with chkdsk /f /r.

It ran for a while and fixed some stuff (clusters i think)
then the system rebooted and it said it was clean. I'm guessing that's a good thing, but
I'm not sure what I should do from here.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well I suppose the scannow would be worth a try.

 

[paul545]

hmm ok I will start backing things up.

I tried scannow again, it got to verifying 40% this time, then gave the 'could not perform the requested operation.'

The laptop is like 4 years old. The hard drive is only a few months old.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes mate it might be good to get all of the data you need off and then re install.

If that goes gaga then the drive neeeds replacing while still in warranty - a pain but personally what I would do.

 

[Pauly]

Agreed ^^

Thats two seperate programs finding errors with drive, if its only that age i would back up everything you can and RMA the drive for a replacement as it will still be under guarantee

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Agreed ^^

Thats two seperate programs finding errors with drive, if its only that age i would back up everything you can and RMA the drive for a replacement as it will still be under guarantee

Right on Pauly sounds like it's cactus or heading that way.

 

[paul545]

ah damn, ok. what does 'RMA the drive' mean? just return it to the manufacturer?

I just re-installed windows like a week ago (I uninstalled it hoping to fix some of these errors), and it was a pain in the ass. I had to try about 5 different boot cd's and usb boot drives, before it finally worked, because I kept getting random errors during installation.

So do you think I should try and reinstall again? or just replace the drive?

Thanks,
Paul