Random re-boots and other glitches

Over the last few weeks, I've upgraded my old clunker with and AGP video card, and then, two weeks later, an uprade of RAM from 512M to 2G. Since the memory upgrade, I've been having all kinds of grief. The primary problem is un-announced and un-requested re-boots, often with cleanout of the "saved" cookies that define my preferences in the various websites I visit.

The AGP upgrade was faultless, no post-installation problems and a much better picture. Unfortunately it looks like the display is on its way out, as I'm still getting waviness after it's been on for 45 minutes or so. Maybe it's time to cut bait and spring for a new laptop.

What's happening now is the repeated re-boots. They often occur in the middle of doing something and I have to start over. I've written this post as an inital input followed by a number of edits, so I don't lose it all.

My upgrade memory sticks (old-fashioned DDR, 1 GB each) fitted in without a problem. When I fired the computer up again, it ran like the wind. Processes took a third of the time and I was very pleased. Then things went south. I got several BSODs, with ominous messages from Microsoft about potentially major losses of data. I haven't seen anything that drastic over the last few days, but I do get completely random shutdowns. In fact, I've had three of those shutdowns during the 20 minutes or so I've been writing this message.

The other issue I've had, which pre-dates these shutdowns is a failuer to boot all the way. The screen gets to the desktop photo, but the icons and task bar don't show up. If I use CTRL>ALT>DEL, the shut down hangs up at "Saving your settings" and I have to use the power switch to force a shutdown.

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards getting a new lap-top with Win 7 and enough memory and disk capacity to cover the next 5 years. Funny, I thought my current box would have lasted at least that long!

Any ideas that would let me save what I have would be gretly appreciated. The budget is a bit tight right now!

 

I would first try reinstalling the motherboard drivers. There might be an issue where your old video was 4X AGP and is now 8X AGP. Perhaps your motherboard has updated drivers available.

 

Each memory slot can hold DDR PC2700 with a maximum of 1GB per slot. Is this the way it is?
Maybe a bad stick of RAM. Try removing one of them and see what happens. If it is fine, swap them out and see what happens.

 

Yes, Bill, it has two 1GB sticks. Previously only one slot was occupied by a 512MB stick. I'll pull each of them out in turn and see if the problem goes away. The new sticks were from an outfit called "Komputer Bay ", purchased through Amazon.com. Anyone have experience with them?

 

Not them in particular. What I usually do is do a Crucial scan then go to e-bay and get what I need from there.

 

I use Crucial a lot for memory upgrades and I ALWAYS use their scanner and then order from them.

The reason I then purchase from them is really simple. If I, like I did earlier this week, order an upgrade kit for a Dell laptop, I know that 1) I should get the correct memory (and Dell are noted for using "unusual" parts). And 2) If the memory turns out to be incompatible, its their problem and they have to correct the error and there's never any question about it because the scanner generates a unique identifier that's included with your order details.

Having said that, I've never got incompatible memory from them. I don't bother getting memory off ebay suppliers any more unless I know that I'm dealing with generic memory but, even then, the prices aren't so different that it'd really make any meaningful difference.

Memory is a very fickle thing and the fact that it fits in the slot is essentially meaningless. There are so many variables when it comes to memory that it simply isn't worth the grief to save a few pennies on ebay - or indeed on Amazon.

I do use ebay and Amazon for other components but not for memory.

 

Since I have an AMD motherboard and the memory I bought was the correct "DDR" and was specifically identified as being "for AMD motherboards only ", I was fiarly comfortable with the purchase, since it was through Amazon.com. I think it's 3200 rather than 2700. Would that be a problem?

Tomorrow, I'll be pulling each stick in turn, then running the computer to see if I still have the problem.

Do the two sticks have to be the same memory capacity or can I run one of the 1GB sticks with the original 512MB stick in the other slot?

The failure mode doesn't always show the same diagnostic message. The one that disturbs me says tha "Symantec system management has encountered a problem and has shut down ". Since I'm not inf ront of the box continuously, I'm a bit bothered that my security protection (Norton) is being compromised by the "Symantec" shut down.

BTW, I do have the driver software for the AGP card, loaded from a CD, and didn't have the un-requested shut-downs until I changed the memory.

I still don't understand why Windows stalls in the boot process between putting the desktop photo up and when the icons should show. It's happening about every third morning start-up, and I have to use the front-panel power switch to shut down, as Windows hangs up on "Saving your settings ". I've left it in that mode for up to 2 hours without it shutting down.

This problem has been with me for a few months. I'm considering a re-installation of Windows, but that's a lot of grief.

 

You can use a 512 and a 1gb at the same time. I used to have an old PC that had 3 slots. had a 512, 256 and a 128 in there. Stuff that was reclaimed from old bad computers. Never had a problem.
If you are installing something like a 100 and a 133, the 133 will slow itself down to the 100 speed. Same goes for any others where you have 2 different speed values. 2700 and 3200 can run together, but the 3200 will run at the 2700 speed. No big deal. And I don't believe that you can even notice the speed unless you had some tool to measure the difference.

 

I've found that over the years memory has become more fickle - particularly as the clock speeds have increased. As it gets faster, it seems that its more likely to collapse in a heap if the sticks aren't matched. Dissimilar memory used to not be such an issue (as MrBill says, they would negotiate a speed that both sticks were happy with) but its becoming more of an issue now. Also, its become so much cheaper, they're almost giving it away. That's why I don't bother messing around with it any more.

 

I put the memory configuration back to its orignal 512M single stick and it's working fine. It has been on for 3 hours and not a single unrequested shutdown. With either of the 1G stcks in alongside the 512K stick, or with the two 1Gs in the two slots, there are problems.

I'm beginning to think there may be something wrong with the #2 memory slot on the board. One more test tomorrow will be to put a single 1G stick in the #1 slot.

 

Have you tried a 1G stick in on its own in slot 1?

Sorry Frank!! Hadn't read the last sentence of your last reply before posting..... DOH!!!