Can RAM suddenly go bad?

[pstokely]

I think the RAM on my laptop has gone out. My BIOS shows over 2GB of RAM but Memtest detected several errors in safe mode. I'm getting the 0x0000008E code on the BSOD.

[murielm99]

1. When RAM goes bad...

like those TV shows...When Animals Attack.

Seriously, I hope you can get your laptop fixed.

[pstokely]

2. Can it be fixed by simply replacing the RAM?

2 GB isn't doesn't cost that much.

[khashka]

3. Yeah but you might wanna try defraging it first

Easy and fixes a lot of problems. If it doesn't work, you can do the replace thang.

But things do degrade over time, nothing lasts forever.

Khash.

[pstokely]

4. Is 3 1/2 years the lifespan of ram?

When Win XP boots up, I get this message "The "System has recovered from a serious error". Then I get the BSOD. I can still boot into safe mode. I'm running Memtest 86 right now.

If I have four ram slots, would this match up

0: 1st slot
1: 2nd slot
2: 3rd slot
3: 4th slot

Can I defrag in safe mode?

And how do I backup my messages in Outlook express in safe mode (if possible)?

[Orsino]

5. Yes. Once upon a time...

...I had RAM that ran Windows 3.1 fine, but couldn't hack Win95. Had to replace one of the chips to get the new OS to run.

[pstokely]

6. Did you even have enough ran for Win 95?

These issues started to happen this evening

[Orsino]

24. I did.

All the memory tests DOS and 3.1 could run back then passed, too. Switching the chips around prevented 3.1 from loading, too. The upper chip had gone bad in some very subtle way, and when it had been replaced with a chip of the same architecture and capacity, Win95 worked fine.

[hobbit709]

7. Try popping the RAM out of the sockets and reseating the modules.

If you still get RAM errors after that you probably need new RAM. Laptops are notorious for the RAM to get loose in the socket and reseating fixes it most of the time.

[Deja Q]

9. Whoops - I wish I'd seen your post first.

:)

[pstokely]

10. I'm running Memtest, It looks like a single ram module

How can you tell which slots match the numbers in Memtest?

[pstokely]

11. I don't move it that much

Battery doesn't even last an hour anyway

[Deja Q]

8. Oops, self-del, another already mentioned it

:)

[NJmaverick]

12. RAM can go bad, and there usually isn't warning. HOWEVER, RAM can also come loose

in it's slot. If you can see if you can access it from the underside of your laptop and reseat it. In other words see if you can figure out how to remove it (I suggest you google, remove memory and the make of your laptop) and then put it back in.

[Betty88]

13. take out one chip at a time..

then try to boot the system. If it still wont boot put that one back and try the next, if it boots after you removed a stick then that stick is the bad one. You can just replace that single stick as long as you buy the exact same kind to replace it with.

crucial.com or newegg.com are good places to shop.

[pstokely]

14. It can boot into safe mode on XP

When I boot into the normal mode on XP, I get the BSOD about a minute after it boots up. I've got 4 slots and 4 512k sticks. If I get another 512k stick, will still run the Dual Channel mode or do I have to get 2 1gb sticks.

[Betty88]

15. Once you replace the bad stick

it will run just like it did, as long as you get another 512 stick. If the laptop can take 3 gigs of ram and it does not cost much you might just want to get 2 1gb sticks and upgrade while your at it. That is completely up to you and your needs.

If you don't know how much ram the laptop can take go to Crucial.com and run the ram config program they have and it will let you know what your options are.

You might also get along just fine running 1.5 gigs, no dual channel but probably quite workable, again I don't know what you use the computer for so results may vary...

[pstokely]

16. The manual says it can support up to 4 gigs

What order does memtest scan each stick of Ram? So far, I'm getting over $10000 errors on one stick but none on the others. So, If I leave only the bad stick in, it won't boot at all?

[Betty88]

18. here is what you need to do...

unless memtest tells you what slot is bad, and I don't remember if it ever gets that specific, been ages since I used it. Remove one stick then boot up the computer to regular windows. If after a few minutes it crashes that means the bad stick is still in the computer. Put back the one you removed and take out the next one. Keep doing this till the computer boots up and works well past the point you usually get the BSOD. This is the simplest way to find the bad stick.

Once the bad stick is out of the computer it should work fine till you replace that one stick or choose to upgrade. if you cant buy a single stick then you might as well go with the 2x 1gig, again up to you. XP really does not need much more than 2 gigs, but will be very happy to have 3 or 4 if you want. You probably don't need 4 gigs.

[pstokely]

19. Slot 3 is giving me the errors in memtest

Memtest lists slots 0-3. I'm guessing it's actually the 4th slot

[Betty88]

20. Cool...

Then just take that one out and see what happens. Check with the manual it may show you how the slots are numbered.

[pstokely]

21. Manual doesn't say

Could the motherboard have the slot numbers on it?

[Betty88]

23. it might

if not your back to one at a time till you find the bad one. Only one way to tell, open it up and take a look.

[MrScorpio]

17. They start hanging out on street corners and run around with a bad crowd

Check to see is it's loose

[deucemagnet]

22. I know this doesn't help, but your post reminded me of this cartoon.