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Hello All

I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot up you get the
dreaded BSOD which displays

NMI: parity error / memory parity error

Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or activated til now.
I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried other memory,
did not change and I run
my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP X64 it is quit
stable.

My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec 48300 and an ATI
4550 video card
and a leadtek tv tuner card.

Lee

Spock,
The only way to be sure about your memory sticks is to run memtest86+
Download version 4.00 from http://www.memtest.org/
Run it from a bootable floppy or bootable pen drive.
Vista and Win 7 seem to be more susceptible to minor memory glitches than
Windows XP
Carlos

"spock" wrote:

> Hello All
>
> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot up you get the
> dreaded BSOD which displays
>
> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>
> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or activated til now.
> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried other memory,
> did not change and I run
> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP X64 it is quit
> stable.
>
> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec 48300 and an ATI
> 4550 video card
> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>
> Lee
>
>
> .
>

Not a sure way at all to test memory, but better than no test at all.

A sure way to test memory is with a hardware memory tester such as shown on
this page:
http://simmtester.com/page/shop/shop.asp

This is what the fellows who frequent the computer shows use before
purchasing used memory from their customers.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"Carlos" <> wrote in message
news:97475A19-ED25-4BD8-8C28-...
> Spock,
> The only way to be sure about your memory sticks is to run memtest86+
> Download version 4.00 from http://www.memtest.org/
> Run it from a bootable floppy or bootable pen drive.
> Vista and Win 7 seem to be more susceptible to minor memory glitches than
> Windows XP
> Carlos
>
> "spock" wrote:
>
>> Hello All
>>
>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot
>> up you get the
>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>
>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>
>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or
>> activated til now.
>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried
>> other memory,
>> did not change and I run
>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP
>> X64 it is quit
>> stable.
>>
>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec
>> 48300 and an ATI
>> 4550 video card
>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>
>> Lee
>>
>>
>> .
>>

Windows Vista has A memory diagnostic program at f-8 screen.
This will test your memory.

Very good tutorial go here:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial146.html

"spock" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hello All
>
> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot up
> you get the
> dreaded BSOD which displays
>
> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>
> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or
> activated til now.
> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried
> other memory, did not change and I run
> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP X64
> it is quit stable.
>
> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec
> 48300 and an ATI 4550 video card
> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>
> Lee
>

Memtest86 is next to useless.

I am one who has purchased a hardware tester. I routinely ran Memtest86 and
found good RAM. I then tested the RAM with the hardware tester and found out
it actually WAS defective. After doing this for a year or so I became 100%
convinced that the software testers are worthless. Yes, if the software test
says it is bad it usually is. But in a large number of cases when the
software test says it is good - it is still bad!

I can't begin to tell you how many hours technicians waste on computers
because the RAM tests good with a software test.

Any decent repair shop will have a hardware tester. You are better off
taking it to them, paying a few bucks and know the true status of the RAM.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"David B." <> wrote in message
news:...
> Yes, I'm sure the average PC user is going to run out and spend 1-2
> thousand dollars on a memory tester. Memtest is more than adequate.
>
> --
>
>
> --
> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Not a sure way at all to test memory, but better than no test at all.
>>
>> A sure way to test memory is with a hardware memory tester such as shown
>> on this page:
>> http://simmtester.com/page/shop/shop.asp
>>
>> This is what the fellows who frequent the computer shows use before
>> purchasing used memory from their customers.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP
>> Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>>
>>
>> "Carlos" <> wrote in message
>> news:97475A19-ED25-4BD8-8C28-...
>>> Spock,
>>> The only way to be sure about your memory sticks is to run memtest86+
>>> Download version 4.00 from http://www.memtest.org/
>>> Run it from a bootable floppy or bootable pen drive.
>>> Vista and Win 7 seem to be more susceptible to minor memory glitches
>>> than
>>> Windows XP
>>> Carlos
>>>
>>> "spock" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello All
>>>>
>>>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot
>>>> up you get the
>>>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>>>
>>>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>>>
>>>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or
>>>> activated til now.
>>>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have
>>>> tried other memory,
>>>> did not change and I run
>>>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP
>>>> X64 it is quit
>>>> stable.
>>>>
>>>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and
>>>> Adaptec 48300 and an ATI
>>>> 4550 video card
>>>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>>>
>>>> Lee
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> .
>>>>
>>
>

I have just installed sp1 and it looks like that may have fixed it, time will tell

Thanks Folks



"Kue2" <> wrote in message
news:EC5B2EEE-33D4-4182-83C4-...
> Windows Vista has A memory diagnostic program at f-8 screen.
> This will test your memory.
>
> Very good tutorial go here:
> http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial146.html
>
> "spock" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Hello All
>>
>> I had decided to install Vista X64 every so often when you try and boot up you get the
>> dreaded BSOD which displays
>>
>> NMI: parity error / memory parity error
>>
>> Why did Install Vista ? Because I have it and it was not being used or activated til
>> now.
>> I find this puzzling as the memory is 4gb nonparity DDR3 and I have tried other memory,
>> did not change and I run
>> my machine dual boot with XP X64 and I have no known problems under XP X64 it is quit
>> stable.
>>
>> My hardware Supermicro C2SBX X38 chipset and Q6700 cpu and Adaptec 48300 and an
>> ATI 4550 video card
>> and a leadtek tv tuner card.
>>
>> Lee
>>

The hardware tester stress tests the RAM at a higher operating voltage and a
lower operating voltage - something that can not be done while the RAM is in
the computer.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"John Whitworth" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
>
> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Memtest86 is next to useless.
>
> Memtest86 has been able to confirm my suspicions about dodgy RAM on each
> occasion that I've been unlucky enough to acquire it. That's good enough
> for me. It may not be super accurate, but it is a good start, and it will
> probably help 80% of those looking to isolate issues. Your post is just
> trying to get people out of the self-fix habit. Sure, if they don't find a
> fault after Memtest86, take it to a 'pro'. But if it enables them to prove
> there is a problem without incurring costs, why should you deter them?
>
> Not only that, but could I guarantee that my PC is running with the same
> speed and voltage settings as the hardware tester? I can with Memtest86.
>
> JW

Hi, Richard.

As I've reported before - and you may have seen - sometimes RAM that passes
all the tests can still fail.

When I built my computer at the end of 2006, I put in 2 x 1 GB OCZ PC-6400
DIMMs. That ran Vista Ultimate x64 just fine for a year. Then I added 2
more identical sticks and it ran with 4 GB for about 6 months. Then, last
year, the computer started producing BSODs. Since the Stop codes varied
randomly, I knew the problem was in hardware, not software, and I suspected
memory problems. The RAM passed all my tests and those run by my local
computer shop, but we got flaky results with one of the newer sticks was
installed. I ran with 3 GB for a few months, then I contacted OCZ and the
tech had me return BOTH new sticks so that they could test them as a matched
pair. OCZ RMAed both sticks - and I've had no problem in the several months
since then.

So, even when RAM passes all the field tests, there might still be a problem
that only the manufacturer can fix.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64

"Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
news:...
> The hardware tester stress tests the RAM at a higher operating voltage and
> a lower operating voltage - something that can not be done while the RAM
> is in the computer.
>
> --
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Desktop Experience & Security
>
>
> "John Whitworth" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Memtest86 is next to useless.
>>
>> Memtest86 has been able to confirm my suspicions about dodgy RAM on each
>> occasion that I've been unlucky enough to acquire it. That's good enough
>> for me. It may not be super accurate, but it is a good start, and it will
>> probably help 80% of those looking to isolate issues. Your post is just
>> trying to get people out of the self-fix habit. Sure, if they don't find
>> a fault after Memtest86, take it to a 'pro'. But if it enables them to
>> prove there is a problem without incurring costs, why should you deter
>> them?
>>
>> Not only that, but could I guarantee that my PC is running with the same
>> speed and voltage settings as the hardware tester? I can with Memtest86.
>>
>> JW

How about "normal" voltage variations from the computers power supply.

I have seen few darn computers with an honest 12 volts, 5 volts and 3.3
volts. Many supplies are +- 10% of the stated voltage. Marginal RAM may
begin faulting under those conditions. If you are lucky the voltage will be
low/high when you run the software memory test programs and you will pick up
on the condition.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience & Security


"John Whitworth" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
>
> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> The hardware tester stress tests the RAM at a higher operating voltage
>> and a lower operating voltage - something that can not be done while the
>> RAM is in the computer.
>
> Surely by testing it at different voltages, it is going to have different
> results to when it is in the computer. So Memtest86 doesn't stand a chance
> of picking that up - and why would it? Memtest86 is simply trying to see
> if there is a problem - in that computer - with the current settings.
>
> The hardware stress tester sounds great to me if you want to make sure
> that memory is going to survive extreme temperatures or overclocking etc.
>
> But whichever way you look at it, Memtest86 is an ideal first check,
> screening out a lot of simple-to-find problems.
>
> JW