HP dc7100 CMT turning off problem

[OZZO]

Hi!

I have a HP DC7100 CMT (DX438AV).

I installed Windows 7 Ultimate (32 bit) on it this week.

The pc is fast and the OS is stable.

The only problem is whem I try to turn th pc off, the following message appears on the screen:

*** Hardware Malfunction

Call yor hardware vendor for support

NMI: Parity Check / Memory Parity Error

*** The system has halted ***

And I have to turn it off manually all the time.

What should I do to eliminate this problem?

Thanks for the answer(s) in advance.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Please see this link below from Microsoft.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315223

If you have more than one memory module, remove all but one and see if you can get the error to go away.

Then test each one, one at a time, until you find the bad memory chip.

If that doesn't work, try resetting the CMOS. See the section in the manual at the link below regarding clearing the CMOS.

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00189283/c00189283.pdf

I can tell you that W7 Ultimate on those old business desktops causes problems for one reason or another--usually boot loops though.

I put W7 Pro, 64 bit on my dc7100. Didn't have any problems. Had W7 ultimate on a dc7800. Worked until W7 downloaded some update, then I got the never ending boot loop.

I now have W7 Pro x64 on it and it works flawlessly.

On a side note... Did you add a W7 capable video card to your PC?  If not, your onboard GMA video is not windows 7 capable and you can't change the screen resolution or have hardware acceleration. Click on one of the included games and you will get an error that states in substance that hardware acceleration is not enabled.

If you didn't add a video adapter, I have a driver that will give you resolution and acceleration but no Aero, since you installed W7 32 bit.  There is no 64 bit driver I could find to make the onboard video work.

Paul

[OZZO]

Hi,

First off, thanks for responding.

I did some homework.

Suggestion A;

I’ve checked the memory modules one after the other separately. (I have two modules.)

Both of them worked flawlessly. (boot and shutdown went well.) But whet I installed them together the proble came back with the same message.

*** Hardware Malfubction

Call your hardware vendor for support

NMIarity Check / Memory Parity Error

*** The system has halted ***

Suggestion B;

Resetting CMOS

I havn’t did it so far. But If I upgrade my BIOS that means the same, right?

Can you give me a link where I get the latest BIOS for my pc. (My pc is a HP dc7100 CMT (DX438AV).)

I’ve looked for it, but I’m not certain that I found was the latest version. My current version is V01.05.

I bought a Zotac GeForce 8600 GTS video card. (hasn’t installed yet.) Doest it solve any problem if I install it?

Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Resetting the CMOs is not the same as updating the BIOS.

Please read the troubleshooting guide at the link below on how to reset the CMOS (Appendix B, page B-3)

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00189283/c00189283.pdf

If you install the nVidia card, that is a windows 7 capable graphics card and you will be fine.

It is possible the 2 memory modules are not compatible with each other, even though they each work fine independently. It happens if they are not the exact same brand and specs.

You can't update the BIOS unless you use the DOS based method as you will brick the PC if you try to use the Windows based flash.

The current BIOS version is 2.15 and you can find it at the link below.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=12...

These are the only two methods you can use to flash the BIOS since you have W7 installed.

- Create a ROMpaq bootable BIOS upgrade/restore diskette.
- Create a ROMpaq bootable BIOS upgrade/restore CD.

When you run the file, it will give you instructions on how to use the above methods to flash the BIOS.

I would not attempt to update the BIOS until you can stabilize the system. If it shuts down while you are trying to flash the BIOS, your PC is toast.

Paul

[OZZO]

Hi!

I’m here again.

Thanks for helping me.

As for the memory modules I have they are the same; same brand, same size and all.

And I’ve already checked them one by one as you suggested before. They worked well.

As for resetting the CMOS:

Ok, I read the pdf you gave me about resetting the CMOS. Seems easy, but to be honest I’m afraid of doing it, because I’m really new to this „procuder”.

Should I back up the CMOS before resetting it. (I bought my pc (HP dc7100 CMT) about 2 weeks ago. I didn’t set anything in BIOS, no passwords).

If yes, how to do? (I’ve looked into it on the net, but in my BIOS there is no FILE /SYSTEM INFORMATION / SAVE TO DISKETTE option or anything like that.) My BIOS version is v01.05. This is an old (2004) version.

After resetting the CMOS I going to get POST ERROR messages (says the pdf).

Will I do a lot of settings? What would they be?

Thanks a lot.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

There is nothing to back up. All resetting the CMOS is going to do is to erase all of the current info stored in the PC's BIOS.

When you reboot, the PC will "relearn" everything and the BIOS will be set to its defaults.

The only thing you should need to do is to reset the time and date in the BIOS.

That will be the error you get.

Paul

[OZZO]

Hi Paul!

I did the CMOS resetting by the book, but it didn’t help.

Still the same:

*** Hardware Malfunction

Call your hardware vendor for support

NMIarity Check / Memory Parity Error

*** The system has halted ***

I really thought it would solve my problem.

I’ve looked into my memory modules by a software (SIW).

Brand is takeMS. (Physically they seem the same.)

I’ve taken a picture of the memory diagnostic result. You can see it here:

http://kepfeltoltes.hu/120617/1268406717memory_modules_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.png

One is BD512TEC500 and the other is BD512TEC500A.

I googled their tech specs, but I didn’t find significant differences.

What should I do now?

Any further ideas?

Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I am not very familiar with memory errors. I googled the one you have and find many different reasons for it.

Here is what I would do...

I would remove all but one memory module and boot up the PC.

Test each one separately and see if you can get the PC to boot up normally with just one of the modules.

Then keep adding them one at a time until you get the error.

When you get the error again, then you have found the culprit, and you will need to replace that memory module.

Paul