BSOF - MEMORY_Management eror

[genovdan]

Hello, I experienced the following problem:

Yesterday evening (19.10.2010) while I was working on my Laptop (HP Pavilion dv6 1080eq) appeared Blue screen. I tried to reboot several times but I couldn’t log in. The blue screen appeared every time I tried to load the windows (I have Windows 7 x64). I tried to log in through safe mode, but it didn’t work. I had 2 user accounts, one primary which I use normally and one additional which I use time to time. I do not know why, may be accidently, but once I only succeed to log in with this second account in safe mode, but after a while again blue screen appeared. The good thing was that during the limited time of operating system I succeed to move my important files from drive C do D. I performed Memory test and the Hard disk comprehensive test from the bios and they passed. None errors ware detected. So I decided to reinstall the windows.

Unfortunately, on random places during the installation blue screen again appeared. I tried to install Windows 7 and Windows Vista but with the same problem – blue screen. So, after may be 10 attempts, (my laptop is out of warranty) I decide to reseat the RAM and the HDD. I have WD 320 GB HDD and two memory modules each 2 GB DDR2. I decided to try to run the windows installation only with one module RAM, and I did the following:

1. I opened the lids of the RAM and HDD
2. There are two slots one above the other. I removed the RAM from the upper slot
3. I removed the RAM from the lower slot.
4. I put the RAM module which was originally on the lower slot in the upper slot.
5. I unplugged and plugged the HDD
6. I closed the lid and started the windows 7 installation.

Surprisingly I had not any problem with the installation. Everything was fine. After the installation I logged on and worked for a while on the computer (I opened folders, listened music with the WMP). I did not install any drivers (Because I had to go to work). I also performed the windows assessment and everything was fine. Then I turned of the computer and plugged in the other RAM Module. The original RAM module from the lower slot was on the upper and vice versa. I successfully logged in, but when I tried to open my computer icon and some windows error appeared (not blue screen). After couple of minutes again blue screen appeared. Then I removed the on of the RAM modules (I left this one with that I successfully installed the windows) and logged in and everything was fine again.

I’ll show you some of the errors I recorded:

STOP: 0x0000001A (0x00041284,0x9B597001,0x0000455B,0x81200000)

MEMORY_MANAGEMENT

--------------------------------

Reboot ID: 010108-17409-01

----------------------------

BCCode: 50

BCP1: FFFFF6EB40001D18

BCP2: 0000000000000000

So, I’d like to ask the following questions:

1. Was the problem in the RAM module which I removed?
2. Are the both RAM modules OK, but the problem is in the lower RAM slot?
3. Do you think, (because I saw such think in a forum) that there is some specific problem which disturbs the normal function of 2 RAM modules. Normally they work on dual-channel.
4. What to do.

Thank you for attention. I appreciate any help.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

Incase reseating the hard drive cured the problem try putting the memory module you have removed in to the lower slot.  If everything works fine then the problem was with the HDD connection.  If it does not work propoerly remove the module.  Check that everything works properly again with it removed.  If it does proceed as detailed below.

You can tell if the memory slot on your motherboard is ok by putting the memory module you currently have installed in the upper slot in to the lower slot slot and then see if the computer still works ok.  If it does, then you can be fairly certain that the module you removed is bad.  From this, if the computer does not work properly then the problem would appear to be the lower slot.

It is possible that the problem is with the memory controller and only becomes apparent with two modules plugged in and running as dual channel but it is more likely, given that the above paragraph holds true, that you have a faulty memory module.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

DP-K

[genovdan]

Yes, as soon as I get home I will try to put the current plugged memory in the lower slot to check it. I did not do it the previous time, because I was in hurry to go to work I really hope the the problem is in the faulty memory. Actually I will do and something else, I will try to put the RAM module which I thing is defected in the upper slot, to see what will happen.

[DavidPK]

Good idea.  Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes,

DP-K

[genovdan]

Actually I changed my mind. I installed the drivers and all programs I need and for the last 2 hours I have not had any problems with the windows, so I decided no to make more experiments. I do not dare to touch the RAM, until the system crash again (I hope that never happen again, because that really scared me a lot). I will wait to see the laptop performance in the following days and I'm thinking to go to HP service center after some time.

[DavidPK]

Hi,

I understand what you're saying.  The only thing I would advise in the meantime is that you back up all your files/folders etc so if the worst happens, you don't lose everything.

Best wishes,

DP-K

[genovdan]

Actually I almost did that. Before 2 weeks I bought a web host space for 1 year and I uploaded there big part of my

valuable information. But I have to upload more things. I decided to do this, because I wondered whether to buy an external Hard Disk or to buy a web host space. I decided that the web host space is more reliable. I've been using computer for  around 7 years, and for the whole that time the only information I've never lost is that uploaded in some trusted web space.

Thank you for the support!

[DavidPK]

You're welcome.

DP-K

[jclements34]

Hey guys, 

I'm finding this after I resolved my problem, but wanted to give feedback for others to get help. 

I purchased a dv6-1280us and had problems right out of the box. I got multiple BSOD while transferring data and installing programs. Typical error was IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL and a reference to one of two networking drivers (afd.sys or ahrtx.sys). I was going to install a clean Win 7 anyway, so I went ahead and did this. I still had the same problem. I would get random BSOD under varying loads, but usually when transferring large amounts of data over the network (World of Warcraft downloads and transferring my iTunes library). 

I would get two different BSOD referencing network drivers. For the most part I got IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL but what pointed me toward the memory was when I received the MEMORY_MANAGEMENT error. My laptop came with one 4GB chip and one 2GB. I simply swapped their positions and have had ZERO problems since. 

Hopefully this helps someone else and y'all can avoid 3 days of aggravation like I had. 

---Josh

[genovdan]

Good feedback jclements34.

Actually I did something.I Installed  Memtest86 following the guide posted by Daniel_Potyrala and performed memory test and the test passed without errors. Then I removed the working ram module and put the the other ram module. I started the memory test again and from the begining of the test error reports appeared. Around 5 % of the test there were above 50 000 errors and I interrupted the test, because it was obvious that the ram module has gone. I replaced again the working ram and performed, just in case, a new memory test and it also passed without errors.So now I am 99% sure that my problem was because of the defected ram memory. I took a picture of the errors and I will posted when I uploaded it somewhere.

By the way, something made mi a big impression when I opened the lids of the memory compartment. Many of the solders seemed rusty and some of the labels of the boards become from white - yellow. I took a picture of the hard disk label with a big yellow spot and I will posted it too after I upload the picture. Of course all this is because of the heating My laptop is a real stove