Re: Memtest errors and BSODs all of a sudden
2014/09/21 14:11:08
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Memtest, by its nature is not only testing the memory, it is testing the circuits that support and control the memory. I understand you to say that the individual sticks test OK when inserted by themselves but you get errors and unspecified blue screens when they are all installed or when three are installed at once. The fact that individual sticks pass, tends to indicate that it is not a problem with the memory modules themselves. One possibility is that there is a problem delivering sufficient voltage to the memory. The most common reason for that to occur after a period without a problem would be corrosion on the socket or a bad solder joint which would increase the resistance and decrease the voltage. It could be that the full load of memory puts more drain on the circuit causing a voltage drop, that is not found with a single module. First you should probably inspect and clean the memory sockets and the contacts on your modules, as well as the connections of the power supply to the motherboard, although a power supply problem is unlikely if the machine posts at all. You can check the nominal voltage supplied to the memory in the BIOS, and if it is below what the memory requires, probably boost it to the specified voltage there as well. Unfortunately, about the only practical way to handle a problem with the motherboard itself is to replace the whole board.