Multiple ECC error / Memory parity error

[YellowOnline]

Hello folks,

I just come back from a customer running a computer with WindowsME, a Phoenix BIOS and ECC-type RAM. Very uncool: an OS, a BIOS and a RAM I didn't have experience with.

What happend was the following: the computer booted normally until the WindowsME startup screen and then *wham* "Multiple ECC error at row <random ASCII character>" on a black screen. Google gave no results for that error message, nor the MS knowledge base. After resetting the BIOS the error changed into something along the lines - it wasn't an English OS - of a 'memory parity error'.

My guess is that the one of the two 128MB ECC SDRAM is broken. As far as I understand, ECC makes it possible to repair single bit errors, and the error means it finds more than one bit error. I don't really know how to interpretate bit errors, but I guess it gets down to a hardware failure.

As a good trial-and-error kind of guy I wanted to find out which of the two chips is (supposedly) broken. However: the computer won't boot as soon as I remove one of the chips (and swapping from slot didn't make any difference). Does this mean that ECC RAM needs to be always in pairs?

Thusfar my train of thoughts. Any suggestions or corrections are very appreciated.

Peace,

Yellow

 

[TekTippy4U]

Can you get into the BIOS Setup?? (f1, or f2)....CPU and Mobo info please

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
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[TekTippy4U]

If you can access the BIOS and it's an Intel CPU...look for a setting on the first screen called Cache ECC Support..if it's set to Disable then change to Enable and try....how many mem slots.? if 3-4 try all, one at a time. Got a Bootable CDROM...or a DOS Floppy....WinME stinks for this stuff., but there's a will, there's usually a way

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
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[YellowOnline]

Hello TekTippy4U,

I didn't find anything about ECC caching, but everything seems to work now that I disabled the error correcting in the BIOS. There are only 2 memory slots BTW. It's an Intel P3 700 Mhz. As I'm currently upgrading windows (to Win2000)I can't see what mobo it is (it isn't written anywhere on the mobo itself anyway, or at least not where I can see it).

Peace,

Yellow

 

[TekTippy4U]

Hi Yellow;
ECC = Error Correction Control
granted the ecc cache, i was speaking of, may just mean the CPU L2 cache, but thought it worth a shot (possibly that's what you turned off in BIOS)?
If the P3 is a slot1 type then the L2 on-die is really just a mini-chipboard jerry-rigged to the CPU under that nice plastic casing.. [yuk]

anyway....good for you - way to go

get Everest from Lavalys enterprises (google) - it was aida32 - great sys info tool when up and running

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[YellowOnline]

Hi again TT4U,

All my problems seem to be solved. I did format the drive though, because WinME was a mess (bad uninstallations, spyware, adware, toolbars, ....) adn here big problems started. I though I'd give you some feedback in case you're interested.
Check out

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?SQID=850488&SPID=748&page=1

and thanks for your cooperation here!

Peace,

Yellow