BSOD [Blue Screen of Death] :(

[Zain]

Hey everyone.

I didn't know where to post my problem, because it may be due to several reasons.

My problem:

My computer has 1gig RAM in it. The problem is, sometimes when  i start up my computer, my computer only detects 502 MB RAM. To fix it, i would have to restart my computer multiple times before it detects 1gig RAM. I need help...idk what the problem could be. Its weird because if it happens, and i restart my computer without touching anything..it works. that means, it isnt the actual RAM cards that are giving the problems. Or maybe it is them..im not sure.

My other problem:

Recently, whenever I moved my laptop, the BSOD screen would come up.

It said 3 different things...it was like..sys_management_blah blah blah
and 2 other things...

I have not installed anything new in the past month, yet this BSOD problem randomly started. It just comes up sometimes..when I move my laptop or something. It isnt a virus because I scanned my computer with Avira, and nothing was detected.

My last problem:

My computer doesn't last more than 5minutes without the adapter. To test it, i left my adapter plugged into my laptop for the whole day, and when i unplugged it for usage , it only lasted for 5minutes before it shut down , due to lack of battery. Does this mean I need a new battery? Or what? :s

Thanks in advance for helping me with any of my 3 problems.

- Zain

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

How old is this laptop and is it under warranty?

[BC_Programmer]

How does it run without the battery (only plugged in; battery removed)

[Zain]

the laptop is about 3 years old.

the laptop runs with the adapter, as long as its plugged in.

if the batteries not in, and its just plugged in...it will turn off if it was unplugged.

[BC_Programmer]

the laptop is about 3 years old.

the laptop runs with the adapter, as long as its plugged in.

if the batteries not in, and its just plugged in...it will turn off if it was unplugged.

it could be a fault with the battery; not sure about life expectancies, but the battery supplies power whenever it is inside the laptop; even when the AC is plugged in and the battery is charged.

If the battery is giving out the wrong voltages/too much, etc, you could suffer memory errors and reduced battery life.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Also, can you try reseating the RAM.

[Zain]

My adapter and battery are like..compatible with each other, so I dont think its getting too much or too little.

and if by reseating, you mean taking out the RAM cards and putting them back in, i already tried it several times.

Sometimes it would work, sometimes it wouldnt.

and i just figured out that sometimes, even if i dont move my computer, the blue screen comes up and i have to restart my computer.

once i restart it, nothing appears. its just a black screen , once i press the power button.

EDIT 1: I have also realized that when the blue screen comes up, it says

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent loss to your computer.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA"

Then it says: if you have not seen this before, just restart your computer

Check to make sure that newly installed hardware or software is in right. [i have no newly installed items, for the past month]

then it says that if it continues, disable or remove any new installed hardware or software, disable BIOS memory options like...caching and shadowing.


I dont want to disable any BIOS things, and I dont have any newly installed stuff.

What should I do? The only thing that i thought about was that this problem could be due to my RAM cards. Since only 502MB out of 1gig RAM got detected, maybe thats whats messing up the computer, and making all those blue screens come up. Im not sure at all though.

Thanks in advance

- Zain

[BC_Programmer]

what I meant was the battery could be going; since all power when the battery is in the laptop goes through the battery, the effect will be felt regardless of wether the AC is connected.

Do you have to reboot to get the laptop to recognize it's RAM when your just on AC with no battery?

[Zain]

Yes. Only 502 MB out of 1024MB gets recognized , even with just the adapter and no battery.

I also realized that if my computer only detects 502MB , it doesnt give the blue screen. It only happens when it fully detects all the RAM.

I tried it with battery, and without , and yet it still recognizes only half my RAM.

[Zain]

Just a side note, if you want to add me on msn for convenience, its:

[email protected]


thanks

[Was someone trying to reply just a few seconds ago?]

[linuxpenguin13]

is it a dell?  if so go to http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2007/06/25/17311.aspx?PageIndex=3
that my help you
 the "bad seed" file is PCD5SRVC.pkms FYI

[Zain]

Nope, its a Toshiba x(

Still having problemmsss

[linuxpenguin13]

ok maybe the ram hence the page file bsod

[BC_Programmer]

sounds like your laptop has two sticks installed, and one of them is AWOL, OR, in need of reseating.

if you can access the RAM (my toshiba has a screw holding on a plate with the RAM beneath that, easily accessible with a philips), first, try reseating both modules. If you still have the same symptoms, it's possible the RAM stick in the higher numbered socket is going/gone.

How do you know which one is the "Bad one"? well, as you have it now, it sounds like the higher numbered socket has some bad RAM, as I said in my last paragraph. If for some reason they aren't labelled, however, you can isolate the bad stick by having one inserted at a time; the good one will consistently be detected as 512, the other will either not boot at all or result in an error message most of the time.

BTW, I feel your ram problem and the BSOD are closely related. wether it's related to your reduced battery life, perhaps; the bad stick could be somehow drawing more then it should (short circuit?) or something; just conjecturing on my part, though.

[Zain]

That's similar to what i was thinking.

I'll try out the different sticks, and see if the computer boots with 1 each time.

Brb.

[Zain]

Ok, so I reseated and tried the RAM's a variety number of times.

Theres 2 cards, and 2 slots for each.

Taking out card 1, and left card 2=Computer wouldn't start
Taking out card 2, and left card 1=Computer started with 502 MB.
Switching card 1 and card 2=Computer started with 502 MB
Many other variations of tries.

The 2 cards are fine, but I think i found the reason for my RAM problem

1 of the 2 slots are not working, and its the first one that isnt.

Now what? Should I go to a computer store to get that slot repaired?

and what about my battery? Should I get that changed too, so that it works properly?

lastly, is my RAM the cause of all the BSOD's? [blue screen things] (Physical memory dump, blah blah blah)

[BC_Programmer]

If the slot wasn't working, it would never detect the full amount of RAM.

unless you mean a plastic holder is physically defective...

[Zain]

Maybe the top slot would stop working at times, cause the blue screen.

Maybe its just damaged or something.

Im not sure at all.

Im not even sure if the Blue screens are due to my RAM problems. It may be something else.

[BC_Programmer]

I can say with 99% certainty that the blue screens and the RAM problem's are related.

I don't think it will boot if there is no RAM in the first module; this has been the case for a long time, AFAIK.

how can you confirm that the cards are fine? only way would be to get new RAM and see if the problems go away.

[Zain]

Alright.

Thanks everyone for all your help

I still need reassurance for my other topic.

Heres the link to my other one:

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,71847.0.html