How can a RAM module suddenly go *%$!?!#<!!

[Armando]

I just had a very bad day. You know, when your computer problems just eat all your time (errrr... yes, it happens way too often)?

I had to successively reinstall 3 images (backups), wipe my drive, check it for defects, etc (NO f0dder... i didn't use spinrite). I thought I got a virus spreading everywhere, things went baaaaad. One document even got corrupted.

Well, after the third image and my system not event booting correctly (registry problems, firewall not even firing, word having not enough memory to start (!!!), etc.), I decided to check my RAM...    Yesterday, it was working perfectly well (BTW it's "new RAM I bought a month ago, cheap, I admit, but it passed all my tests back then...) and today it started to crumble more and more (it seems), and, to finish, i couldn't even run a Dell memory test for 1 sec without an error!!! WTF.

What happened? What could suddenly kill a RAM stick ?? Not a virus, could it??? Bad Mobo?? Personal electromagnetic superpowers?? 

[Renegade]

Oh man... I feel your pain... 

This happens, and usually at the worst times... (I'm facing 2 catastrophic situations like this now...)

[Armando]

I wish you luck. I hope you'll be able to diagnose the problem quickly... if it's not already done, that is.

In my distress I consider myself lucky... It could've been worse! I still wonder how can a memory module just go sooooo bad after running so well. Heat maybe???

[Renegade]

Kind of related, for hard disks -- if you've got serious problems and need to backup, don't turn off the computer. Spinning back up may destroy disks at some point.

As for my boxes, one's getting replaced, and I still have yet to look at the other one seriously. Probably a bad connection there. Not sure yet though.

The hellish thing -- as I'm sure you've discovered -- is FINDING what the real problem is. Once you've got that, the rest is trivial.

[tinjaw]

Sounds like you just got a bad stick of RAM. If you bought it that soon ago, it should be under warranty.

I found it odd that you posted this because I too had just such a weekend. Weird computer problems from Friday afternoon until this evening. Weird stuff like a computer that won't restart unless you clear the CMOS every time you shut it down. Must be something misaligned in the cosmos.

[Armando]

I found it odd that you posted this because I too had just such a weekend. Weird computer problems from Friday afternoon until this evening. Weird stuff like a computer that won't restart unless you clear the CMOS every time you shut it down. Must be something misaligned in the cosmos.

I just don't have any more patience for these... But I STILL manage to be obsessive about solving the problems myself. Go figure 

Sounds like you just got a bad stick of RAM.

Well, that's for sure! I've never seen a RAM stick be THAT bad (Dell's diagnostic test beeping after 1s). And I will try to get my money back when I... also  recover from a virus -- attacking me and my real body this time...

The hellish thing -- as I'm sure you've discovered -- is FINDING what the real problem is.

Hellish, it sure is...