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HDD damage

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by haleanana

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I bought a second hand computer,its amd 64 3200+,6200 Le 256 graphics,250 gb,gigabyte k8 sumthing.
anyways i have this annoying problem...My comp damages every hard disk drive i install.A blue screen appears saying "beginning dumpin memory"I have replaced 2 hdd's already and now its happening again with my new hdd.
does anyone know whats causing this?

The first time this happened i sent it to a tech,he said the hdd just needs replacement.but as ive said,it does the same thing to my new hdd's-"dumping memory"

35 replies

by computercookie

and some time after that you get a blue screen (BSOD).

More info including the error numbers on the BSOD are required.

by haleanana

yes i have installed windows xp homeedition.
i think it was 0x90000000c or sumthing i cant remember what exactly it was but it says "begining dumping memory"

by seanferd

is for the error report. It is dumping code indicating RAM and processor state for analysis. Dumping memory is not the problem, it's part of the solution. So, if you would, replicate the error and post the error information. Then someone will look up the error and try to advise you.

Also: does your XP have any Service Packs or updates installed? The answer would be no, if you haven't connected to the 'net, unless your XP came with sp1 or sp2. (It would say so on the packaging.)

by haleanana

yes my os came with sp2
how do i find the report?do i have to wait for the blue screen to appear again?

by haleanana

ok this is what the blue screen says,***STOP:0x0000009c(0x00000004,0x80545FF0,
0xB2000000,0x00070F0F)

by seanferd

>>Unfortunately, I just had a huge reply in a text file axed by my cat. This will be shorter.<<

Your error is a MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION which is probably a hardware issue.
(...valid uncorrected error where the processor context was corrupt...)

It could be that a piece of hardware is bad. You may need to test this by removing unnecessary items and checking for crashes. It could be practically anything, including the motherboard, processor, memory, graphics, sound, network, etc.

You might have a bad power supply.

You may need to install drivers. (BIOS updates and processor driver updates can ruin your system if the go wrong. Try other things first, and maybe have a tech do these if they are necessary.)

It could be a specific program. Do you find that the system crashes when you are using it in a certain way? Intense graphics, network, etc.?

It could be that XP isn't setting something properly. It could be a bad setting in BIOS setup (like memory timing).

Links to follow. Sorry for the mishmash.

by haleanana

yes!the first time the blue screen started to appear was when i installed the new graphics card which is geforce 6200le.I played rome total war fine for the first few days then the blue screen appeared and after a few days it damaged my hdd.I changed the hdd.same thing happened fine for the first few days and then blue screen!The third time this happend is today and all i did was surf the net.The only thing that appears on the blue screen are those numbers i typed earlier
\Note: i havent got the cd for my mobo anymore
Specifications:
AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3200+
1 gig Hynix Ram single stick
Geforce 6200 le
DVD rin
Firewire 400 & 800 on this motherboard.
Motherboard GA-K8NNXP Specs
Socket 754 for AMD Athlon64
Chipset NVIDIA nForce3 150 Platform Processor
Super I/O: ITE IT8712F chip
Integrated peripherals
Silicon Image sil3512 controller
GigaRAID ATA 133 RAID controller
T.I. IEEE1394b controller
Realtek 8110S Gigabit Ethernet controller
Realtek 8201 PHY LAN chip
Realtek ALC658 Audio AC'97 Codec
Type: DDR400/ 333/ 266- 184pin
Max capacity: Up to 3GB by 3 DIMM slots
2 x Serial ATA connector
4 x UDMA ATA 133/100/66 Bus Master IDE connectors (2 IDE connectors from GigaRAID controller are for HDDs only)
1 x FDD connector
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 connectors (supports 4 ports)
2 x IEEE 1394b connectors (supports 3 ports)
S/P DIF input/output pin header
3 x cooling fan pin headers
CD/AUX in
1 x Game/Midi connector
Expansion Slots 1 x AGP slot (8x/4x-AGP 3.0 compliant), supports 1.5v display card only.
5 x PCI slots (PCI 2.3 compliant)
1 x DPS slots
Back Panel Connectors PS/2 Keyboard / Mouse
2 x USB 2.0/1.1 ports
2 x RJ45 ports
2 x COM ports
1 x LPT
Audio (1 x Line-in / 1 x Line-out / 1 x Mic) connector
CPU/AGP/DIMM setting CPU FSB / Multiplier / Vcore Voltage adjustable via BIOS
AGP Voltage / Clock adjustable via BIOS
DIMM Voltage / Clock adjustable via BIOS
Power ATX power connector and ATX 12V connector
Power-off by Windows 98/ Me/ 2000/ XP shut down and switch

by boxfiddler

BSOD's and Stop errors do not necessarily mean damaged hard drives.

Secondly: When you replaced the hard drives, did you install the drivers for the hard drives.

Thirdly: We need more information than just the error code (# in parentheses). There should be some words, and at the bottom of the screen a filename.

If you can supply that information it would be very helpful.

What OS are you running [attempting to run]? What is the mobo manufacturer and model #? How much RAM is installed and in how many slots?

by seanferd

don't always have a lot of human-readable text.

System: XP Home SP2
AMD K8 64 bit 3200

not sure how much RAM of what type or configuration.

by boxfiddler

and often something (page fault blahblahblah or some such) is listed at the stop next to the error.

I haven't had any luck at all searching the original numbers posted, with the exception of a lot of other complaints about that error on other boards and responses with suggestions that might or might not work.

I wanted to try to find out, particularly from MS what that code signifies. Probably mostly for my own curiosity, as I am not the worlds greatest troubleshooter.

by seanferd

Okay: try going back to a different graphics card, and see if it helps. The RAM may be cheap and below spec also, I don't recognize the name. You may also be under-powered. (I didn't notice any PSU power ratings. The unit could also be cheap or old.)

CD for mobo: you can get the drivers from Gigabyte. If you didn't have them when you re-installed XP, the system may not be running up to snuff. You can get updated drivers for all your hardware from the manufacturers.

Anyway, try the graphics card first. It may be bad, missing drivers (along with the mobo), or underpowered.

Sorry, haleanana. I need to get a little bit of sleep. Some really good techs might hit this thread as daylight hits them. Good luck, I'll try to check back soon.

by haleanana

i really appreciate all the help guys especially you seanferd.

anyways my psu is GALAXY atx-320t
ac input 115v/230v 6A 60hz/50hz 350w max

i will try all these suggestions tomorrow.

by oh smeg

These are cheap rubbish PS that are not overly reliable or stable. Replace the unit with a Antec 400 W unit or if you can not get a Antec or want to use a No Name Brand buy at least a 500 W or bigger PS.

Also Clean out the internals of the case and blow out the Power Supply with Canned Air. [b]Do Not[/b] use a Vacuum Cleaner to clean out the case as the sucking end can generate Static Electricity and damage the internals of a computer. Also stop the Fan from spinning as it will generate power and could cause problems.

Col

by Former member

While you are at it just make sure that your processor is seated correctly, if possible take out your processor and (please make sure that you are wearing a static wrist strap) clean the thermal paste off, then re-seat the processor and apply new thermal paste but only a very small amount, re-seat the hsf (heat sink and fan), this will clear some of your problems. If you can not do it please take it to someone in the know.

Please post back if you have anymore problems or questions.

by oh smeg

[i]Realtek ALC658 Audio AC'97 Codec[/i]

First problem is the AC97 Sound as XP doesn't support this Device. Windows will BSOD out with this and cause several problems that even the newest Driver will not address. I got that straight from M$ today after I had one crash consistently.

Seems that attempting to install the AC97 driver with some of the newest Patches applied causes problems. Not sure which one yet as I haven't as yet tracked down the offending patch. But if the AC97 Driver is ion stalled prior to the Patch it works well at least my ND does without a problem.

Motherboard GA-K8NNXP Specs

The model is wrong probably a Typo as Gigabyte M"Boards are labeled GA-8 not GA-K8 not an issue though. AS the Gigabyte Web Site isn't currently loading I'm not sure exactly which model but it's not really important.

Firewire 400 & 800 on this motherboard

Could be a coincidence but the computer that I was having problems with earlier today had a Plug In Firewire Card. I first noticed that some USB Ports where not working and then when I plugged in speakers the sound wasn't working. When I attempted to add the Realtek Driver the system BSOD out.

Now for testing the Hardware use the Ultimate Boot CD to test the Hardware this runs off the CD and boots directly from the CD so the current OS is not impacted in any way at all and it's free here

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

Realtek Sound Driver newest one available from Realteck

http://tinyurl.com/zlc2q

Run the RAM and CPU tests and see if there are any Failures. If there are post back with the error report if you don't understand it.

You can also test the HDD with the Seatools Testing Utility or one of the others loaded with the Ultimate Boot CD so you can test all your Hardware.

After you test everything post back with any error results.

Col

by seanferd

Oh, go on with your bad self. You know you rock. So, thanks for adding your expertise and time.

edit: And, I would say that is some fine work, with easy to follow suggestions. Thumb for you.

PS "Gigabyte recently partner with Nvidia and AMD its GA-K8N-SLI motherboard promotion."

"Asus K8-N Mobo"

etc. It's the AMD K8 design, is why.

by oh smeg

OH that makes sense I suppose. When I looked last night the Gigabyte site wasn't opening so I went from what has happened previously. :D

Besides Gigabyte has always labeled their M'Boards as GA something. :p

Col

by haleanana

k im a complete idiot when it comes to computer.how can u run test on ram and cpu?

by oh smeg

From Optical Drive before HDD. If necessary change Boot order in BIOS and exit Saving Changes.

Insert UBCD into the offending computers Optical Drive and boot. The UBCD loads a User Interface that requires you to push a Function Key to get into the different testing utility types and then another Function Key stroke to launch a specific Application. [b]The keys labeled F1 to F12[/b] This is all listed on the Screen so it's just a matter of look press the right key and look again and so on till whatever you want to run is running.

It's really very easy but sounds a lot more complicated than it is when you do not have the Testing Tool in the computer.

Hope that helps you.

Col

by seanferd

Stop codes are more known for their total lack of info, as far as "something caused something" goes.

Actually, I'd say you are a pretty good troubleshooter.

by boxfiddler

But I can't recall having ever seen one on my own screens... So thanks for that bit of info. I think I will have to scrounge for some stop code BSOD images to examine.

Thanks for the compliment, also. I'd risk my standard 'You are a ....', but it seems inane somehow.

by oh smeg

Practice makes perfect in all things. :p

So the more that you accept compliments or fix Windows problems the better you'll get at it. ;\

Of course that falls to pieces with me as I don't know what I'm doing ever. :^0

Col ]:)

by oh smeg

BF you realize that you are a really silly girl don't you?

But as you seem to like obscure M$ Error Messages go back to the Dos Days and find out what this one means

[b]Device 6 Missing[/b]

That one nearly drove me totally insane quite a few years ago now and then when M$ rang back with what it was supposed to mean I wanted to punch out the guy on the phone. Mainly because what he was saying was not only stupid but he admitted that it was wrong. I never did find out what that means or if what M$ said was correct it couldn't be displayed. :D

Col

by boxfiddler

Good of you to notice! I have spent much time in the search for inner silliness. ;)

Ok, I googled Device 6 missing a little bit and found nothing. While you have now got my curiosity up I've no time for it at the moment.
Putting it on the burner until semester break...

itde ypot

by oh smeg

Have someone contact me and I'll tell them what M$ said to me about that Error Message.

It will not help one little bit but at least the Shrink will have a name to call your condition. :D

by seanferd

most of the results I got at the time were for Gigabyte, and then I noticed that other vendors have the "K8 architecture" also. I picked gigabyte because it was used in the first post. I wasn't even originally certain what that mention of "gigabyte" was for- mem, drive size, wait, no! mobo. :D

by seanferd

Do they have them everywhere?

I'd come to visit. I used to work in a lovely institution in PA. Complete with a network of underground tunnels, including former cells, now disused, but must have made for a fantastic visit back in the day.

by oh smeg

Mainly because I would never get out ever again. I know that they are just waiting for me to pay them a visit so they can get their dirty little hands on me to cure me of the obsession of working with computers. :p

And I don't even know why I'm working with them or how it started. :(

Col

by oh smeg

How do you work that out? ;)

M$ drove me totally insane years ago and there is no cure so because I want to retain my freedom I'm bad? :p

Col ]:)

by boxfiddler

I have become quite accustomed to it and would miss the 'f' if it were to disappear.

I must admit, I had hoped that you were one of those nutjobs who could hide it for a few minutes here and there when required to by the need to visit another nutjob in Bellevue. If I hoped too much, my abject and lunatic apologies. But I will not take back the poohead remark as I am a nutjob and therefore entitled to call whomever I want whenever I want a 'poohead'.

So there. nyah nyah. :D

by willcomp

A BSOD will not damage your hard disk. What made you think hard disks were damaged?

Stop code errors can be rather generic (as already mentioned). Of more use is a minidump file when one is generated. Look in Windows folder for a Minidump folder and see if it contains any minidump files. Analysis of a minidump file should pinpoint the faulting module.

Check event log and see what info is there.

Video card or video driver may be the culprit. Try changing cards if you have a spare or update/revert video driver.

"Dumping Memory" is when dump files are generated. A dump file cannot be created on a failed hard disk.

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