[rshaffer61]

Have you run a check on your memory itself to see if maybe it is the issue?
If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...


1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip). If you prefer to use the USB version then use this link USB KEY
2. Unzip downloaded /memtest86+-4.20.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find /memtest86+-4.20.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:



8. Locate [b/memtest86+-4.20.iso[/b] file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:



10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run. You may have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to make it work right.

To change Boot Sequence in your BIOS

Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the DEL button
This will enter you into the Bios\Cmos area.
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to CDrom.
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit. Click Y and the system will now reboot with the new settings.


The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:




It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.



The following image is the test results area:



The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.

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Hi
My email tells me of a post from rshaffer61 at 10:18am today 22 Aug, however that post does not show on the forum here.
MEJ

[mej_sts]

Hi
My email tells me of a post from rshaffer61 at 10:18am today 22 Aug, however that post does not show on the forum here.
MEJ

[rshaffer61]

Nope that was actually the one I did above about the memtest.

[mej_sts]

Two mem modules are in place. Do you mean actually extract one of the modules and boot with the remaining, and see what msgs appear? Then switch modules and repeat boot with the other one? Thx.

[rshaffer61]

Take one module out and then run the system like normal. If no BSOD then switch memory modules and run with just the other one.
If no BSOD then put both in and run the software test.

[mej_sts]

Did A. Boot & Start normal on both modules. Shutdown normal. No msgs.
Do you need me to do B? If so, the 4.2 pates the Toshiba cd driver. Then asks to chose, among which is Computer. Is this the correct choice?
Thx.

[rshaffer61]

Not sure why it would hate the toshiba driver.
Did you reset the boot sequence so the cdrom was the first boot device?

[mej_sts]

Aside, let me ask: Would a reformat and reinstall of the factory Vista be likely to cure this dirty bit problem. I have the Toshiba recover disk and recent backups. Or, will the backups of data (not programs) bring the problem to the reformatted disk? The time for this is beginning to exceed the reformat/reinstall.
Appreciate your response.
Thx

[rshaffer61]

Most likely it will take care of the issue but I'm not sure what is causing the issue to begin with.
Before doing that I would suggest testing the memory first.
It also could be a hidden program running in the background not shutting down correctly.

[mej_sts]

The memory check ran all night and did 25 passes. No errors were recorded.

[rshaffer61]

Hmm odd since both sticks installed you get errors. One stick installed no errors.


Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, try the Hitachi DFT CD Image version of the software

Thanks to Broni for the instructions

[mej_sts]

Did the test on the Hitachi. Result 0x00 for both short and advanced. Disk still dirty.
Thx.
M

[rshaffer61]

Then it has to be some software causing the issue. It is not releasing the memory.
A Dirty Bit is when the memory does not clear all the bits before the system shuts down or reboots.

[Koga4444]

Mine is doing the same thing, but it tells me I can cancel it by hitting any key (Which doesn't work) within ten seconds, then freezes on one. I can't get past this screen.

[phillpower2]

Koga4444

Please start your own topic and we will assist you there, your issue/s may appear the same but be completely different.

In your own topic please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to better assist you.