My new system has started failing at the start of boot with the error:
RAM R/W test failed
Press F1 to continue
When I press F1 I get:
Checking NVRAM...
And it stays like that forever until I power off.
This new system is
MOBO M3A78-CM
CPU AMD Phenom 9950 Quad 2.6 MHz
RAM 4GB DDR2
I have googled for the problem but all I find is a program called
memtest which I can't get to run and several links to programs to
repair the registry which is not my problem.
Do I have bad RAM or what?
Duke
Try one stick of RAM at a time. As I'm typing this,
I'm doing that test right now. I have one stick
installed and I'm running Prime95. About half
an hour ago, I just finished running some memtest86+ (memtest.org)
using a CD version. If two sticks isn't stable,
try them one at a time and see if you can get
the board to start.
There are several ways a board stores information
1) 256 bytes of storage in the Southbridge, called the "CMOS".
The motherboard 3V battery, is there to power that RAM
when the computer is unplugged. The RAM holds the
BIOS settings. There are web pages which give a breakdown
of which address in the RAM, holds which data (including
the password to get into the BIOS). The RAM is protected
by checksums. I believe one checksum for the password bytes,
and a separate checksum for the other BIOS settings.
2) The BIOS flash chip holds the "boot block" (basic bootstrap
code), as well as the "main BIOS". The "main BIOS" is protected
by a checksum. If the main BIOS were to become corrupted,
then you might see a checksum error (the boot block probably
does the check, before jumping to the main code). The main BIOS
consists of separate code modules - the modularity allows the
manufacturer to add a LAN chip, add a LAN code module, and
get support for booting over the LAN, and so on. RAID interface
code can be added as well.
3) An area inside the BIOS chip is reserved for "DMI" and
"ESCD". These areas hold hardware inventory information.
If you unplug a DIMM (with the power off), then power
up again, the BIOS notes the change in inventory, and
writes out the new inventory to the BIOS flash chip.
I believe roughly a one block area in the BIOS flash,
is reserved for DMI and ESCD. DMI can be read with
tools with names like "DMI Explorer" while you're in
Windows.
That leaves the question, what is
Checking NVRAM
Well, that depends on whether the technical term is
being used with any accuracy or not. The three items
described above, are all "nonvolatile" to one extent
or another. The BIOS is truly nonvolatile, since you
can remove all power, pull the battery, and the BIOS
chip contents will not change. The CMOS block on the
other hand, only lasts if the battery is still there,
when the power cord is unplugged.
I cannot tell you with any certainty, as to what it
is checking. It could be DMI/ESCD, but you'd think
they could use different terminology when doing that.
Paul
