Brendan Halpin wrote:
> I've got a machine that is hanging or rebooting at random
> intervals, and am trying to determine whether it is a hardware
> problem. My puzzle of the moment is why memtest gives me errors if
> I boot off a Knoppix CD, but not if I boot from a memtest CD. Could
> it be the environment, or the version of memtest (2.9 under
> Knoppix, 3.1 on its own disc)?
Possibly.
I'd suggest obtaining a copy of Ubuntu (for example) and running the
memtest utility that comes with that, to rule out error with one version
of memtest86 as against another (assuming versions/environment are
different and affect the test).
Though, I'd think (not having detailed knowledge of the semantics of
memtest86) , that a RAM failure result, on a reasonably up to date
memtest86 trial, is a /bad/ sign and that perhaps RAM bugs of this
nature are non deterministic. A BIOS bug for example, perhaps not
initialising RAM refresh rates correctly on each and every boot, under
some weird circumstances [1] might explain why one test fails, while
another test comes up clean.
If in doubt, grab a tech support person and demand to speak to their
managers, until replacement hardware is sent to you.... and next time...
don't use the CDROM as a coffee holder !
[1] Perhaps try a BIOS flash for the motherboard if available.
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