What's a "memory could not be read" error?

[HydraHeaded]

I often get this error, and sometimes the computer automatically reboots after this. The error generally reads "The instruction at "005843054" referenced memory at "043588945". The memory could not be "read". Click on OK to terminate the program.

Is it a problem with the RAM?

I am including a screenshot.

Thanks.

[+shift. MVC]

What program is pctsTray.exe?

[zerologic]

  -SHiFT- said:

What program is pctsTray.exe?

PC Tools Tray Application

It could be that your PC Tools product is corrupt, uninstall and reinstall the latest version.

If all else fails run Memtest86+.

[+shift. MVC]

Then that program is the source of your problem. Reinstall and see if the problem persists as zer0L0gic has said.

[HydraHeaded]

This isn't the only program with which it happens; it happens with any program. It has happened only once with Spyware Doctor, but there are other apps with which it has happened a lot of times, and this problem would come up and stay for a while, and then go away on its own.

I just got Memtest86+; I have a question for Zerologic, and for everyone else: when it says to burn the image of Memtest86+ to a CD, does it mean it has be a blank CD, or can it be a CD on which I have previously written some data? Does it need a CD of its own? And another one, one I couldn't find an answer to in the Memtest forums, how long do you run it - the whole night, or is two hours OK?

The computer I am using is a new one, I got it about five months back. I remember in my previous computer, there had been a problem, maybe at two or three separate times, when the computer would freeze up suddenly, and then when I pressed the reset button, it wouldn't boot at all, nothing would come on the screen. When I called my computer guy, he said that there was dust on the RAM. Is something like that possible here? Because my processor fan keeps speeding up a lot, and I've heard that it does so to clear off the dust.

Thanks.

[zerologic]

  HydraHeaded said:

I just got Memtest86+; I have a question for Zerologic, and for everyone else: when it says to burn the image of Memtest86+ to a CD, does it mean it has be a blank CD, or can it be a CD on which I have previously written some data? Does it need a CD of its own? And another one, one I couldn't find an answer to in the Memtest forums, how long do you run it - the whole night, or is two hours OK?

You should first 'erase' a CD-RW, if that's what you're using or it's preferable to use a blank CD.

Just boot from the CD after you've burned it, runs all by itself.

Never heard dusty RAM causing problems anyway you should not touch RAM without wearing a wrist strap and earthing yourself first.

Otherwise the static from your body will damage your memory. As will taking a vacuum cleaner to it. Don't laugh, people do silly stuff like that!

Another reason for computer stability issues could be your CPU fan not operating optimally, therefore not cooling the CPU enough.

I find it best to blow out dust from HSF with a can of compressed air. But turn off your PC first.

Edited June 10, 2008 by zer0L0gic

[HydraHeaded]

Oh, and I regularly used to take out the RAM from the previous computer, without any of those earthing measures you said; sometimes I would just wipe it with a cloth and put it back in. As far as the vacuum cleaner is concerned, I thought that was suggested by everyone; maybe you are saying it shouldn't have any contact with the CPU parts?

Alright, what about how long to run Memtest?

Thanks.

[zerologic]

  HydraHeaded said:

Oh, and I regularly used to take out the RAM from the previous computer, without any of those earthing measures you said; sometimes I would just wipe it with a cloth and put it back in. As far as the vacuum cleaner is concerned, I thought that was suggested by everyone; maybe you are saying it shouldn't have any contact with the CPU parts?

Alright, what about how long to run Memtest?

Thanks.

You took out RAM, without properly earthing yourself.. Did you at least switch off your PSU and push the power button to drain the power? Then you wiped.. RAM? No.. really, not good. Then you also vacuumed the insides of your PC *shiver* including board and RAM?

Not good. That's like doing open heart surgery with a torque wrench.

Run the Memtest overnight. Good luck.

[+shift. MVC]

You should at least ground yourself by touching a metal part of your computer case first before tinkering with your computer.

Is there some other RAM you can try?

[HydraHeaded]

  -SHiFT- said:

Is there some other RAM you can try?

I have my old PC, but that is 256 MB RAM, and I don't think it is DDR2; it ran on a motherboard that was called something like 840 HV or some such name, the new one I am using is D102GGC2, and I am not sure if it would be correct to put the old RAM in this one, even for testing.

Actually, this problem doesn't happen all the time; see, after I posted on this forum, it hasn't happened even once; before that, it happened maybe a month ago, so I don't think its such a serious issue, I just needed to know if there is a hardware problem of this type; if its something to do with softwares, I can tackle it, but with hardware, I'll have to call my computer guy.

Running the Memtest overnight is going to be a pain...

[zerologic]

That's how 'zapped' components die. Not immediately, but they become consistently less reliable over time - until one day they refuse to work.

Hope your computer guy doesn't bring his hoover with him. :laugh: