Off topic HELP request for memory diagnostic
Richard Owlett
some strange 'Program xxx has performed an illegal operation' messages
recently. I was ONCE forced into a reboot situation and then had BIOS
report a memory failure. None of which seems to be 'predictably'
repeatable :{
I would like something that assumes nothing but a ROM BIOS and a
display.
Secondary question - Is there a free FORTH that assumes nothing but a
BIOS?
Daniel Neri
You didn't mention a specific platform, so I'm assuming x86:
http://reality.sgi.com/cbrady_denver/memtest86/
Regards,
/Daniel
PS. You've checked the CPU cooling fan, right? ;-)
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Before you buy.
Gary Chanson
Richard Owlett <row...@atlascomm.net> wrote in message
news:39072E60...@atlascomm.net...
> Can any one recommend a good low level memory diagnostic. I have gotten
> some strange 'Program xxx has performed an illegal operation' messages
> recently. I was ONCE forced into a reboot situation and then had BIOS
> report a memory failure. None of which seems to be 'predictably'
> repeatable :{
In my experience, problems such as this are very hard to trap. It's
unlikely that any memory diagnostic will catch it. If it actually is a
memory problem, it's probably a bus timing issue (possibly in the CPU
support chip set).
Try slowing down the memory timings.
Try different memory devices.
In one case, I encountered problems like this which turned out to be
intermittent connections. I was able to cause failure in that instance by
hitting the cabinet!
Don't discount the possibility of software problems...
--
-GJC
-gcha...@shore.net
Richard Owlett
Daniel Neri wrote:
> In article <39072E60...@atlascomm.net>,
> row...@atlascomm.net wrote:
> > Can any one recommend a good low level memory diagnostic.
>
> You didn't mention a specific platform, so I'm assuming x86:
>
> http://reality.sgi.com/cbrady_denver/memtest86/
>
> Regards,
> /Daniel
>
> PS. You've checked the CPU cooling fan, right? ;-)
Yes, fortunately my system emits an annoying beep if CPU overheats :)
System is a CyrixInstead 6x86MX
Richard Owlett
Gary Chanson wrote:
> Richard Owlett <row...@atlascomm.net> wrote in message
> news:39072E60...@atlascomm.net...
> > Can any one recommend a good low level memory diagnostic. I have gotten
> > some strange 'Program xxx has performed an illegal operation' messages
> > recently. I was ONCE forced into a reboot situation and then had BIOS
> > report a memory failure. None of which seems to be 'predictably'
> > repeatable :{
>
> In my experience, problems such as this are very hard to trap.
You're preaching to the choir :)
> It's
> unlikely that any memory diagnostic will catch it.
Ah, but that's the first problem to eliminate.
> If it actually is a
> memory problem, it's probably a bus timing issue (possibly in the CPU
> support chip set).
>
> Try slowing down the memory timings.
OK, but I'll need a repeatable test procedure to demonstrate an improvement.
For the error rates I'm experiencing I am assuming a "torture test" running
for 10's of hours to give significant results.
>
>
> Try different memory devices.
>
But, do I have a memory problem ? :)
>
> In one case, I encountered problems like this which turned out to be
> intermittent connections. I was able to cause failure in that instance by
> hitting the cabinet!
>
> Don't discount the possibility of software problems...
First, let's eliminate the hardware.
> -GJC
> -gcha...@shore.net
Gary Chanson
>
> > It's
> > unlikely that any memory diagnostic will catch it.
>
> Ah, but that's the first problem to eliminate.
>
> > If it actually is a
> > memory problem, it's probably a bus timing issue (possibly in the CPU
> > support chip set).
> >
> > Try slowing down the memory timings.
>
> OK, but I'll need a repeatable test procedure to demonstrate an
improvement.
> For the error rates I'm experiencing I am assuming a "torture test"
running
> for 10's of hours to give significant results.
The best test program is likely to be an application which happens to
exercise the offending device.
In one case of an unstable machine, the crashes seemed to happen most
often right after a period of idle, so I created a batch file that generated
delays of a few seconds followed by an innocuous DOS command, run in a loop.
After about 20 minutes (very roughly!) it would crash. The problem turned
out to be a bug in the power management routine which slows down the CPU
during idle.
--
-GJC
-gcha...@shore.net
Julian V. Noble
[ deleted ]
> Yes, fortunately my system emits an annoying beep if CPU overheats :)
> System is a CyrixInstead 6x86MX
Interesting. I have one of those and started to get dreadful intermittent
problems with the video display when running Netscape 4.5. On occasion
the colors would get all smooshed together, with delightful lines of
contrasting pixels running through graphics.
I think I have fixed the problem (which seemed to be a Netscape-specific
one) by turning down the video accelerator. At least it hasn't happened
again since the changed setting.
What brand is your Cyrix machine, and what is its nominal cpu clock?
--
Julian V. Noble
j...@virginia.edu
"Elegance is for tailors!" -- Ludwig Boltzmann
Richard Owlett
"Julian V. Noble" wrote:
> Richard Owlett writes:
>
> [ deleted ]
>
> > Yes, fortunately my system emits an annoying beep if CPU overheats :)
> > System is a CyrixInstead 6x86MX
>
> Interesting. I have one of those and started to get dreadful intermittent
> problems with the video display when running Netscape 4.5. On occasion
> the colors would get all smooshed together, with delightful lines of
> contrasting pixels running through graphics.
>
> I think I have fixed the problem (which seemed to be a Netscape-specific
> one) by turning down the video accelerator. At least it hasn't happened
> again since the changed setting.
>
> What brand is your Cyrix machine, and what is its nominal cpu clock?
>
Norton System Information reports I'm running at 200 MHz with an Award BIOS
Graphics card is ATI Graphics Pro Turbo
I don't remember what the motherboard is - docs are "safely filed" somewhere
- I think its from an outfit called "GIGABYTE Technology"
Netscape likes to crash, but crashes less since I quit running Norton
Antivirus continuously.
Gary Chanson
>
> Norton System Information reports I'm running at 200 MHz with an Award
BIOS
> Graphics card is ATI Graphics Pro Turbo
> I don't remember what the motherboard is - docs are "safely filed"
somewhere
> - I think its from an outfit called "GIGABYTE Technology"
The ATI card probably can't deal with your odd-ball CPU. Try replacing
it with a Matrox card or a generic video board with a Cirus Logic chipset.
The motherboard is probably OK, and the BIOS is questionable (in fact,
some versions are quite suspect).
> Netscape likes to crash, but crashes less since I quit running Norton
> Antivirus continuously.
Better yet, un-install anything with either the "Norton" or "Symantec"
labels.
--
-GJC
-gcha...@shore.net
Richard Owlett
Gary Chanson wrote:
> Richard Owlett <row...@atlascomm.net> wrote in message
> news:390D1604...@atlascomm.net...
> >
> > Norton System Information reports I'm running at 200 MHz with an Award
> BIOS
> > Graphics card is ATI Graphics Pro Turbo
> > I don't remember what the motherboard is - docs are "safely filed"
> somewhere
> > - I think its from an outfit called "GIGABYTE Technology"
>
> The ATI card probably can't deal with your odd-ball CPU. Try replacing
> it with a Matrox card or a generic video board with a Cirus Logic chipset.
>
It was Julian, not I, who was having display problems.
> The motherboard is probably OK, and the BIOS is questionable (in fact,
> some versions are quite suspect).
>
What versions? What kind of problems?
>
> > Netscape likes to crash, but crashes less since I quit running Norton
> > Antivirus continuously.
>
> Better yet, un-install anything with either the "Norton" or "Symantec"
> labels.
>
Actually, the less running in background the better :)
Gary Chanson
>
> It was Julian, not I, who was having display problems.
Sorry!
> > The motherboard is probably OK, and the BIOS is questionable (in
fact,
> > some versions are quite suspect).
> >
>
> What versions? What kind of problems?
Probably older then yours. I think 4.5G was either the first fixed
version or the one just before it. I''l have to see if I have any notes
about it...
> Actually, the less running in background the better :)
Of course (and there's probably more hiding there them you ever
imagined).
--
-GJC
-gcha...@shore.net
Julian V. Noble
> >
> > Norton System Information reports I'm running at 200 MHz with an Award
> BIOS
> > Graphics card is ATI Graphics Pro Turbo
> > I don't remember what the motherboard is - docs are "safely filed"
> somewhere
> > - I think its from an outfit called "GIGABYTE Technology"
>
> The ATI card probably can't deal with your odd-ball CPU. Try replacing
> it with a Matrox card or a generic video board with a Cirus Logic chipset.
>
> some versions are quite suspect).
>
> > Antivirus continuously.
>
> Better yet, un-install anything with either the "Norton" or "Symantec"
> labels.
>
>
> -GJC
> -gcha...@shore.net
My video board is an S3 ViRGE PCI. I dunno who made the motherboard.
Gary Chanson
Julian V. Noble <j...@node15.unix.Virginia.EDU> wrote in message
news:8el4mj$b01$1...@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU...
>
> My video board is an S3 ViRGE PCI. I dunno who made the motherboard.
I'm not too fond of them either. Too many bugs in their drivers. Most
video board manufacturers are much more interested in how fast they can
throw graphics around, then in how accurate their throw is!
--
Richard Owlett
Gary Chanson wrote:
> Richard Owlett <row...@atlascomm.net> wrote in message
> news:390D9C43...@atlascomm.net...
> >
> > It was Julian, not I, who was having display problems.
>
> Sorry!
>
> > > The motherboard is probably OK, and the BIOS is questionable (in
> fact,
> > > some versions are quite suspect).
> > >
> >
> > What versions? What kind of problems?
>
> Probably older then yours. I think 4.5G was either the first fixed
> version or the one just before it. I''l have to see if I have any notes
> about it...
>
>
I have AWARD Modular Bios 4.51 PGM. Any info / comments ?
Gary Chanson
>
> I have AWARD Modular Bios 4.51 PGM. Any info / comments ?
They seem to have gotten competent enough in later versions. I still
try to avoid them, but I haven't seen any major problems recently.
--
-GJC
-gcha...@shore.net