Ubuntu

How to correct installed RAM memory errors

Asked by bruno_m

I'm new to ubuntu.
I have troubles starting ubuntu 9.04.
After energy lost the computer wont start. The screen, after the loading instead of showing the log in screen shows a distorced image.
I had this problem before and i solved it instaling ubuntu again. But this time i have important data in my computer
After several tries I used mem test. In test number 4 it reported more than 40 errors. Can I solve then without loosing my data?

Thanks
Bruno

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

How many amount of ram do you have...?
How many chips of RAM are inserted into your motheboard slots... ?

Thank you

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bruno_m (brunomarmelo) said : 		#2

I have 512 mb RAM. I don't know how many slots
It's a laptop.

Thanks

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Doug Stanley (doug-stanley) said : 		#3

Your data should be fine on the hard drive. Problems with your ram shouldn't affect the data on the hard drive.
So you'll either need to replace your ram, or pull out your hard drive an attach it to another machine to recover
the data from it.

Is there a local ubuntu user group near you? Some one from one of those can usually help with this sort of thing.

Hope that helps.

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bruno_m (brunomarmelo) said : 		#4

I hope it does.
So the problem is my RAM?
It's just because i was running windows fine before and ubuntu fine as well.
And after reinstaling it comes back to normal.
Can't this be a software problem?

I'm afraid don't know any user group.

Thanks for your help

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#5

You must substitute defective RAM...
If you have two ram chip you can try to investigate which chips is damaged by installing one of them and run the Ubuntu ram test.

Can you tell us the model and brand of your pc... we can try to find network info and handbook to help you.

Thank you

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bruno_m (brunomarmelo) said : 		#6

thanks
I don't have computer right here
It's an accer travelmate (don't know the model number)
When i get home i'll send this information

Thank you

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#7

Related to your memtest error result you can also try to pass some options to kernel to avoid memory access to defective mem addresses that will get you errors...

http://panela.blog-city.com/bad_memory__ubuntu_memtest86_to_the_rescue.htm

Hope this helps

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#8

If memtest reports errors you will need to replace the ram. If you have more than one stick of ram then remove one stick (with the power OFF) then test again. If its still bad then switch sticks.

If you only have a single stick then you will need to buy more ram. If you have another pc, you could use its ram (if it is the same) to test.

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