> As it happened the problem was cured by reseating the DIM memory modules
in
> one PC.
> This despite a memory test having run all night without any error reports.

Don't be surprised by this.  I ran into a stick of memory that would work
for weeks without fail.  Then it would suddenly start acting up.  It wasn't
a connection problem, it's the actuall memory.  I could never get it to fail
on a memory diagnostic program.  I switched it, brought the other stick
home, and stuck it in my TV/DVD entertainment computer.  It worked perfectly
for three weeks of continuous operation.  Then one day, BSOD.  The machine
wouldn't even reboot after that.  Switched it, back online instantly.

Memory problems can be very hard to diagnose (using test programs, etc...)
I have never been able to find bad memory using diagnostic software.  But
the symptoms of bad memory are almost always the same.  Blue screens and
illegal-ops are the primary indicator.  Suddenly freezing is another.

> This is the second such incident I am aware of in the last 2 days.
> A friend's PC had variable problems ranging from black screen and no boot
at
> all through partial boot and sometimes full boot with no problems at all.
> Reseating the 2 x 128 MB DIMs cured the proble. Shades of the days of 16k
> RAM chips!

>         Russell McMahon

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