HELP! Is this a virus, or a hardware malfunction?

I don't know what happened, but this morning, my W3V shut down by itself. Upon switching it on, there was nothing. There was only light from the light bulb icon. After a few retries, I was able to get to the Asus boot up screen. But after that, it went to a black screen with the words, "TRAP 000006 ===== EXCEPTION======" Then blow it would be something like, "exp=00329."

What's wrong with it? Did I just get a virus or something? I have a virus scanner, and i don't remember downloading anything suspicious. And I am protected by a firewall. Please help.

 

How many sticks memory you have?? The problem probably relate to memory. If you have 2 sticks memory, try to take one out and turn it on, then test another one for testing one by one. At least you can see something on screen, just cannot pass the POST. If you don't have any 2nd memory for testing, try to bring it to your local dealer. Might be they can help you put one memory to test.

Cheers,
Joseph

 

Google might be your buddy - http://www.pcx.com.ph/forum/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=16940&PagePosition=1

I would try to boot into safe mode and then do a system restore to an earlier restore point.

 

I dont think safe mode is an option since they dont seem to be able to get past the post screen....
Thus memory test is the way to go, another thing to try would be to see if you can boot into the bios....press F2 during boot up....if so then you should at least be able to run a linux distro or some cd bootable recovery software.

Also try booting up without the battery in and running off a/c and vice versa...sounds silly but maybe worth a shot.

If these dont work then I would go straight to your nearest ASUS service center asap.
a

 

I've tried using booting up safe mode, but when it starts loading, it get's stuck half way, and says that some config files cannot be found, please put your Windows disc and press R to perform a repair install. The problem is, everytime I press install, the repair option isn't available. The Asus CD is only for recovery.

I'll try to do the memory stick test. I have 2 installed. I'll report back with results. But does that mean that one of my memory sticks has failed?

 

wow, the memory test works! Thanks alot! What exactly transpired this problem? I would hate to replace my other memory.

 

Well, if it is getting to the point that it says config files are missing, then it is past the memory test part of the power-on self test.

[soapbox on]This is why you are supposed to keep Windows on a separate partition and ghost that partition. Not that I have ever done that, but it always sounds like a great idea when I read that someone else has. [soapbox off]

Your best bet is to do a repair install, if you know of anyone with a full Windows install CD (not a recovery CD).

Your second option would be to wipe the hardrive and re-install from the recovery CD, but you will lose all the data on the hard-drive. Do you have recent backups? If not, you might be able to create a Knoppix boot CD and transfer your data to a CD or externall HDD.

Shoot me a PM if you can't find a full install disc and want to discuss this further.

Failed or it no longer fully seated in the slot, but this is seeming less likely.

 

Like all other things electronic, sometimes things just break and stop working. Never seems to be a reason why that you would ever be able to replicate anyway, shy of static discharge if you were handling it inappropriately. Put a new stick in and all will be well .

 

After putting my supposedly failed memory on the other slot, the conclusion is most definately that the memory has indeed failed. Funny that after removing that stick, Windows seems to boot up much faster. It might have been faulty somewhere but I never took notice. I guess I'll have to replace it. Thanks for the help everyone =)

 

Glad it's working again.

Most likely either the memory got jarred out of the slot, or it was never fully seated and locked down to begin with, and eventually worked loose.

This will sound odd, but you now know the computer works with Stick A installed.

Remove it and install Stick B and see if the computer loads Windows correctly.

If so, download and run MemTest (freeware, google for it) for several hours and see if it checks out okay.

If it fails, Stick B is bad.

If it passes, remove Stick B and re-insert Stick A and run MemTest again for several hours.

If it fails, Stick A had an intermittent (er, problem on one particular section of memory) problem and is also bad.

If it passes, most likely one stick was just not seated properly, but go ahead and install both and run MemTest again on the odd chance that there is some incompatibility between the two sticks when run together.

BTW, most computer memory these days has a lifetime warranty, so look into that if you get a failure.

 

All you have confirmed is that both slots work properly with Stick A. You have not confirmed that Stick B failed (although it is sounding that way).

 

No, I put my failed stick on both slots. Windows failed to load on both times. So that stick B is not working anymore.

 

Okay, time to check for a manufacturer name and possible warranty replacement.

 

Yup, thank god I saw your post. Almost forgot about the possibility of warranty. Thankfully, Corsair offers life time warranty. Had to cancel my newegg order. Thanks =).

 

Glad to help.