Hardware Malfunction: NMI Parity Check / Memory Parity Error

Today I hit a little problem with my e1505... while I was working away with about 10-15 things open I got a BSOD with the following message:

Hardware Malfunction

Call Your Hardware Vendor for Support

NMI Parity Check / Memory Parity Error

The System Is Halted

Well, i wasnt thrilled about this so contacted dell support in chat... went into the diagnostics and ran all the memory diagnostics which all came back passed... the dell tech told me that I need to do a repair install of Window XP to resolve the issue... but that seems odd to me... since its a hardware error... or is it?

Anyone have enlightenment for me?

Thanks,

 

Hi Mate,

Just got my shiny new Dell Inspiron 9400 and the exact same thing happens to me about once a day. Normally when im in photoshop but a couple of time when in other apps.

Its killing me.

 

Well...it might be a Windows issue, but it doesn't sound like it...the BSOD is usually a hardware issue. You might want to take out and switch the RAM chips from one slot to the other and make sure they are seated properly. Other than that...is buying new RAM or calling Dell and telling them to send you some new RAM or a new comp.

Hope this helps a little.

 

I did a memtest for my laptop today.

My ram is fine, but somehow I get this error ocassionally.

 

I got my laptop 2 days ago. The first moment i boot up, my screen already flickered. Then i restart, the screen went blue and have the same Hardware malfunction. so i called up dell technical support, after checking here and there through telephone. They are replacing my laptop screen.

First i suspect it was a graphic card malfunction coz whenever i view video, do extensive images, it will have that error message. So i plug my XPS 1210 to external LCD, it turns out fine, i can watch video,etc. So this is due to LCD problem as what the technical support told me.

I hope this will help ...

 

guys do a search on memory parity error, many threads exist. no one has found a complete solution. some change RAM, other try differernt video drivers. i changed the video driver (tweaksrus) and havent seen error after that. hope i dont see it again

 

I think this happens because of Video RAM, not system RAM. I've seen this error before (used to see it about once a month), but not since I've changed video drivers (about 1.5mths ago).

 

Hello, i have a Dell Inspiron 6400. Just five minutes ago i have seen the same message on my LCD. The hardware looks fine, i think the problem is the VRAM, because the HipermemoryT from the X1400 is not working good.

When the OS needs more RAM it tries to use from the 128 MB shared of the 256 of the X1400.

Somebody have other idea?

 

i have several threads about this problem too. I guess the Hypermemory is the issue. Dell just sent me new rams and after i installed it, the computer crash on BSOD. THe technician have no clue what's going on so they just guess based on the error message. They suggested me to replace motherboard. I don't like to send my computer back for repair... i need it for everyday work.


Any1 knows how to change the video drivers, please show some instructions. Thanks alot.

 

I'm getting that error, when i plug my d820 (old i8600c the same) into the docking station while running xp or vista. with linux, thats working fine. just wanted to point that out... it's probably not related to your problems.

 

Guess what...

I just bought the mother of all notebooks... a DELL XPS and have been working on it for a month. After a month I got the same hardware malfunction errors time after time... even when just checking my mail.
DELL technician came to replace the videocard...(???) After that the problem got even worse... Two days later DELL technician came again to change the video card and the motherboard... The problem is totally solved because now I can't even start up my notebook. It's dead!

DELL is going to replace the whole machine within 4 weeks. I hope you have less problems with your machine... if you don't, make sure they replace it for you because it definately is a hardware problem! No software errors

 

I'm not sure if anyone even visits this discussion, but I'm sure somewhere down the line someone will search for "Memory parity e1705" in Google as I did, and I'm happy to be able to give some answers.

First of all, lemme say that just recently a friend let me have his e1705 laptop to use to help him do some web development work. He did warn that "It crashes to blue screen randomly" saying it was "some kind of overheating issue". Sure enough, after the laptop sat running for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, it would go right to the dreaded bluescreen of death that I know you all have already come to loathe.

Well that would never do. This was a really nice laptop - 2ghz dual core processor, 2 gigs of RAM - and I wasn't just going to accept that this was something it "just did". So what to do?

First, I considered it might be a drivers issue, which doesn't make a LOT of sense, since it was a memory issue, but what the hell. I went to Dell and updated all their software. Rebooted, held my breathe and waited... CRASH

Then I scanned for viruses, malware, spyware, and general disk errors. Reboot, wait... CRASH

I understood that laptops don't generally just start overheating so this was most likely a cooling issue. Unfortunately I will say it's a freaking 2 hour ordeal to get to the fans, but it is possible. Please note that doing this yourself WILL VOID YOUR DELL WARRANTY, but if you're brave enough and you have a small screwdriver, you can find everything you need here : http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_dell.html. Note that you will have to remove the LCD screen to open the case (yes really) but it's not as bad as it sounds.

So I open the case and remove both cooling fans (on cools the processor and one cools the video card) and I was horrified to find a mutant caterpillar living in each one. Okay, not really, but the size of the dust bunny in each was amazing. This thing sucks up dust better than my vacuum cleaner! It was apparent that this was the problem. With this giant dust ball blocking the sensitive equipment the fan was supposed to be cooling, this was obviously the problem! The parts were overheating from not being cooled and BAM! I cleaned and dusted the internal parts thoroughly, flossed dust from the blades of the fans, reassembled the laptop, patted myself on the back, powered it up and all was well... for about 45 minutes. CRASH!

After much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, I decided to test the memory directly. I had already run burn-in tests and the memory passed with flying colors. This is because memory errors are somewhat random on the chips. Burn-in tests can assault the chips, but if it doesn't hit the problem area in just the right way, the memory will work. I mean, you can boot into Windows and use it for a while, right? No reason why the memory wouldn't pass a test. But just to be sure, I took out one of the chips and rebooted. The laptop actually seemed more responsive on the one chip. Maybe this is it, I thought. I used it for about 15 minutes and CRASH!

This is going nowhere, I thought. Such a shame too because it's a really nice laptop. So I swapped to the other chip, rebooted... and it's been running for 2 days straight. Hasn't even hiccuped. I can now say with at least 95% assuredness that the problem is solved.

So let me back up here. The MAIN problem is the fans aren't / didn't cool. This problem MUST BE ADDRESSED, otherwise if you swap bad ram out it's just going to get fried again. But chances are this is just bad, cheap RAM (who the heck is Hynix anyway?) and was destined to fail anyway. Nevertheless, there are plenty of good components, and although 1gig of replacement RAM is only $26, you should price the processor and video card! If your laptop is over a year old like this one, expect that yours has the same buildup.

I hope this serves you well. Your laptop isn't broke, Dell tech support is a joke for not knowing how to fight this problem, and if this fix saves your day, feel free to drop me a tech support donation at my Paypal account - [email protected]... but an email of thanks would be good too!

Your techie pal in the know,
Rush Montgomery III

 

While it was certainly a riveting account, NMI Parity bluescreens are not always (or even usually,) due to heat issues. What they are an excellent indicator of, would be faulty hardware, loose connectors, and the like.

Recommending to open up your laptop and blow out the fans seems kind of silly although it does sound like it was the right thing to do in your very specific circumstance, but the last NMI Parity error I saw occurred whenever you'd wiggle a PCMCIA card in a laptop, and it certainly had nothing to do with heat issues, but rather a bad solder point. A mobo replacement addressed that particular laptop, not blowing out the fans.

 

Please do not revive dead threads (6 months or older), thank you