Windows XP 'setup cannot copy' ram related?

Hi all, first post

Long story short, friend gave me her laptop, I updated it. The day after I turned it back up and I got an error message at start-up about a file that had to be restored from a backup/copy. I'd get that message every time windows started up. I would then start to get random error messages about avg not starting and other programs not wanting to work.
As there was nothing on the hd i decided just to reformat to and stop messing around trying to find out the cause of the problem.

So formatted the drive and started to install windows xp, while copying some of the files to the hd, i had 'setup cannot copy' blah blah two or three times but i was able to retry and copy them.
All looked fine windows setup screen came up and I went through that with no problems. As I installed from an old disc it only had sp1 on it. But I had already downloaded sp2 from windows so that I could just copy it over from the usb thumb drive. Anyway that didn't work while installing sp2 it said file was corrupt. I tried downloading it from windows it got a little further but ended up the same.

So clearly something not right, i had a hunt around on google and came across memtest, ran that and left it for 1hr 30mins in that time it said there was 360k + errors.

So my question is if i change over the memory do you reckon that will solve the problem? atm there isn't windows installed as I was able to get hold of a different disc with sp2 on it so thought maybe that might help but nope that refuses to install and now so does the original disc i was using.
Stick of ram is only like a tenner anyway but thought I'd ask to see if I'm on the right track.

Any help mucho appreciated.

 

Yes, it should, I've seen and experienced bad ram give file copy errors.

 

Thanks for the reply
Ive ordered a stick of ram so hopefully that will solve the problem.

 

what you could try in the meantime is to lower the ram speed in the BIOS or loosen the timings if possible. Even increasing the voltage +0.1v might help. Sometimes, the SPD isn't read by the board properly and it is set out of specification.

 

Yes, change the memory. Bad memory can give all kinds of problems. If it was new memory I'd suggest you send it back to the supplier for a refund!

 

Yeah Ive already looked into what you said, but there's no such options in the bios do change anything.

Can't do that the memory is about 3/4 years old, still might try and and get a replacement, adata have a lifetime warranty, but no receipt will probably be a problem, but cant hurt to try!


Actually I just thought of another problem.

When the laptop was working all be it only for short while, the fan only rarely came on and in short burst then turned off. bottom of the laptop got really warm too. when the ram is changed do you reckon that might sort it? I did take a load of screws out earlier and nearly had the back off but there's wires preventing me from opening it where I need to see
If not when I get the ram and hopefully get it working again, ive downloaded some software that should hopefully tell me if the fan is working and what the temps are.

 

Got and installed the new ram, windows xp installed without a problem and I've gotten no errors since the install. 5 hours running memtest and no errors.

Happy days.