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Ultimate Audio Playback => XXHighEnd Support => Topic started by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 04:04:28 pm



Title: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 04:04:28 pm
I thought I'd tried using a RAM disk again after a couple of years without it. I followed Peter's instructions (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=2915.0). I set the a: and b: drives to 5GB each in the BAT file. I thought that with 16GB of total RAM I'd be OK... but obviously not.

As soon as I ran the BAT file, I started getting all sorts of memory error messages, without starting ANY program. The first is "Your computer is low on memory". If I try to start a program (e.g. XX) I get the message "Exception of type 'SystemOutofMemoryException' ".

I've tried uninstalling IMDisk Virtual Disk Driver from Control Panel and then rebooting, but this doesn't help.

So, it seems that I've locked out most of my memory and my PC is now totally unresponsive irrespective of what I do.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Mani.


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: christoffe on January 03, 2015, 04:43:51 pm

So, it seems that I've locked out most of my memory and my PC is now totally unresponsive irrespective of what I do.


Hi Mani,

there are not many possibilities left.
My proposals/route:

A) disconnect the PC from the power line for appr. 10 sec.
B) have a look into the BIOS for the RAM to ensure ..... .
C) proceed with booting and see what's going on.
D) If nothing helps, W8 has to be installed again.

kind regards

Joachim

P.S. A Happy New Year to all forum members from Finnland


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 04:52:13 pm
Hi there Mani,

I actually don't understand ...
Assumed you do not apply this batch file as a auto-start up program (and if you do that, eliminate it from Auto-start), then how can it keep on going wrong if you first make that 5GB 2GB or so, or otherwise don't run the .BAT at all.
So I guess I don't understand the problem !

Peter


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 05:51:03 pm
Thanks for the ideas Joachim. But this seems to be a deeper problem...

I thought I'd really 'clear the RAM' by taking out the RAM modules in the mobo and re-inserting them. I did this, and the PC just refused to boot up. I mean, totally dead. Of course, I've checked that they are inserted properly - they are, but they are probably inserted in a different order to before (shouldn't be a problem, right?)

After thinking about things, it occurred to me that the problem looked very similar to one that I've seen before, namely the ATX power supply too weak. I tried a few other things, and in the end decided to replace the ATX power supply - I had an identical spare ATX PSU to hand. And voila, things worked... sort of. Now, I'm getting half-way through boot up and then everything freezes. Again, this smells of an ATX PSU problem to me.

Could it be that by taking the RAM modules out and putting them back in the PC now needs to draw considerably more power on boot-up? My ATX PSUs are 460W - should be more than enough, right?

Anyway, what I now need to do is replace the graphics card to get into the bios and see what's happening during start-up (I currently run headless via RDC).

Will be back... either tears of joy or tears of... not worth even contemplating.

And the crazy thing is that my system was sounding soooo good these last few days (after I moved my PC right next to the NOS1a and started using a shorter USB cable and running the PC and NOS1a off the same power block).

Mani.



Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 05:53:43 pm
I actually don't understand ...
Assumed you do not apply this batch file as a auto-start up program (and if you do that, eliminate it from Auto-start), then how can it keep on going wrong if you first make that 5GB 2GB or so, or otherwise don't run the .BAT at all.
So I guess I don't understand the problem !

Well me neither. But from my above post, it's obvious that there's something more serious going on.

Any more thoughts much appreciated.

Mani.


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 06:00:48 pm
Any more thoughts ? well, that I don't see the relation to IMDisk. Maybe initially (with your Out of Memory and such) but how can that persist ? I don't see it. Unless you tweaked/set IMDisk differently from advised. Do you ?

Installing and using a RAMDisk (IMDisk) (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=2915.0).

Peter



Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 06:09:11 pm
Mani,

Take a look at this (hope the link still works) :
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15140/what-is-hiberfil.sys-and-how-do-i-delete-it/
Just apply that (means "remove it". Windows 8 stores stuff in there which may make some memeory things persistent.
Not even sure whether this works (out) the same for W8, but exactly W8 messes with this during boot (W7 does not).

Peter


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 06:59:22 pm
Thanks Peter, that may well have solved my initial problem.

But things have gone way beyond that now. Stupidly, it seems that I replaced two of the four RAM modules in the mobo the incorrect way around. Of course, they weren't inserted all the way into their slots, but enough to screw things totally up. I'm pretty certain the mobo is now broken (and maybe the memory modules too). I suspect the issue with boot-up is now due to the broken mobo malfunctioning and asking for too much power.

So, an expensive day for me. I'm going to order a new mobo (and memory modules too, to be on the safe side). I just hope my CPU is OK. If not, maybe it'll be an opportunity to look into a Xeon?

Thanks for the help.

Mani.


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 07:07:47 pm
Sad to hear Mani. But I wonder whether things are really broken. But point with these things is : supposed the MoBo is broken, then maybe it will destory a new set of Memory dimms ? And maybe the memory is more expensive than the MoBo anyway ... Yeah, well ...

Xeon ? Up to you. But not sure whatfore. $$$ !

Regards and heads up,
Peter


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 07:11:09 pm
Btw, be sure that the BIOS tried to recognize all the memory again. So maybe it is just that now ...


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 03, 2015, 07:20:05 pm
Another thought :

If you have two modules still working, put those two in the other sockets. Still works ? then ...
:yes:


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 03, 2015, 07:55:33 pm
Yeah, I may still have two working DIMMs, though I can't remember which were which now. But I'm pretty certain the mobo is gone.

I any event, I've gone ahead and ordered a new X79 mobo (couldn't find a mini-ATX, so had to go for an ATX) and 4x 4GB DIMMs. Around UKP290, so not a total disaster in the scheme of things. But I'll NEVER make this mistake again.

Meanwhile, this has prompted me to try my office PC in my main system. I've always been more than satisfied with the sound in my office, and it'll be interesting to hear how my office PC compares to Le Monster (before it died).

Mani.


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: Jud on January 05, 2015, 07:35:05 pm
Arrggh, Mani!   :(

I've done that myself (inserted a memory stick incorrectly and screwed up the mobo), so I know that sinking feeling....

Still, I was pretty happy seeing that new mobo and RAM arrive - like an Xmas gift to myself.   :smile:


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: AlainGr on January 05, 2015, 07:47:09 pm
It happened to me too... But it wasn't mine... Wanted to help a friend... How miserable I felt...

Alain


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 05, 2015, 08:43:52 pm
What were you doing actually Mani ? (I know, but why ?)


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: manisandher on January 05, 2015, 08:58:11 pm
Thanks for the support guys. Alain, your experience sounds particularly painful.

What were you doing actually Mani ? (I know, but why ?)

I was trying to 'clear the memory'. Switching the PC off didn't seem to work - as soon as I booted it up again, I would get the 'low memory' warnings coming up again. I tried unplugging the PC and leaving it for a few minutes before booting up again. Exactly the same thing. Then I thought if I physically remove and replace the DIMMs, the RAM would have to have been cleared.

Strangely, when I ran 'Performance Checker' (before I broke things totally), it was showing me very low memory usage. And yet I couldn't start any application (including XX)... due to apparently low memory.

I totally take the blame for screwing my mobo up. But there was something really strange going on before I did this.

Mani.


Title: Re: HELP!!! - I've screwed things up with IMDisk
Post by: PeterSt on January 06, 2015, 08:28:47 am
Mani,

Most probably you also shut off Virtual Memory (Paging) ?
(this is good / advised for playback, but now nothing takes into account too few available memory)

Regards,
Peter