Wierd memory error message when closing programs

[Bigdogbmx]

When i close just about any program I keep getting a pop up error message saying

(programname).exe Application error
The instruction at "0x00342bf34" referenced memory at "0x000000000".
The memory could not be "read"
Click on OK to terminate the program.

Is this a windows error or is my memory dying on me? By the way the memory address isnt what i typed i cant remember exactly what the address was and im not sure if its different every time or not.
Any idea would be appreciated as its kind of an unnerving message.

 

[nahmus]

If you get this on more than one program then your memory could be going. A quick test is to remove one stick of memory (or put one stick in at a time) and see if you get the same error.

you can also try this online memory testor
Try this memory testing software at http://www.memtest86.com/

download this: http://www.memtest86.com/memt30.zip and follow the directions on how to make the floppy.. This test will take about 10-20 minutes depending on the speed of your computer's memory system. Its pretty taxing on the system, so if you have a memory issue, it will most likely bring it out

 

[Sophisticated]

yes sounds like a memory problem...hit memtest up and give results...are u OC'n BTW if so give your RAM the max Vdimm u have

 

[nahmus]

I did not think to ask if you were overclocking (hmm where are we? man i'm dumb sometimes)

If you are overclocked then try going back to defaults.

 

[lemon]

Run Memtest86 3.1a and download the pre-compiled memtest http://www.memtest86.com/#download1 , and run prime95 http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm

 

[Bigdogbmx]

K ill try memtest on it. It is clocked from 133 to 166 and vdimm is 2.75. I wasnt comfortable putting it any higher but its worth a go.

 

[cartmanea]

I've been getting these recently too. Random programs, usually while prime95 is running in the background. My memory is Mushkin BH-5 pc3200 2x512Mb at 225 fsb, 2-2-2-11 timings, 2.98v. I run memtest86 though, looping all night, and not a single error. A friend of mine says its time to reformat, but I don't want to do that

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Bigdogbmx]

Mine kind of appeared about the same time as a wierd casino installed itself on my machine completely without me doing anything. Golden Palace or something. I think i got rid of it with spybot search and destroy and adaware but i suppose theres a chance its related. Have you seen anything like that on your PC?

 

[cartmanea]

Nope, my system is clean of all that crap. I try to keep my system trimmed down to the necesseties too, not a lot of extra stuff running on it.

 

[wired14]

it happens to me too every now and then . Memtest showed no erros too . I beleive it has something to do with WIndows in general and not an isolated memory problem. This problem and some others made me to move away from windows

 

[Andyman902042]

Do have an older version of NVIDIA drivers with Nview enabled. I had a problem with that when Nview was enabled. I upgraded drivers and it was fine.

 

[cartmanea]

nView is disabled on mine, still does it.

 

[Bigdogbmx]

I dont even have an Nvidia card, i got an ATI 8500 :S
EDIT* I also tried raising Vdimm and dropping the speed a little ad it still does it.

 

[Xstatic]

I still get the same error, I have reinstalled IE6 and still nothing. I have 2x256 sticks and I have tried to use each one by itself and I'm still getting the error. Dunno what it could be.

 

[Bigdogbmx]

At least we know its not the memory dying on us. Its not a virus either im pretty sure of that. Maybe some kind of registry problem?

 

[Xstatic]

Ok its not the memory, I have ran memtest for 24 hours and no errors in memtest at all. Also ran prime95 for 24 hours and no errors. I have reinstalled xp and after a fresh install with only drivers installed, I still get the error. It also happens when i close programs. Not all the time and not always the same ones. It like a random thing. And also I dont alsways get the error every time i close IE. If I have a ie window open and open a nother one and then close it after any period of time it sometimes gives the error and some times dont. Its puzzleing me to no end.

 

[nahmus]

Could it be your XP disk? Do you get errors during install?

 

[Andyman902042]

Make sure "system BIOS cachable" and "Video BIOS cachable" settings in BIOS are both Disabled.

 

[Bigdogbmx]

Ill try that and report back with results.

 

[Xstatic]

Have done both a full install with no errors and used a ghost image from a previous install.