Help! T42P Hardware problem diagnostics

[Marc_G]

Hi folks-

Thanks to those of you who have responded to my earlier posts about "svchost.exe" errors during boot. Although initially it seemed to be software-related, now I'm becoming convinced it's a hardware thing.

I'd appreciate it if those more knowledgeable than I could give this a review and let me know your thoughts.

Symptoms:
During boot, right before the "Press Control-Alt-Delete to log on" screen, I'll get a svchost.exe error about an instruction at 0x751d379d referencing memory at 0xffcb8375; the memory could not be written. The numbers change a bit each time but always start with the first same few digits.

This happens 9 times out of 10. If I use an abbreviated boot sequence (safe mode with networking), I have always been able to get through the boot up without the error.

I've tried selectively adding items to the boot sequence with msconfig, and no matter what I add or don't add, when I get about 200 MB worth of stuff added to the boot processes list, I'll start to get the error. I've done this dozens of times now; it doesn't seem to matter specifically what processes get run, just the number of them.

If I get past the boot, things seem fine, but I've had three events in the last few days:
-One random BSOD
-once the system just froze. Had to reboot (what a joy that was, took many attempts to get on).
-Just now, upon resume from standby, I got a screen full of video hash. Interestingly, the computer wasn't locked up. I shut the lid; it went back into standby. Opened it, and it woke up normally, and I'm typing this now...

Also I noticed in Device Manager that the Trackpoint comes up as "Device Cannot Start" although it seems to be working OK. And the SoundMAx Digital Audio says the same, though I have sound (it's always been very quiet, no matter what volume I choose).

Scandisk is clean; two different hard drives give me the same problem, virus checks and Ad-aware and Spybot come back clean.

I was thinking a faulty DIMM might be at root, but I ran a full cycle of MemTest and came back with no errors after an hour. Actually only got to 99% before I had to shut down to travel.

I've been traveling, so I don't have a screwdriver, and won't be able to swap DIMM locations until tonight (I have a 512MB in the optional slot and a 1 GB in the standard slot). Bot DIMMS are IBM-genuine.

Fortunately have the 9x5 NBD warranty extension (presuming the order has processed by my company), so I'm thinking to call it in tomorrow. First though, can anyone give me any feedback?

I may try the restore CDs on a separate drive and see if I still get the errors, as futher support for my case with IBM.

Thanks in advance.

Marc

[Marc_G]

Brief update:

Following up on the listed trouble with the Audio device, I reinstalled the Audio drivers (using the latest ones, 9/2004). I had noticed that I wasn't getting any sound before doing so (this was new!). Installed the drivers and rebooted. The audio device now shows up.

I get sound now, but it's garbled and sounds like white noise with just a hint of structure to it...

Marc

[Marc_G]

Here's a further update:

On a spare drive I recovered the factory installation. So, the software is 100% IBM standard. Jeez. This took 3 hours! Why don't they just use an image...

Anyway, the sound is still messed up. Every wav or midi sounds like a steam whistle. So, I'm guessing I need a new main board.

I didn't see any of the svchost.exe errors, though. However when I booted my original drive just now, it didn't give the error either. It comes and goes...

Any thoughts?

Marc