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Computer Will Not Boot Comes up Parity Check 2

#1 pbpd81

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 09:44 AM

I have a compaq computer running windows 98 and when I turn it on all I get is a black screen with Parity Check 2_ . I tried booting from the start up disk but it will not even begin reading the disk. I left the computer on for over 5 hours and it never booted. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

#2 Newb4Life

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 10:11 AM

Check this out (Maybe it'll help):

http://www.umich.edu/~archive/msdos/un_indexed/memory.txt

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#3 pbpd81

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 11:10 AM

Thanks for the help but I had already read that article. My computer does not come up with the 4 digit error code it talks about it also states a PARITY CHECK 2 message identifies a memory error on a memory expansion board, I do not have a memroy expansion board. I thought possibly it was some kind virus.

#4 boopme

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 03:34 PM

Please post some system details and take a quick L@@K. Help us to help you. :thumbsup:

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#5 rigel

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 04:30 PM

I am 97% sure that memory parity errors are POST errors - or errors given by the system board power on self test. This is a hardware issue. If the computer will start by pressing a F key (ex F1) you can try to run memtest86 from a floppy. This program is a free memory diagnostic that can be run from a floppy. Download it here: Memtest86

Good luck,

Rigel

This post has been edited by rigel: 15 January 2006 - 08:34 PM

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#6 Leurgy

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 05:09 PM

Quote

it also states a PARITY CHECK 2 message identifies a memory error on a memory expansion board

I agree with the MemTest check. For the purposes of that article WlkingMan quoted, a memory expansion board would be a stick of ram. The symptoms indicate that your ram has failed. If you have more than one ram stick, try them one at a time.

This post has been edited by Leurgy: 15 January 2006 - 05:51 PM

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#7 pbpd81

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 05:09 PM

I'm sorry I'm not sure what system details you are asking for. It is a Compaq Presario 5062 running Windows 98. And I'm not sure how to explain the problem any clearer. When I turn on the computer the screen is solid black and has "Parity Check 2_" in the upper left corner, the screen never changes the computer will not come on. The only thing I have tried is to boot from a start up disk which did not work. I will try starting it with an F key and running the memtest. Thanks

This post has been edited by pbpd81: 15 January 2006 - 05:15 PM

#8 boopme

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 06:35 PM

Well hat's enough for the moment,thanks. Now follow what Rigel and Leurgy recommend. Also I might add to clean out the inside of the case. Get the dust out: fans,power supply,slots in case etc...
Let us know how the memtest goes..

#9 rigel

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Posted 15 January 2006 - 08:32 PM

Hi pbpd81,

Replace the memory. If you have more than one stick, remove them one at a time until the problem disappears - trial and error method to find the problem. If you only have one stick of memory, you must replace that stick.

Good luck...

Rigel

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#10 pbpd81

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Posted 19 January 2006 - 02:25 PM

I changed the battery, cleaned the memory card and inside the computer and it seems to be working fine now. Thanks so much for all your help and suggestions.