Is 10.3 i386 jinxed ?

Warren Block wblock at wonkity.com
Tue May 3 17:15:38 UTC 2016


On Tue, 3 May 2016, Manish Jain wrote:

>
> On 05/03/16 21:48, Polytropon wrote:
>> On Tue, 3 May 2016 21:37:36 +0530, Manish Jain wrote:
>>> I found what is the problem, with the help of Ultimate Boot CD. UBCD
>>> says the video memory is corrupt.
>> Ha! As assumed, it looked too much like hardware error...
>> 
>> 
>> 
>>> Does that mean I have to trash the
>>> entire laptop, or is there some way to replace the video memory ?
>> Depends.
>> 
>> There are laptops where the GPU memory is allocated from the
>> installed memory modules that serve as RAM. Other models have
>> dedicated chips for the GPU which are independent. In such a
>> case, you probably cannot replace them. But if it's the first
>> case mentioned, exchange the RAM modules. The memtest results
>> usually are "false-negative" because the GPU memory is already
>> "cut off" from the cells available as regular RAM, so those do
>> not get tested.
>> 
>> 
>
> In case the video RAM is part of a dedicated chip, then should it not be 
> possible to replace the chipset ? With PC's, this is possible, I know. But 
> laptops, I have no idea.

Possible, yes, but in a notebook it will be soldered to the motherboard, 
so replacing it would require hot-air rework equipment and experience. 
Replacing the motherboard is simpler, although sometimes not simple, 
even if you have done it before.

Neither method is likely to be practical.  The term is "BER": beyond 
economic repair.  Replacement of the system will be cheaper.


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