Solved Ghost In The Machine

[dowtish]

Ghost In The Machine? No, Intel Storage Manager!

Hi Peeps

New member so be gentle.... right, here goes!

I recently restored my laptop to it's original factory settings as the old gal was running slow, much of the software installed was hardly being used so I decided on a fresh install.

This wasn't the first factory reset that had been done on this machine and the previous reset worked without any problems!

Anyway I reset the machine and everything went according to plan. I updated all the ms software (windows update) and installed all the programs that I needed.

All seemed good but after about a month of use I started getting Windows Mail error messages (see attached)!

After searching endless topics on how to resolve the problem I decided to restore my lappy from a ghost image that was prior to the factory reset! This was from when the lappy was working but just running a bit slow.

After restoring the computer from this image (to a time when I know Windows Mail was working), low and behold the same error messages???????

Unable to find any solution to my problem I decided to factory reset and install Mozilla Thunderbird. I wasn't really happy with this work around as my intention was to keep the laptop as slim as possible (as little extra baggage as possible).

Once again I updated everthing and installed all the necessary software and made a ghost image of the system drive.

I wasn't really using the computer a great deal but I had received some automatic windows updates post ghost image. I didn't update the system image as they were not major updates.

Anyway after a week of not using the computer I tried to launch a Music Subscription app called Zune but it informed me that I needed to reinstall the application. This I tried but was then informed that it wasn't possible because Windows Update cannot currently check for updates. Basically windows update is not working.

I looked for various solutions but none of them have worked for me so I decided to revert to the system ghost image. This brought my computer back to whence it came but still windows update is not working.

I'm completely miffed because I've always relied on drive image software to get me out of trouble. On these last two occasions I've been failed miserably.

Any and all feedback appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cytherian]

Do you have any other trouble running more memory intensive applications? How much RAM do you have installed in your computer? I would run the System Info and double check that the system sees all installed RAM. If not, then you might need to re-seat it (worst case scenario is that one of your memory chips is bad). I'm assuming you have ample HDD space because you said you're aiming to run your system as light as possible.


Otherwise, it sounds like your configuration is compromised for running Windows Mail. You might be able to clear it by resetting... meaning, disabling it and then enabling it. If that doesn't work... unfortunately there's no way to uninstall and re-install just the mail program. You could try uninstalling SP2 and installing it again. That may refresh the Windows Mail program.

 

[dowtish]

I had upgraded my memory (4gb 2x2 crucial) but I reinstalled the old memory (3gb 2x1 samsung) and the problem is still present!

I've had no problems running memory intensive applications with either sets of RAM.

Both sets of RAM show up fine in System Info!

I'm lost???????

 

[dowtish]

@ Cytherian

You seem to be right I think there must be a problem with the Crucial memory!

Will give it a few days before I mark this thread as solved!

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Fiery]

Hold a séance? call an exorcist ....... Oh wait I know who you gunna call Ghostbusters!!

 

[townsbg]

If you keep going back to the same image only to end up with problems and you have no hardware problems then your image may be defective. You could try backing up your files and performing a clean install.

 

[wither 3]

Have you tried downloading the Microsoft System Update Readiness Tool and running it? That could resolve the update issue.

 

[Cytherian]

If the problem shows with both sets of memory, then it's not likely due to the memory. A memory problem won't prevent just one application from running.

I'd follow wither's advice about the Microsoft System Update Readiness Tool, and if that doesn't work, townsbg's idea of a new install is a possibility. Although, I have to wonder, do you have Microsoft Office? If so, why not try using Outlook?

 

[townsbg]

I don't see how a tool designed to check hardware compatibility will fix a problem with windows mail. Also there are other mail clients such as outlook, windows live mail, & mozilla thunderbird to name a few.

 

[dowtish]

It's defo the memory (I hope it is anyhow)...... I have two hard disks which both had the same Vista system (identical except the newer hard disk is larger).... we'll come back to that in a minute!

Because I had enough of the problems I installed Windows 7 (fresh install) with the new memory (crucial) and the new hard disk. Everything seemed to be going peachie but after a couple of Windows Updates and a couple of reboots I started getting the same windows update issue. Then I removed the new memory and replaced the old memory (samsung) but yet still the same windows update issue.

Totally peed off I decided to revert to the old hard disk (vista system) with the old memory (bearing in mind this system was giving me issues with both windows update & windows mail on the new memory).

Low and behold windows mail loads & window update updates!

Just to be thorough I decided to install windows 7 on the new hard disk (again) with the old memory and so far so good!

The new memory seems to be the problem but apart from the two issues mentioned there was no other obvious signs of the computer struggling??????

Just to clear up the faulty ghost image issue.... I had 3 seperate images, one from way back when, one from when it was glogged with various programs that were not being used, and one from after I done a factory reset with the toshiba disks! All three images were playing up!

Keeping my fingers crossed will be back if I have any more problems!

Any input in the meantime is appreciated!

Cheers!

 

[dowtish]

Update!

Intel Storage Manager maybe the culprit.... it came pre-installed on my laptop.

Different versions of it are available on the Toshiba driver page. I installed it on the 7 system (Windows update not working)... uninstalled it (windows update working again).

I'm now thinking maybe I can slam the crucial 4gb back in the machine. 3gb is running ok but an extra gig would be nice.

Don't really want any more hassle so more feedback would be appreciated!

 

[Cytherian]

Crucial is a very well respected memory manufacturer, but their memory isn't immune to failure. In fact, I just dealt with an iMac G5 where one of the issues turned out to be a faulty Crucial 1Gb DIMM. I swapped it with another Crucial 1Gb DIMM and the problem abated. I swapped them again and the problem returned. So, it's now running on 1Gb instead of 2Gb. You may have a memory issue indeed.

If you have time, it could be worthwhile putting the bad RAM in slot 0 and leaving slot 1 free. Then when you boot up, see if the system functions normally. If you can at least boot up and not suffer a crash at the desktop, then try running memory diagnostic software. This way you can confirm if it is bad or not.

 

[dowtish]

I just came across another forum where someone else had an issue with the intel storage manager and windows update. They managed to roll back the driver and windows update resumed correct function.

When I get time I will test the memory!

I'm wondering if the storage manager could have affected windows mail?????

Unfortunately that is well beyond my scope of knowledge!

 

[dowtish]

Tested the memory with Windows Memory Diagnostic and everything is being reported as fine!

Looks like the Intel Storage Manager was the villain!

 

[Cytherian]

Wow. Good catch! Who'd have thought that this utility would have anything to do with Windows mail. There might be an update to the Storage Manager, so check the Intel website. That is, if you really need to use the software.

 

[dowtish]

I think it must have been the change of hard disk that triggered the drama. Can't be sure if Windows Mail was being affected by the intel storage manager as I'm on Windows 7 now, but I know it was causing the window update failure. Instinct tells me that it was probably part and parcel of the same thing!