I have a gateway pentium 4, single core, 2ghz intel processor, Computor model e4000. 1gb ram 2-512sticks. 2gb virtual memory. windows xp home.
for a couple weeks the computer has been restarting, and firefox and ie crashing. I did a windows reinstall, which took me about ten times because because it kept shutting down. Anyway I removed , intercchanged, and just used one stick of ram .
Finally got windows reinstalled but it's still shutting down and programs crashing. I disconnected the second hard drive, the cd roms, the pci cards, and it is still crashing.
I finally downloaded "fix it utilities" and it checked the hardware, and said the CMOS ram test failed. So, fine, now I know what's wrong but how do I fix it, or do I have to get a new computer. I also, took out the cmos battery and checked it, it had a good 3 volts, so it should be ok, Can any help me?I'm a bit confused but I think that your RAM memory (2x512MB) failed the CMOS RAM memory test; as compared with the CMOS memory failed a test. Does that seem to be your understanding?

To confirm: Download and run memtest86 (www.memtest.org). Download the .iso, burn it to disk, boot from the disk and run the test for 1 hour, at least, on each RAM module, individually. If both pass, run the test for at least 2 hours with both modules installed. ANY failed test means a bad module.

If you don't have a program to burn the .iso, look at this: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htmfi tried memtest 86 . I used it a couple times. and let it run for about two hours. There wasn't any problems.
From my unsterstanding, there are two memories. The one memtest checks and then theres a cmos memory that holds the information for the bios , I guess so the computer knows where to find windows or something. That's what "fix it utilities said didn't pass.also, there is nothing in the bios to check the memory timing. you cna't set the timing on a gateway manufactured computer, or they make it hard toThere should be a battery on the motherboard that's what failed just replace that and you should be good to go.Since your RAM memory checks out, go ahead and replace the CMOS battery, as suggested by brett74. I know that you said that you checked the voltage but SUSPECT that you didn't test it under load. Regardless, they're cheap. And it is highly unusual for the CMOS memory to "fail."

After replacing the battery, enter the BIOS and set to "BIOS Failsafe Defaults," or similar, "Save & Exit." If your problem is solved, re-enter the BIOS and set to "Optimized Defaults," "Save & Exit." I do not know what choices you have in the Gateway BIOS, but you get the idea.
thanks , I had to order a battery, it'll be several days to get it. hope that works. That's about all the gateway bios has, " optimized defaults". I just have to wait and see.Quote from: w00189wr on September 22, 2008, 06:27:53 PM

thanks , I had to order a battery,

it was a cr 2032 but the kind you get at walmart ain't for the cmos and i was afraid to put it in. the rechargeable cr2032 are supposed to lithium manganese dioxide. So I just didn't want to take a chance.