How do I avoid bad memory?
 

My kernel is 2.6.19.2 and I have 2 x 512MB memory.

I have a few bad bits that memtest indicates are around the 830MB mark.

I'm told that I can add mem=800M to the kernel parameter list. However that won't work if memory is allocated from highest address down, which I'm told is a possibility.

Does the kernel allocate memory from high address to low, or low to high?

TIA
Jim

Couldn't you just add new memory to get rid of the actual problem? It's rather cheap nowadays.. ;)

+1

If you've got a few bad bits already, you're probably looking at an increase later, and more problems later.

If memtest indicates bad RAM, replace it. OTOH, could the issue be simply that you need to enable high memory support? See sapphirecat's article on the Linux memory management, section 2. HTH

Thanks. I swapped memory with my backup system and tested the 2 cards individually. A lot more errors this time on the bad card. I plan on replacing my main machine with a 64-bit model in the near future so I really cannot justify new memory at this time.

Jim

Don't rub your shoes on the floor and then touch the memory.