BIT 6 - Failed to start a memory test process.

[JohnDorian]

I'm receiving this error on a few units here in the depot. So I looked up the information in the BIT documentation.

Failed to start a memory test process
In the Multi-Process Torture Test, one of the test processes failed to start. This is normally due to insufficient system resources and is not specifically a RAM error. Check and possibly reduce the "Torture test settings" in Preferences->RAM

But I'm not using the torture test setting. I'm using the normal test setting. I restarted the PC and even used a HDD with a fresh OS, to see if it was indeed due to low resources. Both still failed.

Now I'm running another memory test (MemTest) to double check the memory. But so far everything is fine.

Any ideas?

*Edit: both MemTest passed just fine

[Ian (PassMark)]

This is a rare error. Which version of BurnInTest are you using e.g. 6.0.1031? What Operating system are you running on?

As you observed, this error can occur with the Standard memory test (from V6.0 of BurnInTest) - we will update our documentation. This error indicates the test (or at least part of the test) couldn't be started. It does not mean there is a memroy error.

There are a number of reasons why the BurnInTest memory testing processes (memtest.exe) can't start be started. Further information should be shown in the log file, e.g
"Unable to start memory test process"
"Unable to configure interface with memory test process"

What does the log show?

Is there anything that may be preventing the "memtest.exe" process from running, like some type of security software?

If you have not already, I woudl uninstall BurnInTest and re-install it, and try again.

[JohnDorian]

This is a rare error. Which version of BurnInTest are you using e.g. 6.0.1031? What Operating system are you running on?

As you observed, this error can occur with the Standard memory test (from V6.0 of BurnInTest) - we will update our documentation. This error indicates the test (or at least part of the test) couldn't be started. It does not mean there is a memroy error.

There are a number of reasons why the BurnInTest memory testing processes (memtest.exe) can't start be started. Further information should be shown in the log file, e.g
"Unable to start memory test process"
"Unable to configure interface with memory test process"

What does the log show?

Is there anything that may be preventing the "memtest.exe" process from running, like some type of security software?

If you have not already, I woudl uninstall BurnInTest and re-install it, and try again.

Hey Ian,

We do not install BIT, but instead run it from a USB flash drive. I tried multiple flash drives on multiple HDDs. Unfortunately, I no longer have the log file but will try to obtain one if this issue occurs again.

Originally, I thought this issue was caused by a third party program like you mentioned. We've had issues like this in the past. Sometimes Norton, Zone Alarm, Kasperksy and others, would prevent the memtest.exe executable and other executables, from opening. But I disabled all security and even ran it on a "Gold" HDD. Our Gold HDDs are known good HDDs without a bare OS, so there's nothing on it that could cause the problem.

We can't keep these PCs long, so I instructed my guy to just bypass the memory test since MemTestx86 passed on both of them.

What's strange is, we had this error on 4 other units too. But usually, when this occurs, restarting the test or rebooting and then restarting works without fail.

Finally, the specific version of BIT that we're running is 6.0.1030.0.

[Ian (PassMark)]

What Operating System were you testing on?

Thanks for the feedback. If you see the problem again, please let us know.

[JohnDorian]

What Operating System were you testing on?

Thanks for the feedback. If you see the problem again, please let us know.

It was on Windows 7 and we might have another one today. I'm having my tech pull the log soon.

*Edit: We have two more. I should have the logs soon.

[JohnDorian]

There's not a whole lot to the log file, but I've pasted it below.

PassMark BurnInTest Log file - http://www.passmark.com
================================================== ======

Date: 02/08/12 15:31:44

BurnInTest V6.0 Pro 1030
(64-bit)Logging detail level: Result summary

**************
SYSTEM SUMMARY
**************
Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 build 7601 (64-bit),
1 x Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz,
7.9GB RAM,
Mobile Intel(R) HD Graphics,

CD-RW/DVDRW,

GENERAL
System Name: HP-HP

CPU
CPU manufacturer: GenuineIntel
CPU Type: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2630QM CPU @ 2.00GHz
CPUID: Family 6, Model 2A, Stepping 7
Physical CPU's: 1
Cores per CPU: 4
Hyperthreading: Enabled
CPU features: MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 DEP PAE Intel64 VMX Turbo AES AVX
Clock frequencies:
Measured CPU speed: 1996.0 MHz
Base Clock: 100.0 MHz
Muliplier range: Min: x8, Max non turbo: x20
Cache per CPU package:
L1 Instruction Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L1 Data Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L2 Cache: 4 x 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB

MEMORY
Total Physical Memory: 8140MB
Available Physical Memory: 6318MB

**************
RESULT SUMMARY
**************
Test Start time: Wed Feb 08 15:31:45 2012
Test Stop time: Wed Feb 08 15:31:52 2012
Test Duration: 000h 00m 07s

Test Name Cycles Operations Result Errors Last Error
Memory (RAM) 0 0 FAIL 1 Failed to start a memory test process.
2D Graphics 0 0 FAIL 1 No operations during test period
3D Graphics 0 965 PASS 0 No errors
Optical disk (E 1 296288 PASS 0 No errors
Disk (C 0 224 Million PASS 0 No errors
TEST RUN FAILED

*******************************************
SERIOUS ERROR SUMMARY FOR THE LAST TEST RUN
*******************************************
SERIOUS: 2012-02-08 15:31:53, 2D Graphics, SERIOUS: No operations during test period (x 1)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[JohnDorian]

Ian,

We have 4 more failures today. Do you want the logs for each one or will this one suffice?

[Ian (PassMark)]

The additional error logging about this problem is not included as you have the "Result summary" logging level set. Could you please change this to "Normal" in Preferences->Logging and post the log file. I only need one log file. Thanks.

[JohnDorian]

The additional error logging about this problem is not included as you have the "Result summary" logging level set. Could you please change this to "Normal" in Preferences->Logging and post the log file. I only need one log file. Thanks.

OK. We'll have to wait and see if another one fails today, which I think at least one will. I keep the configuration files on the server and I'e just updated them with the normal logging, so we should get the details you need.

[JohnDorian]

My tech just got in and he gave me some good news. He said that last night, one of the testers had this issue. So he formatted his USB flash drive and copied the test package from the server onto the newly formatted USB. Apparently, it worked on all 4 units without fail.

With that being said, is there some temporary files written to the application directory that may have gotten full?

[JohnDorian]

Here's the Normal log.

PassMark BurnInTest Log file - http://www.passmark.com
================================================== ======

Date: 04/04/11 12:47:34

BurnInTest V6.0 Pro 1030
(64-bit)Logging detail level: Normal

**************
SYSTEM SUMMARY
**************
Windows 7 Home Premium Edition Service Pack 1 build 7601 (64-bit),
1 x Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz,
3.9GB RAM,
Intel(R) HD Graphics Family,

CD-RW/DVDRW,

GENERAL
System Name: DEBBIE-HP

CPU
CPU manufacturer: GenuineIntel
CPU Type: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz
CPUID: Family 6, Model 2A, Stepping 7
Physical CPU's: 1
Cores per CPU: 2
Hyperthreading: Enabled
CPU features: MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3 SSSE3 SSE4.1 SSE4.2 DEP PAE Intel64 VMX AVX
Clock frequencies:
Measured CPU speed: 2195.4 MHz
Base Clock: 100.0 MHz
Muliplier range: Min: x8, Max non turbo: x22
Cache per CPU package:
L1 Instruction Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L1 Data Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L2 Cache: 4 x 256 KB
L3 Cache: 3 MB

MEMORY
Total Physical Memory: 4044MB
Available Physical Memory: 2348MB
******************
DETAILED EVENT LOG
******************
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:34, Status, PassMark BurnInTest V6.0 Pro 1030
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:35, Status, Main Tests started
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:35, CPU, SSE4a test(s) selected, but CPU feature not detected
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:35, 3D Graphics, 3D test starting: Duty cycle = 100. Test on primary monitor (0). (x,y) = (533,273). WxH = 300x200.
WARNING: 2011-04-04 12:47:42, RAM, Failed to start a memory test process.
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:42, RAM, Unable to start memory test process
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:42, RAM, The system cannot find the file specified. (0)
LOG NOTE: 2011-04-04 12:47:45, Status, Test run stopped

**************
RESULT SUMMARY
**************
Test Start time: Mon Apr 04 12:47:34 2011
Test Stop time: Mon Apr 04 12:47:44 2011
Test Duration: 000h 00m 10s

Test Name Cycles Operations Result Errors Last Error
CPU 1 11.922 Billion PASS 0 No errors
Memory (RAM) 0 0 FAIL 1 Failed to start a memory test process.
2D Graphics 0 74 PASS 0 No errors
3D Graphics 0 467 PASS 0 No errors
Optical disk (F 1 358573 PASS 0 No errors
Disk (C 0 20.447 Million PASS 0 No errors
TEST RUN FAILED

*******************************************
SERIOUS ERROR SUMMARY FOR THE LAST TEST RUN
*******************************************

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Ian (PassMark)]

Maybe the memtest.exe process had not been copied to the UFD, or maybe it had become corrupted on hte UFD. Glad to here the problem is solved.

[JohnDorian]

Maybe the memtest.exe process had not been copied to the UFD, or maybe it had become corrupted on hte UFD. Glad to here the problem is solved.

Well, it's not really solved. This is a band-aid, not a solution. I was hoping to receive more information about how I could prevent it from occurring rather than waiting for it to fail.

Maybe MemTest was corrupted, but it was definitely there. I will have my tech check and see next time.

[Ian (PassMark)]

Please, if you see this again, send us the log file with the "Normal" logging level set. Thanks.

[JohnDorian]

Please, if you see this again, send us the log file with the "Normal" logging level set. Thanks.

Ian,

The second log I posted was with the Normal setting.

Also, I had my tech only replace memtest.exe when this error occurred and eh said that fixed the problem.

So somehow their executables became corrupt. Since these USBs are run on so many different machines, I think it's likely that an antivirus corrupted them while trying to prevent them to run.

So I guess all I can do is programmatically replace the memtest.exe each time. But that seems a bit... much. Do you all have hashes of the exectuables? I would think that the corrupted executable would have a different hash. If that's the case, I can compare hashes before copying.