Dell NMI Parity Check Error During Vista Upgrade from XP

Question：I'm trying to upgrade my Dell E310/3100 from Windows XP MCE to Vista Home Premium SP1.  I ran the Vista Upgrade Advisor and it said the computer met the minimum requirements for Vista.  It also said that I would need to upgrade my graphics card after installing Vista (I have integrated graphics on the Dell) in order to use the Aero features of Vista. So I went ahead and attempted the install of Vista and towards the end of the installation (I believe on one of the restarts) my computer blue screens with Hardware Malfunction: NMI Parity check/memory error system halted.  After I force the computer to shut off and restart the Vista installation says it has failed and reverses the attempted installation.  I have reseated both DIMMs and tried using only one, but niether solved the problem.  Any idea's on what is causing the hardware failure?  Could it be the integrated graphics card?    

Answer 1：

Hey Mad_Max,

You get the NMI Parity Check/memory error if there is a hardware failure on your computer.  Disconnect all the external hardware connected to your computer. You also need to perform a Hardware clean boot where you will disable Most of the hardware devices on your computer. You can disable the devices from the Device Manager before you start the upgrade. Device that can be disabled for doing a Hardware clean boot are:

1. Sound Card.
2. Network Card.
3. USB Devices and controller (Please don't do this if the customer is using USB
keyboard or Mouse or Wireless Keyboard or mouse
4.CD and DVD.
5. Modems.
6. Ports (serial and parallel)

Click on Start and type Device Manger. Open Device Manager and Expand the Devices listed under each of the above category. Right click on each device and disable them.

Also read the below article that shows the steps that you need to follow before installing Vista :

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918884
 
I hope that this information helps
 
Thanks

---

Regards, Irfan H, .

Answer 2：Hey Irfan H,

Thanks for the info. I had hope that this may do the trick but it did not.  I disabled just about everything on the computer without totally crippling it.  I still got the hardware malfunction during the Vista install.  I did find out that my computer only has 8mb video graphics memory (4 year old basic desktop!!).  As far as I can tell Vista recommends 128mb minimum for proper operation.  At this point I'm going to buy a graphics card and hope that solves the problem.  Any other suggestions are welcomed.  I will update once I have a graphics card installed. 

Answer 3：I installed a new video card and it solved the problem.  It seems that my integrated video couldn't handle Vista (or is it the other way around??).  Vista succesfully installed after two weeks of screwing with the computer to get it to work.  Vista better be worth all the hassle!!!