I'm in a bind

I have a laptop that seems like it wants to work, but for some reason everything I try won't fix the issue and I keep getting "stop: 0x0000008e".
I've ran:
Stress test on the cpu, verified working
Memory test, verified working
Swapped out HD, verified working
Temp check, nothing wrong

I get to the point of installing windows and the blue screen stop error comes up after this. I've even tried running linux live and it's about the same, boots and loading then freezes...no blue screen though.

Any ideas or should I just scrap the thing.

Me

Search the web using: STOP 0x0000008e

e.g.
"STOP 0x0000008e" error message during Windows XP setup"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315335

Sometimes you can get this error merely because the ram has a poor connection.

In that case, you may also sometimes get the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL error.

A common thing that can happen with ram, even ram that worked fine previously, is the ram has, or has developed, a poor connection in it's slot(s).
This usually happens a long time after the ram was installed, but it can happen with new ram, or after moving the computer case from one place to another, and I've had even new modules that needed to have their contacts cleaned.

See response 2 in this - try cleaning the contacts on the ram modules, and making sure the modules are properly seated:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...

For a laptop, you must remove both its main battery and AC adapter before you do that.

I searched for the stop error before I posted and came up with the same topics, I didn't include this in post....sorry.

One thing I didn't try is to clean the contacts which I will do. I've also replaced the memory and this didn't seem to help.

Any other suggestion are also welcome.

Thanks again,

Me

Errors that occur when attempting to install 2 different OSes are a sure sign of a hardware issue. What is the history of the hardware components?

"I've also replaced the memory and this didn't seem to help."

Ram that works in another mboard , or any ram you buy or have lying around, may not work properly, or sometimes, not at all - even if it physically fits and is the right overall type (e.g. SDram, DDR, DDR2, etc.; PCxxxx, xxx mhz) for your mboard. In the worst cases of incompatibilty your mboard WILL NOT BOOT with it installed, and the mboard may not even beep - the ram has to be compatible with the mboard and it's chipset.

See response 5 in this for some info about ram compatibilty, and some places where you can find out what will work in your mboard for sure:
http://www.computing.net/hardware/w...
Correction to that:
Mushkin www.mushkin.com