Windows XP memory leak--possibly driver related

[SaxMan]

My Windows XP (SP2) machine has an odd problem. It seems to have a very fast-acting memory leak that is causing me all kinds of problems.

I notice that something is wrong when screen elements stop drawing properly--buttons show up as black boxes and basic Windows elements don't draw right.

I can't figure out what is causing it. Sometimes I can use my computer a while with no problems, while other times it craps out very quickly. I was thinking it might be video card related, as Civ IV seemed to cause the problem quite quickly, but I also got the problem very quickly duing install of Visual Studio 5, so I'm not sure what is going on. Also, some programs just crash out, I suspect due to low memory conditions.

Any suggestions on how I should begin tracking down this problem? Is it possible that I have bad RAM? What would be the best way to test this?

Machine specs:

Dell Intel Pentium 4 3.4GHz with hyperthreading
2GB RAM
NVidia Geforce 6800 video card
MAudio Audiophile 24/96 sound card (I have this on 2 other machines with no problems)
Linksys Wireless Network connection
2 230GB SATA HD

 

[vandit]

1.)try removing ur graphics card .... and running ur pc thru the onboard graphics.......now do u have any prob??

2.)if yes then try replacing ur RAM with ur friends......now do u have any prob.....

3.)* if no then get them repaced by ur vendour.....
* if yes then rest assured ur RAM and graphics card are ok....


also make sure that the speed of the RAM or what ever its called... matches with the mobo's specification...