An NMI error following WinXP Pro SP3 installation

[chermesh]

I've installed SP3 on my XP Pro system. My computer is a Lenovo M55e, Intel Chipset i946GZ/PL.
Since the installation, whenever I connect my USB connected external HD or my USB connected DVD drive, the following blue screen error message appears:

*** Hardware Malfunction
· Call your hardware vendor for support
· NMI: Parity Check/Memory Parity Error
*** The system has halted. ***

My memory cards were both checked and replaced, but the problem stayed unsolved.

What is it in SP3 that is so harmful to my system? How can I solve my USB problems?

(Just two minor additions:
1. I was told that the i946GZ/PL chipset is known to cause NMI problems, which XP fails to cope with.
2. Not all my USB connected hardware are out of order. When I synchronize my Nokia phone, using USB, the action runs flawlessly).

[EINSTEIN_007]

This error has to do with anything that has memory on it. It may also be bad settings (i.e. bios set for ECC memory when non-ECC is installed). So the RAM, Video Card, or Processor is likely culprits as they all have some form of memory. Also if you had added any new devices they may be causing it. The 3 that I mentioned though are the most likely ones. The error is so vague though that it makes it difficult to diagnose.

[chermesh]

Einstein,
Thanks for the clarification.
I managed to convince IBM to replace my MB (A quite challenging task!!). The motherboard was replaced and the problem disappeared.