Installed memory now everything screwed up

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 21:56

I have a new computer that seems to have a bad memory stick out of 2 gb. I bought 4 gb to install and replace the memory that it came with. I followed the instructions in the ASUS manuel. Once everything was put back together and turned it back on I got nothing. No picture ect. I powered down pulled the power cord and realized I had not seated the memory sticks properly. I fixed that rebooted and the monitor, mouse ect all worked fine. The issue is Windows Vista will not start. I have a 32 bit system. I put in the disk that came with the system and tried to repair it but I get no joy. I keep getting the blue screen with codes that I don't really understand. I am not a computer expert. I am really irritated as I thought this was a simple procedure.

Any ideas before I take it to the shop?

srhoades · 10-10-2008, 22:05

One of the stick could be bad. If you boot from the Vista CD it should give you the option to run a memory diagnostic. If it reports bad memory pull a stick and run it again. If it comes back good the one you pulled is bad and vice versa.

Otherwise you may have a timing issue with the RAM. Some motherboards are picky about RAM.

wbgolden · 10-10-2008, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by srhoades

One of the stick could be bad. If you boot from the Vista CD it should give you the option to run a memory diagnostic. If it reports bad memory pull a stick and run it again. If it comes back good the one you pulled is bad and vice versa.

Otherwise you may have a timing issue with the RAM. Some motherboards are picky about RAM.

exactly what i would have said if i'da been first. what motherboard do you have? and what ram did you buy?

Jdog · 10-10-2008, 22:18

might be shooting a dead horse here... just helping u brain storm a little bit

- r u overclocking anything?
-u could have shorted out your motherboard or the ram (or both)
-can u boot in "safe mode" ?
-have u tried your old memory back in? This would tell you if you've fried your motherboard.
-r u sure the memory was compatible and that your motherboard recognized sticks that big?
-some motherboards want you to install it in identical pairs.
-r u drinking while u upgrade your pc?

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 22:19

I bought 4 1gb sticks of 128mx64 ddr2 240 pin ram 800 mhz speed. That is what is listed in the user manual as the type. The motherboard is a ASUS m2a-vm I think. I did finally get booted up in safe mode only.

I also checked the system tools and it does show memory at 4gb now. Ionly had 2gb before.

Ialso tried the memory diagnostic but it won't run. Iget an error saying the file is not found. That is with the CD in the drive.

Jdog · 10-10-2008, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulfcop

I bought 4 1gb sticks of 128mx64 ddr2 240 pin ram 800 mhz speed. That is what is listed in the user manual as the type. The motherboard is a ASUS m2a-vm I think. I did finally get booted up in safe mode only.

I also checked the system tools and it does show memory at 4gb now. Ionly had 2gb before.

in you bios settings is it set for the 800mhz memory speed?

Jdog · 10-10-2008, 22:24

i'm suspecting you need to warranty replace the fried dimm. See if the place of purchase will swap you for a good one.

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 22:24

How do I check that while in safe mode?

Jdog · 10-10-2008, 22:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulfcop

How do I check that while in safe mode?

you'll have to reboot and hold in the f key or delete key or whatever key it says to hold in at the POST (Power On Self Test) in order to get in to "setup" mode or the BIOS settings

In order to confirm a fried dimm... have u swapped the other 3 dimms(modules) in & out of it's place to determine it's bad? (assuming so... u have a warranty issue)

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 22:39

I am in the bios now checking. I don't see anything indicating what speed the memory is set at. It does show Installed memory 4096gb, usable memory is at 4095gb.

srhoades · 10-10-2008, 22:48

If you have another usable computer you can download an iso of memtest86+ that is a bootable ISO, then you can test your memory.

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 23:01

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...572&CatId=3423

This is essentialy the computer I got from Tiger direct. Mine has four memory slots not two.

I will look for that memtest program. I am on my laptop right now.

Jdog · 10-10-2008, 23:15

u can do that but it might be faster to swap out the ram with your other good ones to determine which one is toast. Have u identified which of the 4 modules is suspect?
Assuming your moboard will post just fine on only 2 dimms, trade them out one at a time till u get the error (unless of course the error is intermitent)

**Razrbk444** · 10-10-2008, 23:42

If your bios gives you the option to load failsafe settings, do so. If you can find memory settings, set everything to auto. Pull all sticks of ram except one and try to reboot. If first boot is successful, keep adding a stick and rebooting to see if one is bad.

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 23:44

Well the first of the four sticks I pulled out seems to be the problem. I pulled it out restarted the computer and it fired right up. Who would have thunk it

Gulfcop · 10-10-2008, 23:53

Thanks for all the help. I am posting from my desktop computer now. It's up and running.

I did just try and play COD4 and it did a memory dump. I was getting them occasionally before I swapped out memory. I did not play for 5 minutes before it did it. Something is screwed up still but I can get on with the desktop now at least.

Gulfcop · 10-11-2008, 00:58

Well the OS keeps crashing to the blue screen of death. I guess I will take it to the shop tomorrow and pay someone who knows what they are doing to fix the damn thing

mitchshrader · 10-11-2008, 02:08

if windows vista won't start that's HALF your problem fixed right there. put xp pro on, and you'll be done.

IndyGunFreak · 10-11-2008, 04:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by srhoades

If you have another usable computer you can download an iso of memtest86+ that is a bootable ISO, then you can test your memory.

That was gonna be my suggestion...

When I built a PC a couple years ago, I put 1gig of ram in it, 512mb was Kingston, and 512mb was some value ram that came w/ the kit I bought. The machine would post and boot fine w/ either DIMM installed independently, but together, would not boot. After reading the labels on the two DIMMS very carefully, turned out, One was 3.3v, and one was 3.2v(as I recall)... So I went to Worst Buy and bought another Kingston DIMM, and the machine booted up 1gig just fine.

Just something else to check...

IGF

Gulfcop · 10-12-2008, 00:29

If I were to want to wipe Vista off and do a freash install how would I do that? I think that something might have gotten corrupted.

**Razrbk444** · 10-12-2008, 02:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulfcop

If I were to want to wipe Vista off and do a freash install how would I do that? I think that something might have gotten corrupted.

You Should be able to put your Vista disc in the drive, reboot, and follow the onscreen instructions. You may have to change drive priorities to boot from cd/dvd drive first. I would do a fresh install with the old memory that you know works. If installing windows with flakey ram, windows will give you fits.

betyourlife · 10-12-2008, 09:04

format the hard drive and re-image your computer.

Gulfcop · 10-12-2008, 15:29

I will give it a try tonight, I suspect that it might be something other than the RAM causing the problem. Do I have to delete vista first then reinstall or just load it up again without deleting Vista first?

Big Al 24 · 10-12-2008, 17:53

I'm assuming it's Vista x64 (32 won't recognize that much ram) so I assume you patched (sp1) it so it will accept all 4 gigs? Another problem that you may be experiencing is that many motherboards don't like 4 sticks of memory without downclocking their frequencies and timings a bit. I would find the mobo manufacturers ram compatibility list for your particular mobo and figure out if the sticks you have are compatible- and if they are installed in compatible amounts (i.e. it might like 2 gigs just not 4, or 1 gig not 2 etc...) and what frequencies/timings you should run them at. It could also be a bad slot.

Gulfcop · 10-12-2008, 18:05

How much does the 32 bit vista recognize? I think thats what I have