I have seen this when the RAM sticks are not identical (same manufacturer,
same date, same batch code and especially - with the same timings).
If you have two sticks in there now that use a fast RAM timing, and the bios
is set to this timing, and you then put in a stick with slower timings - the
computer may give you all sorts of errors. Yet, each stick of RAM is good.
This is why it is good to always buy RAM for a manufactured computer direct
from the computer manufacturer. Get RAM for your HP from HP etc.
If you build your own computers, buy all of your RAM at the same time, from
the same supplier. This way you have a better chance of getting RAM that is
from the same manufacturing batch. If you buy two sticks of RAM today and go
back to the same supplier next week to get another "identical" stick - you
"may" be out of luck. The new stick "may" just be different enough to cause
errors.
Laugh if you must but my parts cabinet is loaded with hundreds of sticks of
used RAM from computers that had a RAM mismatch.
--
Regards,
Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)
"Chris Swinney" <ChrisSwinney@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:84744106-6938-4C31-A751-15D619A97936@xxxxxx
Quote:
> Hi all,
>
> I have an issue with an upgraded system using a DFI NF Ultra 11
> motherboard
> and 3GB of RAM. Vista simply will not boot, either from the default
> installation or from the CD. If I allow Vista to boot normally (or via the
> CD) it will only get to the initial black screen with the time line bar at
> the bottom, yet the bar will never show and the machine will just hang. If
> I
> boot the default installation in safe mode I get different BSOD stop
> messages
> such as 0x1000000a.
>
> My first instinct was that the memory was faulty, however, I ran Windows
> memory diagnostic and Memtest86+ with no issue. I then booted into Windows
> XP
> (on another partition) which registered the 3GB of memory and ran Prime95
> also with no issue.
>
> Anyone have any further thoughts or ideas of how I might further test the
> memory full in XP.
>
> Thanks
>
> Chris
>