4gb RAM BSOD

Hello everyone, I have recently upgraded my computer to be running Vista Ultimate x64. I have a reoccurring issue of the dreaded blue screen of death. From the research I have done, I find that many people who also have 4gb of ram installed in their system share my problem. I honestly do not believe that there is any hardware problem, as I have tested my RAM one by one, but will post my mobo and ram information none the less.

Mobo: nForce 680i SE SLI (TR Edition)
Ram: 4gb G. Skill DDR2 800 w/ 5-5-5-15 timing

As directed by several forums, I have reinstalled vista without updating automatically but only installing the hotfix which is suppose to fix the 4gb ram problem. Now, I see the BSOD less frequently but every once in a while I will crash. My main questions are: Can I install the more recent updates from Microsoft without reversing the effects of the hotfix? and Is there any alternative solution to this 4gb problem?

Thanks

Are you running 4 1GB DIMMS?? Electrically, that's a little rougher on your mobo, and some do not do all that well at it: Increasing the voltage to your RAM a notch should help. Sometimes you might need to bump the voltage to your FSB a notch, but not usually.

Are you overclocked at all? If so, know that the Front Side Buss and RAM are usually linked - When you increase the FSB, you are also overclocking your memory.

And yes, you definitely want to install the rest of your updates for Vista.

Also - It's going to be important to capture information about what is failing: Check your Device Manager, and also your Reliability Monitor. These should provide clues to what may be the trouble. If you can capture the error code, that'd be even better.

Yes, I am running 4 1gb dimms. The suggested voltage of the RAM is 1.8-2.0v and i believe I am running at 1.85 right now. As for my FSB voltage, I think it is at 1.3v but that is off of memory and I will check when given the opportunity. To your second question, no I am not overclocked. When you talk about getting the information on what went wrong, do you mean the actually code that is displayed on the BSOD or something other than that.

Thanks again

Yah - The actual code would be great - You or I can look that up and hopefully figure out what the problem is. Typr 'Reliability Monitor' in the search box and poke around in there. It keeps a list of errors. That can obviously also be a big help.

Your memory's maker says the stuff is good for 2.0v?? Give it another tenth, then - 1.95 - and see does that help. Leave the FSB alone for the time being.

I'm not sure what to look for in the reliability monitor. Ive been looking around and I can't find any files that contain the error information.

KK - Check for Problem Reports - Just type those two words in the search box...

Also the Event Log

Product
Windows

Problem
Shut down unexpectedly

Date
1/5/2008 6:31 PM

Status
Not Reported

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini010508-01.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: a
BCP1: FFFFFFFF894434C1
BCP2: 0000000000000002
BCP3: 0000000000000001
BCP4: FFFFF80001C94614
OS Version: 6_0_6000
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 256_1

I have a similar problem. I had to install Vista using 2x512MB Ram, run all windowsupdates, including patch, and then put in my 4x2GB sticks.

Funny thing though : I cannot install Vista ULTIMATE x64 with higher Ram .. doesn't matter what patch I install - I do get a BSOD.

The ONLY way for me to run Ultimate without BSOD, was slipstreaming SP1 into the DVD. I didn't even have the problem with Buisiness x64 - ONLY Ultimate. So I also tried to upgrade from Business to Ultimate - no go .. install SP1, THEN upgrade worked. But Ultimate alone - no way.

And it cannot be any available hostfix at the moment as I even slipstreamed all available hotfixes for Business and Ultimate as I wanted to avoid installing an RC SP.

Conclusion : I think you suffer from somewhat the same problem as I also have a Motherboard with the same chipset (Asus Extreme Striker).

So give maybe SP1 a try ....

The only solution to this problem that I have found is by using vLite. The 1.1 RC version of vLite can force the MS update (KB929777) during the install process so that you do not have remove memory.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929777

http://www.vlite.net/

Well, as I said on several occasions, it didn't even work for me .. Most of the hotfixes included in SP1 (80% for a fact) aren't even available for public. So even slipstreaming this hotfix and all other available hotfixes does not fix it ..

Until now, I don't know why Ultimate, and Ultimate only, bluescreens ..