Vista - Please help identifying Vista Memory (RAM) Error on Asus G1 Notebook

My Vista Ultimate 32bit laptop (Asus G1, 2GB RAM as 2x 1GB DDR2-667 in 2 banks) is giving me troubles already over the last few weeks.Occasional BSOD (IRQ_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, BAD_SPOOLER, NTFS.SYS, MEMORY_MANAGEMENT, etc.) or bootup problems pointing to some memory problems. With Vista Boot/Repair CD that could always be fixed - so far.

Until today. Computer doesn't boot anymore, no difference if Safe Mode, Normal or Last Known Good Configuration. Vista Repair CD doesn't detect and can't repair any startup errors.

So I ran Memory Test which came back with "Hardware Problem detected" right away. So probably 1 or both Memory bars are defect or even a bank or 2.

Here is what I did to further consolidate the error and the occuring symptoms:

- both memory stick in both banks

no bootup, computer starts, Vista green progress bar appears short time, then black screen with hd activity for ever

- only 1 meory stick (0) in bank (0)

bootup till blue Vista bubble, than "Please wait" on Vista background screen, then black sreen with mouse cursor only, cursor is working, but no other activity, no CTRL-ALT-DEL possible, only switch off

- only 1 memory stick (1) in bank (1)

bootup till blue Vista bubble, than "Please wait" on Vista background screen, then black sreen with mouse cursor only, cursor is working, but no other activity, no CTRL-ALT-DEL possible, only switch off

- only 1 memory stick (1) in bank (0)

bootup till blue Vista bubble, than "Please wait" on Vista background screen, then black sreen with mouse cursor only, cursor is working, but no other activity, no CTRL-ALT-DEL possible, only switch off

- only 1 memory stick (0) in bank (1)

no bootup at all. screen stays black and all status LED are blinking

That tells me that either the memory stick or the bank is defect.

Can you please help me identifying what is the best way forward? Unfortunately I currently live on a small island with no access to alternative RAM module. Have to go 4 hours to next big town with mall, where I could buy memory modules if necessary.

What should I look for?

1 memory stick? or 2 right away? And what is the possible hardware problem? Bank0 or 1? Or only the memory?

Please help me to find the right way, as trial and error can prove costly for me here in the middle of nowhere. ;-)

Thanks,

Chris

Don't waste money on new RAM sticks.
If you borrow suitable RAM from a friend you may have to replace it if your
machine damages that RAM.
You seem to be describing increasingly frequent BSODs for which the most
likely causes are power supply, hard drive and RAM, with RAM being the least
likely culprit in most instances as well as yours.
There is a significant instance of new RAM being dead out of the box but RAM
sticks do not often fail in real world use, compared to power supplies and
hard drives, absent some external cause.
If you understand how to remove the hard drive and have a USB adapter you
can see if the hard drive can be read by another computer. If the hard drive
has failed it is inexpensive to replace but the data on the failed hard
drive is gone forever. If you can read the hard drive at all back up your
data/image files immediately and then run software tests on the hard drive.

hi

reading through your post - try this

restatr your laptop, tapping F8 key, on the advanced boot options screen
select

" Enable low - resolution video ( 640x480 ) " press enter

if your system boots up, you have hardware issues that are causing the black
screen.

things to look at -

find your bios version, locate bios updates via manufacturers website.
if bios updates are available, NOTE: install them one at a time, dont just
install the latest version on the list - this will cause more problems!!!!

locate video drivers - prior to installing updated video drivers, open
device manager and select video driver, then select disable driver, uninstall
video drivers via programs and features, restart your system, let OS install
its default video driver, then install updated drive from manufacturers
website.

update other features only if they require it....

regards

"nomad4ever" wrote: