Vista - Newly built Vx64 box... having issues.

First off, this isn't my first PC that I've built, however, the last I built was an AMD XP 32 system, and was fairly plug and play. This one, not so much. I've had over 300 BSODs, and am still nowhere near an up and running PC. I'll start with the specifics on the system:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

EVGA 512-P3-N800-TR GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

Antec TPQ-850 850W ATX12V / EPS12V

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX

Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3250310NS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s (ended up being x2 on this, although the second wasn't until the system was "up", more info later)

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1 64-bit

GIGABYTE GA-EP35C-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX

Ok, first off, I may know my way around a computer, but by no means know everything. Is there a glaring incompatibility issue with any of the components above?

I've had so many BSODs I can't even begin to remember where and for what they started, but basically after getting Vx64 installed and getting a desktop, I started to attempt to update drivers from the discs supplied with the hardware, namely the mobo and video card. I was also forced to update the Intel chipset (which was fine, sounded like something important...). Eventually I had a stable desktop, and IE 64 was operable, but it wouldn't install FF 3.0 or anything for that matter, not to mention frequent BSODs for no apparent reason (I wasn't doing anything in paticular, sometimes even on the laptop without touching the PC it would BSOD).

If I remember correctly, the last constant error I would receive when attempting to run WMP, sometimes IE (32 or 64) or installing software, was something along the lines of EDIT: correct error msg was "The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect." and it wasn't just one program or action that would cause the same message, which makes me think its hardware or Vista x64 itself.

Jump to today, when my second HDD arrived, I attempted to install it just to get it up and running, and now the PC won't even power up. I removed the new one to see if I could get it up and running again, and nothing. I started removing power to the devices, and the only thing that will even get it running is removing the power from the CPU itself (4 pin connector that runs to the mobo right next to the cpu) which of course would get power to the system, but wouldn't run anything. As soon as I plug that back in, it would flash on and power down for 3 to 4 seconds, and repeat until I stopped it. I have no idea why this started occuring, I reset everything to pre-second HDD settings and it still won't boot.

So, I understand this is quite a bit, but I'm at a loss. This might be past my technical experience level, but before these errors I didn't feel it was. Now I'm not sure what to do, if my system's hardware is incompatible, or Vista 64 is doing something, but I'm just not sure where to go from here. Any help would be greatly appriciated, and I appoligize if this is in the wrong forum, please feel free to move the thread. Thanks again

Well used the jumpers to reset the CMOS, got it to boot, but instead of messing around with x64 went and installed a copy of x86... I really wanted to make this system 64 bit but after two days of nothing but BSODs I'm guessing a homemade 64 bit system is beyond my capabilities...

I'm thinking of dualbooting 32 and 64 vista (if that's possible) but more importantly is getting the system stable. I'm still getting BSODs once every couple of hours or so, which is a vast improvement from where I was with the 64 bit install.

"Blackened" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:4cd70b572945ac6d542f77b286e4d90c@xxxxxx-gateway.com...
Lower the dram speed and see if it works.

If that does not stabilize the system I suggest you get help from a local
computer shop.

DIY computers are no longer easy to do. It used to be fairly easy to mix
and match components with great sounding specs, but no more.

Well after getting Vista 32 stable for the most part, instead of lowering the dram speed right out, I removed 2gig of it and did a boot, and it's finally stable. So the question is, why would this be? If I put the second 2 gig stick of DDR3 back in will it keep having these BSODs? What can I do? To my knowledge, there isn't drivers for RAM... so I'm not sure really what I can alter so that all 4 gigs won't make the computer BSOD back to back. If lowering the RAM speed is the answer, then what would be the point of having 1333mhz FSBs and DDR3 ram both OC'able to 1600 (not that they are OC'ed yet.)?

Ok, little by little is my progress, but at least it's progress. I've found through my BIOS that the RAM is already running at 1066mhz, when it and the mobo are rated at 1333mhz. I couldn't see why running slower would cause the BSODs, but again I'm new to this sort of detail in PC building. I tried bumping it up to 1333mhz, but the 4 gigs still BSOD'ed just as fast. So right now I'm running the 2gb @ 1066, and the system is fine, but I won't stop til I have 4gb @ 1333mhz! Any tips and tricks appriciated.

Don't overclock. Install OS with 2GB of RAM. Let the BIOS set your RAM speed. Just barebones the install. One CPU/HSF, One stick of RAM, one hard drive, one DVD, one video card. Make sure your RAM is matched to the board. Once you install and fully patch. Install the RAM and restart. Then, the rest of your components one at a time.

I've done all that already. Granted I didn't start out doing that, but it's what I've gotten down to. Now I'm down to a fully patched Vista 32 install, that is stable, until I add the 2nd stick of ddr3. I've already memtested both sticks, and everything is fine when by themselves, so it's (in my opinion) been narrowed down to some setting that I'm unaware of, that when the 4gb is in it's causing the memory BSODs. The RAM is running 1066 in a 1333 board, as well as 1333 DDR3, so it's not like the RAM is maxed out, in fact everything in the system is running below what it could be, yet the 4gb will shut it down.

I have just built a 64bit system, and all has worked out without a hitch.
I had a friend back me up and teach me a few new tricks since my last build was in 2000 lol.

I am posting for a reference only for the parts I am using may be more compatible than others?

ASUS P5N-D LGA775 Nvidia nforce 750i SLI ATX Intel MB
CPU Intel Core2 8400 Wolfdale 3.0ghz
4G 2x2gb OCZ ReaperHPC 240pin PC2 6400
BFGtech Geforce 8800GTS 512MB 256bit PCI Express 2.0x16 HDCP
WD Caviar BLACK 1TB 7200 rpm 32mb sata 3.0gb/s HD
ASUS 20x DVD burner /w lightscribe Back SATA
Microsoft Vista home premium SP1 64bit english for System builders oem

I had the same issue when building my first 64 bit machine. The problem was
resolved by resetting the CMOS by pushing the button on the motherboard and
then going into CMOS and adjusting the processor speed. Some processors are
finiky about the speeds at which it is set and it is especially prevalent in
64bit architechture. Also, make sure that there is nothing causing a short.
Sometimes the screws holding the motherboard in place will touch something
and cause a short or if the wrong screws were used to secure the motherboard
or if the ground is improperly connected.

"Blackened" wrote: