PC still crashing!

OnePound

PeterPerfect wrote: »

The BIOS will recognize any hardware changes and thus update the information. It is worth going into the BIOS to check that the memory has been recognized correctly. If this looks ok, then it sounds more likely that XP is the cause. As you mentioned above, the system crashed after a backup. Does the event logs show any indication of application/process failure? Have you enough virtual memory set?

How do I set virtual memory?

OnePound

Ive been looking for an updated driver for asus a7v8x but cant find one for xp. the asus website is rubbish and most of the links arnt working eg to the download section.

old_codger1

OnePound wrote: »

I always switch everything off including at the socket on the wall! I dont fancy being fried to a crisp :eek:

Well, quite. Not sure about the 'fried to a crisp' bit, though

Looking at how the problem has developed I'm wondering if youve got a motherboard problem. If you've got access to another PC with a CD writer it might downloading the UBCD I mentioned a while ago, writing it onto a CD and trying the tests available when you boot from that, particularly the full version of memtest.

The thing is if it won't run those you really are wasting your time.

Be aware that not all tests will run on all motherboards. However, the ones that do run should be able to run properly and without your PC falling over.

OnePound

Strangely my pc hasnt crashed (yet!) today with the old ram back in. The only 2 things that are different from previously are a) I ran RegCleaner late yesterday b) The memory frequency in the bios is still manually set to 133mhz.

Im going to send the 1gb back and get a refund.

Am in 2 minds whether to stick with the old ram or try another new 1gb stick. Problem is that the only ram guarenteed to work is 512mb and pc3200 which means i can only use it in 1 slot, so makes no difference!

On the (recommended) Crucial website http://www.crucial.com/ it scans my pc and says i have a A7N8X mobo (rather than A7V8X as per the manual that came with the pc). Crucial reckon they have 1gb that is then compatible. They dont have compatible memory for A7V8X but do have some for A7V8X-X. Whats the real difference between all these mobos and would ram for a A7V8X-X or A7N8X work with my A7V8X?

OnePound

Thats interesting, I have run Belarc Advisor and it also tells me I have a A7N8X mobo. So how come the manual that came with the pc is A7V8X?

When i ordered new ram i ordered stuff for A7V8X, could this whole problem have arisen becuase I have the wrong manual and have mistakenly ordered incompatible ram?

AirCooledHeaven

OnePound wrote: »

Thats interesting, I have run Belarc Advisor and it also tells me I have a A7N8X mobo. So how come the manual that came with the pc is A7V8X?

When i ordered new ram i ordered stuff for A7V8X, could this whole problem have arisen becuase I have the wrong manual and have mistakenly ordered incompatible ram?

That would explain why your BIOS is different to the A7V8X-X mobo I have. The A7N8X uses a chipset fron nvidia, rather than the VIA chipset of the A7V8x.

The crucial memory advisor says that the A7N8X WILL support 1GB PC3200 so in theory your 1GB memory stick should work with default BIOS settings.

Which leads one to suspect that the problem lies elsewhere (bearing in mind your 2 x 256K ram sticks crash now as well).

Here's the manual: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socka/nforce2/a7n8x/e1859_a7n8x.pdf

OnePound

So im ok keeping the 2*256 PC2700 and adding 1gb PC3200 to it? Should this combo definately work?

The new manual says something different to the old one.

Could I even put in 3*1gb pc3200 now?

AirCooledHeaven

OnePound wrote: »

So im ok keeping the 2*256 PC2700 and adding 1gb PC3200 to it? Should this combo definately work?

The new manual says something different to the old one.

Could I even put in 3*1gb pc3200 now?

Going back to your original post I mentioned that in my experience ASUS mobos don't like non-identical memory modules. What I am saying is that according to the A7N8X manual your 1GB ram module should be fine. On the asus website they have a QVL (qualified vendor list) for memory, i.e manufacturers that they have tested with the mobo. You could also buy a 1GB memory module from crucial based on their scanner. They guarantee compatability. Then stick the one you bought originally back on ebay. What worries me is that before you posted your 2 x 256MB sticks were working fine, now they're not ???

old_codger1

OnePound wrote: »

Thats interesting, I have run Belarc Advisor and it also tells me I have a A7N8X mobo. So how come the manual that came with the pc is A7V8X?

When i ordered new ram i ordered stuff for A7V8X, could this whole problem have arisen becuase I have the wrong manual and have mistakenly ordered incompatible ram?

If you can find the FCC ID on the device you can find out for certain.

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid/

OnePound

AirCooledHeaven wrote: »

Going back to your original post I mentioned that in my experience ASUS mobos don't like non-identical memory modules. What I am saying is that according to the A7N8X manual your 1GB ram module should be fine. On the asus website they have a QVL (qualified vendor list) for memory, i.e manufacturers that they have tested with the mobo. You could also buy a 1GB memory module from crucial based on their scanner. They guarantee compatability. Then stick the one you bought originally back on ebay. What worries me is that before you posted your 2 x 256MB sticks were working fine, now they're not ???

My pc has worked ok yesterday and so far today with the old ram back in so hopefully that will continue.

What has thrown me is that the supplier I used on ebay advertises the ram based on what mobo you have ie

a7v8x http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-1G-Ram-Memory-ASUS-A7V600-A7V600-X-A7V880-A7V8X_W0QQitemZ190275986269QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_MemoryRAM_JN?hash=item190275986269&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

a7n8x http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-1G-Ram-Memory-ASUS-A7M266-A7M266-D-A7N8X-A7N8X-E_W0QQitemZ190275986273QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_MemoryRAM_JN?hash=item190275986273&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1690%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

so I assumed i was getting something specific for my mobo and that the ram he is selling for a7v8x wouldnt work in a7n8x and vice versa. Obviously i bought ram for a7v8x not realising i actually had a a7n8x.

Are the 2 above modules on ebay exactly the same ram then?

Also I cant find that qualified vendor list on the asus website, can someone kindly post the link? Thanks.