Unable to boot computer with new RAM

Mr_squishy

Hi guys.

I'm fairly competent around computer H/W but this one has got me stumped.

I decided to upgrade parts of my system. I have upgraded to Windows 7 Pro ( need some of the eatra features) and installed an extra 4 GB of RAM .

The problems started after Installing the RAM. I have bought a pair of 2 GB sticks as my motherboard needs pairs of RAM (Board can take up to 8GB), I made sure I purchased the same type (inc clock speed) as the existing pair.

After installing the RAM and restarting my PC it would just go into restart cycles and not install Win 7. I then tried to boot into xp, but the same happened.

I decided to remove the old RAM incase there was a conflict and rebooted my PC. Same happened as before, so I placed just my old RAM back in (2 GB total).

the computer then booted fine into XP and then installed Win 7 correctly. Since the install I then tried the new RAM again but the same crash / restart cycle happened again, never getting past the "starting Windows" stage.

There are no error beeps, and post flashes up too quickly for me to check the installed RAM ammount.

Any ideas on what the problem could be? Is it possible I have faulty RAM or have I done something wrong?

TIA

Mr_Squishy

fwor

Have you checked if there is a BIOS update for the motherboard? Sometimes the initial BIOS release has poor support for larger memory configs.

macman

Assuming you have 4 sticks of RAM in total, swap out the two new ones one by one with an existing known good one from the original pair.
If it boots OK with one of the new ones, then the other must be faulty.
Then try the original pair in the two 'new' slots, that will eliminate a possible fault with the slots.
I assume that you are running the 64 bit version, as the 32 bit will only recognise 3.5GB of RAM.

nickcardwell

do a google search on memtest, download and burn to cd
Its a bootable cd that tests your memory, it will tell you if its faulty

JJ_Egan

As Macman says one stick in one slot test each slot and test each stick . Sometimes you cannot get even a matched pair wont boot .
My current setup is 4 slots 2 matched pairs of 2GB ram but no way will the motherboard boot using more than three sticks .

jje

Mr_squishy

Hi guys.

I have run memtest and all comes back fine.

I have tried 1 stick of the new RAM with one of the old RAM and it works with both of the new sticks, so I know both sticks work ok, just not the pair together.


I will have a search to see if I can find an updated BIOS and will post back later.

Thanks guys for all your help.

prowla

It's possible the slots on the mobo are a problem.
Did you try the new sticks in slots 1/2 and the old in 3/4, and vice-versa.
(Also, can you have an odd number of sticks in?)

Hammyman

Cheapo RAM or decent Crucial stuff?

Tommyboi78

Did you check the Bios setting for the hard drive, we have these problems all the time at work !

prowla

I bought some RAM at a computer fair for a laptop, and it blue screened. I took it back along with the laptop and they swapped it for Kingston and it was fine.

Hammyman

Indeed. Most problems stem from cheapo generic RAM which in 99% of cases is made up from chips recovered from defective DIMMS that have failed QC.

What gets me is that people still buy cheap unbranded junk when "guaranteed compatible with lifetime warranty" memory isn't that much dearer than the cheapo stuff.