Vista memory upgrade problems

Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
more RAM.

Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
of 512MB.

Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
system. ANd the memory works in other machines.

Thanks.

SM MCP wrote:
> Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
> is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
> more RAM.
>
> Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
> no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
> memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
> Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
> of 512MB.
>
> Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
> expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
> system. ANd the memory works in other machines.
>
> Thanks.


Take out the original and try with just the new memory, if it works then
without crashing it's likely incompatible due to timing or some such
detail. Perfect answer if that is the case = buy all new ram as a
matched set, second best get something identical - good luck with that
one in retail stores, best bet online.

Thanks. But that was the first thing I tried. Also tried switching the slots.
New memory is as close as possible to the original.

The BIOS recognized the memory each time. Just Vista has the problem.

"Charlie Tame" wrote:

> SM MCP wrote:
> > Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
> > is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
> > more RAM.
> >
> > Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
> > no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
> > memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
> > Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
> > of 512MB.
> >
> > Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
> > expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
> > system. ANd the memory works in other machines.
> >
> > Thanks.
>
>
> Take out the original and try with just the new memory, if it works then
> without crashing it's likely incompatible due to timing or some such
> detail. Perfect answer if that is the case = buy all new ram as a
> matched set, second best get something identical - good luck with that
> one in retail stores, best bet online.
>

Well on one machine the problem passed BIOS with no trouble and it was
only some way into the boot or even after the OS started it went
horribly wrong and restarted, but if it actually runs for any length of
time with both sets of RAM independently but not together I still think
it may be timing. The RAM test most BIOS does is by no means a
definitive test.

It may also be a driver problem, check the makers' website for chipset
drivers and also the video card drivers. If a driver is at fault this
may never show until it tries to use 1G + because if the RAM isn't there
it can't try.

I have an older (7 years) ASUS MB that's supposed to take up to 2GB but
even with new BIOS it won't and the fault is known by a few but not on
the ASUS website. Fine with 1.75 Gb but no good at all with 2G




SM MCP wrote:
> Thanks. But that was the first thing I tried. Also tried switching the slots.
> New memory is as close as possible to the original.
>
> The BIOS recognized the memory each time. Just Vista has the problem.
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>
>> SM MCP wrote:
>>> Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
>>> is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
>>> more RAM.
>>>
>>> Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
>>> no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
>>> memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
>>> Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
>>> of 512MB.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
>>> expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
>>> system. ANd the memory works in other machines.
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>
>> Take out the original and try with just the new memory, if it works then
>> without crashing it's likely incompatible due to timing or some such
>> detail. Perfect answer if that is the case = buy all new ram as a
>> matched set, second best get something identical - good luck with that
>> one in retail stores, best bet online.
>>

Makes no difference about sticks being the same style. Buying them at
different times, means that you get different chips in them. Best to buy them
from the one batch, not months apart. And size and speed should be the same.

"SM MCP" wrote:

> Thanks. But that was the first thing I tried. Also tried switching the slots.
> New memory is as close as possible to the original.
>
> The BIOS recognized the memory each time. Just Vista has the problem.
>
> "Charlie Tame" wrote:
>
> > SM MCP wrote:
> > > Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
> > > is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
> > > more RAM.
> > >
> > > Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
> > > no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
> > > memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
> > > Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
> > > of 512MB.
> > >
> > > Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
> > > expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
> > > system. ANd the memory works in other machines.
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> >
> >
> > Take out the original and try with just the new memory, if it works then
> > without crashing it's likely incompatible due to timing or some such
> > detail. Perfect answer if that is the case = buy all new ram as a
> > matched set, second best get something identical - good luck with that
> > one in retail stores, best bet online.
> >

if the memory chips are faulty, it wont crash your system until it begins to
load windows, or any other OS, its fairly normal since the bios only
enumerates the memory, it actually does not try to use it (i know first
hand)

however, the bios should not see the faulty memory, maybe it is only faulty
partially, just enough to the bios but not good for actually working with it

either way, if you just bought the memory modules, try going to the shop and
get them changed due to malfunction (they sure will accept, i dont think
they will test them right there) and try again

just in case, double-check again the speed and the maximum memory for your
motherboard

hth

SM MCP wrote:
> Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM and
> is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
> more RAM.
>

Why do you think you needed more RAM? Adding Office 2007 would not
have had that much of an affect. (I run Vista Business and Office 2007
on 1Gb of RAM, and have absolutely no performance issues.)


> Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the memory
> no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several different
> memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
> Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2 sticks
> of 512MB.
>
> Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
> expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
> system.


Why would you think that? The BIOS does nothing but enumerate (count)
the RAM, it doesn't test it or use it in any way.


> ANd the memory works in other machines.
>



It is absolutely essential that any new RAM module(s) be fully
compatible with both the motherboard and/or any other RAM module(s)
already in the system. Additionally, there are sometimes jumper
switches on older motherboards that need to be reset for new RAM
configurations. Consult your motherboard's manual or the manufacturer's
web site for specific instructions and compatibility requirements.

If you cannot lay your hands upon the computer's manual and the
manufacturer doesn't provide a support web site, you can use these
utilities to help determine the correct type of RAM needed:

SiSoft's Sandra
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.ph...are_dl&lang=en

Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Unlimited Possibilities' AIDA32
http://forum.aumha.org/overflow/aida32.zip

Also, Crucial Memory's web site (www.crucial.com) has a database to
help to find the right RAM for your specific make and model computer
and/or motherboard. (Incidentally, Crucial is the only company from
which I ever buy RAM. I've never been disappointed.)



--

Bruce Chambers

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"SM MCP" <SMMCP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9D82390E-AA45-4665-9ECC-52E2F8B32F67@microsoft.com...
> Having a weird problem with a computer. The computer only has 1GB of RAM
> and
> is running Windows Vista Home. After putting Office 2007 on it, we needed
> more RAM.
>
> Got some extra memory, however when we installed it, the BIOS saw the
> memory
> no problem, but Vista keeps crashing on boot. We've tried several
> different
> memory modules but every time Vista crashes just before you get to the
> Microsoft logo. The only memory that it recognizes is the original 2
> sticks
> of 512MB.
>
> Any ideas on why Vista is crashing? If it was bad memory chips I would
> expect the problem would show up long before you're into the operating
> system. ANd the memory works in other machines.


You already tried switching slots, so the possibility of the SPD chip being
read in the first slot to set the RAM automatically timings has been ruled
out. If the timings being set for the first stick were too fast for the
second stick it could have caused this crashing.

There is a RAM checker in the Repair options of the Vista DVD. If you do
not have a Retail disk for Vista, and have a floppy drive, you can test the
RAM using Memtest86+.

http://www.memtest.org/

If the memory is faulty, you should return it.

If it is okay, you can look at manually adjusting your RAM timings in the
BIOS. Get back to me about doing that after testing your RAM.

ss.