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Unable to install Windows

amosu

By amosu
in Memory

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amosu

amosu

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Hi,

 

I'm at my wits end following an upgrade to my computer.

 

I changed out my motherboard, my CPU, memory and GFX card. As such, I decided it a wsie time to clear out my computer and build from scratch.

 

I put in the following :

 

Asus M2N SLi Delux

AM2 4600

XMS TWIN2X2048 6400

GeForce 7950GT

 

BIOS posted fine, drives and memory recognised as is the processor.

 

Go through and format the drive in windows setup, but I am getting random errors after this stage. It happens at different times too. I can be running the setup and it will say that a file cannot be found (even though it is on the disk), so I am assuming it isn't unpacking properly.

If I get through the initial setup and the computer reboots, I then have issues during phase 2 of the install. It may freeze before I get to change the regional settings, it may reboot and BSOD with a PFN error message. It may come up with an error stating that files are corrupt.

 

So, I ran MEMTEST86 and got no errors. Tried using two different hard drives. None of this worked.

 

I then upgraded my PSU to a 750W unit in case that was at fault. No joy.

I then changed the motherboard to a Gigabyte one (M59SLI4). This has also not solved the problem.

 

I have formatted the drives using KILLDISK and tried again, but still no luck.

 

I am now presuming that the memory must be at fault as Ive tried everything else I can think of. Would appreciate feedback?

 

Thanks

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amosu

amosu

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Ive got the original MEMTEST on a floppy. Sadly as my laptop has no floppy drive I cannot add on the very latest version. The version I have runs I believe 8 sets of tests and posts error messages at the bottom of the screen. I ran this test for 4 hours with both modules installed and not a single error was returned.

 

As for drives, I have tried using both of my 74gb raptors as well as a 200 gb maxtor sata drive, but still had no luck :(

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DerekT

DerekT

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Ive got the original MEMTEST on a floppy. Sadly as my laptop has no floppy drive I cannot add on the very latest version. The version I have runs I believe 8 sets of tests and posts error messages at the bottom of the screen. I ran this test for 4 hours with both modules installed and not a single error was returned.

 

As for drives, I have tried using both of my 74gb raptors as well as a 200 gb maxtor sata drive, but still had no luck :(

 

Please download the ISO from http://www.memtest.org and burn this image ISO to CD. Then boot from the CD. The old version of memtest can issue error free when errors are in fact there.

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amosu

amosu

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OK, update time.

 

Yesterday after trying everything I could possibly think of, I gave up and took the memory out. Checked it over for chips etc and then only put a single stick back in to the motherboard. Booted up, the BIOD recognised it fine then went to the Windows installer.

 

It ran fine! Installed the OS and a bunch of other stuff with no issues at all.

 

So, I assumed that the other stick must have been faulty despite there showing no errors with MEMTEST86.

 

So, I grab the latest copy of MEMTEST86, put the other memory module in to the computer, reboot and left the test running. That was 4 hours ago, just called my wife and she says that not a single error has been recorded yet.

 

So, I know that the module I used yesterday must be ok, as it ran all of the installations ok, plus ran a whole slew of Windows updates last night, various patches for other stuff too and didn't BSOD on me.

The other module has tested fine with MEMTEST86, so it doesn't appear that one is faulty either.

 

This only leaves me the option that maybe the two won't run in tandem as a dual channel setup, despite them being sold as a dual channel pair.

 

Has anyone else had this experience with Corsair memory? I'm told that maybe the BIOS needs to be altered to cater for it, possibly by loosening the timings, but the Gigabyte BIOS is nowhere near as user friendly as Asus or DFi's, so I'm dubious about going in and tinkering with it

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DerekT

DerekT

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If I was in the same situation with both sticks testing out fine singly on memtest and with both sticks being from a dual channel kit (same SPD timings, etc) then I would wonder about the motherboard.

 

Have you checked with CPU-z? Check the SPD tab. Use the drop down box to check between dimms. Are they the same?

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amosu

amosu

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Thanks, but I seriously doubt its the mobo. I had the Asus M2N SLi Delux before which I presumed was the culprit (which was obviously not the case now) and swapped for the Gigabyte one I have now. Same errors were happening on both motherboards.

 

I'm going to try loosening the timings and put both sticks in later and see what happens. It may be that fixes it

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amosu

amosu

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Sadly having only just made the leap to DD2 I don't have any spares :( I have a number of drives and stuff floating around so those weren't an issue. Don't have any spare cash left to buy new memory just for testing purposes :(
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DerekT

DerekT

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Sadly having only just made the leap to DD2 I don't have any spares :( I have a number of drives and stuff floating around so those weren't an issue. Don't have any spare cash left to buy new memory just for testing purposes :(

 

Ok, I see. Good luck with this issue.

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amosu

amosu

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OK update time.

 

I got home and found MEMTEST86 had run for 10 hours or so with not a single error.

 

So, I put both the modules in again, booted in to Windows, but as soon as I do anything memory intensive it starts acting up (memory block issues, BSOD, reboots etc).

Rebooted, went to BIOS and the motherboard is setting the defaults to 5-5-5-18 2T.

Ive tried switching to 5-5-5-15 and 5-5-5-12 none of which worked. I also tried upping the voltage by 0.1 to see if there was a power shortage, but that didnt work either.

 

I then tried moving both the modules to the other dual channel set (2 and 3 instead of 0 and 1). It ran ok for about an hour, but then when I tried to install something new, I got another memory block error.

 

The stupid thing is if I run either of the modules alone, it works. If I run both together in either single channel (using 0 and 3) or any kind of dual channel it causes issues.

 

Anyone have any suggestions? If not, I'm thinking I'll have to see if I can return them as they do not work in dual configuration and try another brand.

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amosu

amosu

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After managing to install a bunch of stuff and getting my internet access dealt with, I had yet another crash.

 

When I got back in, I had the option to report the error to MS, so did so. The message stated that it was a problem with the RAM and to try the Windows Memory Diagnostic. As MEMTEST86 had supplied no errors, I did so and have the following on one of the sticks :

 

MATS+ test

 

address 0fa01d80 expected 00000000 and actual 80000000

address 10305d80 expected 00000000 and actual 80000000

address 110c1d80 expected 00000000 and actual 80000000

address 10ec7d80 expected 00000000 and actual 80000000

 

I am assuming thats where my problem lies.

 

This is an RMA issue I need to pursue with Corsair or something I should try to resolve with the store? The store in question were... less than polite and helpful when I approached them before explaining the circumstances

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amosu

amosu

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I left the test running while I went to bed and when I got up this morning over 100 errors had been recorded, a number of which related to the same memory address.

 

I've requested an RMA from Corsair, but as yet haven't had a reply.

 

As I am based in Australia will I need to send the memory back to the US, or is there something more local to me please?

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amosu

amosu

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Sure.

 

This is all after installing Windows with one stick installed then testing with one or the pair.

 

Paired : First off I tried leaving them to auto. BIOS picks up the correct quantity and the fact it is 128bit dual channel. Get in to Windows (most times but not always) and then I get memory related errors or crash/reboots.

Paired : Manually set timings to 5-5-5-18 2T, 5-5-5-18 1T, 5-5-5-15 2T, 5-5-5-15 1T, 5-5-5-12 2T, 5-5-5-12 1T. All of these settings failed to run stable.

Paired : Manual settings listed above or using auto settings upped the voltage by 0.1v. System still unstable with random crashes/reboots or memory errors.

 

I have not touched the settings for anything other than the RAM.

 

The memory test works fine for one module, but if I run it for the (seemingly) faulty one, regardless of whether I change the settings or not, I get the error messages listed above.

 

What is weird is that MEMTEST86 does not pick up these errors. I ran it yesterday for a very long time but it picked up nothing. Ran the Windows Memory Diagnostic overnight and thats what threw up the errors. The test was repeating the same errors on multiple runs.

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