Windows will not boot with more than 2gb of ram

[Sharam]

mannywood, that is exactly what I was going to try, the earlier revision of this board (A7N8X-E Deluxe) had issues with all 3 sockets populated with DDR400 modules, the nForce2 Ultra was supposed to officially address the issue, so I was thinking if I tried DDR333 (since I'm running Barton 2600+ (11.5 X 166) it might be OK, but I don't have 3 X 1GB DDR333 modules then the idea of timing or forcing the BIOS to (11.5 X 266) came up.

This is my test system I use to do virus scan on hard drives and such, before I get rid of the Vista install on it, I'm going to play with the timings and report back.

Great idea!

Edit: Let me mention again the fact that I can run the board with 3GB on the other drives with XP, Win2K and UBUNTU.

 

[Sharam]

No just "cleaning up" that's all

But actually there are rules here yes, I usually point members to this thread (ie new members usually start at the Introduce yourself forum, where it's located )

=> How to post a New Thread

This thread includes all links to Guidelines\Rules\Terms of Service
And helps members to learn how to create a New Thread

I can't remember if did the Introduce yourself forum thingy back in 2005 when I first joined or not!

Even though the thread is a month old, I thought may be the original poster would benifit from my experience and the KB929777 fix!

If you think this should be a separate thread, please move the posts and create a new thread with whatever title you see fit. Something that says Vista and not just Windows perhaps. Now that I think about it, new thread would've been better

 

[kimsland]

No I don't
You do realize all I did was merge two posts together (must be a big thing)

By the way, you haven't ever made any new thread, you have only supported members, since the day you started at TechSpot

 

[Sharam]

No, not a big thing at all.

When I saw you editted my post, I thought I had done something wrong or against the rules, that's all.

I go to different forums and they all have their own rules which I respect and like to follow, was just asking.

I guess I never introdued myself then

 

[hrlow2]

Hey Sharam
Better late than never.

 

[kimsland]

Nov 2005, 127 posts

Seems a waste to me

Pretty sure Sharam is introduced already (more likely old timer now )

 

[hrlow2]

I know that, Kimsland. Just had to get that in there. Also glad to see you back. Hope you had a nice time off recently.

 

[Sharam]

you can check the memory timings and loose them in bios to see if it helps.

Tried different timings, voltages, FSB Spread Spectrum, with FSB 200, 266, 333 and 400MHz and no go.

Just finished Windows 7 install on the same system, different drive and same thing! Setup hangs (BSOD) and no boot with more than 2GB, I guess the fix they released doesn't go as far back as nForce2.

Windows 7 couldn't and still can't install my Nvidia nForce Networking Controller, Windows Update picked up everything else after I enabled the Marvel Gigabit to get on line but not the Nvidia networking, Vista picked it up right away!

I guess they are chopping legacy drivers, had to use my USB stick to have it find my SATA drive.

So far it runs as good as Vista did on this old config which is pretty fast and solid!, guess I keep these 2 hard drives just for Vista and WIN7 troubleshooting

 

[gbhall]

Motherboards do NOT necessarily accept any old memory chips - even if they supposedly have the required speed and latency settings. If you look at the motherboard's manufacturer site, you will find (or should find) a list of approved chip types from a range of chip suppliers. Going outside that list is just taking pot luck.

 

[longerno1]

I also have a Acer Ast180 computer and I also have a similar problem as you do. When I brought this computer, it came with 512Mb ram and it hanged up a lot. I added another 512Mb ram and it ran better, and then I added another 1Gb and it ran much better. Recently, I bought another 1Gb ram. After I installed it, it didn't boot. I suspected something wrong with this stick, and I tested it - it should be Ok. I tried all different combinations. It seems to me only the combinations less than or equal to 2Gb works fine and more than 2Gb, I get trouble. The only combination I could get it boot is 512Mb/1Gb/512Mb/1Gb, but after a while, it crashed and displayed messages - I had memory problem, if this is the first time, reboot, otherwise visit Microsoft Vista update. Maybe you can try this combination - see what happen.

 

[Sharam]

Motherboards do NOT necessarily accept any old memory chips - even if they supposedly have the required speed and latency settings. If you look at the motherboard's manufacturer site, you will find (or should find) a list of approved chip types from a range of chip suppliers. Going outside that list is just taking pot luck.

Sorry, never noticed this before, It works fine with XP Pro, Win2K and the 3X 1GB DDR 400MHz, just Vista and Win7 don't like anything more than 2GB even with the SP1 and all the HotFixes,They addressed the issue with a hotfix and in SP1 for most recent chipsets and probably stopped at nForce III or in my case, nForce II.

But you might have something there, never tried other 1GB modules to see if Vista bends a bit, This was just a test to see how Vista and Win7 run on older technology

I also have a Acer Ast180 computer and I also have a similar problem as you do. When I brought this computer, it came with 512Mb ram and it hanged up a lot. I added another 512Mb ram and it ran better, and then I added another 1Gb and it ran much better. Recently, I bought another 1Gb ram. After I installed it, it didn't boot. I suspected something wrong with this stick, and I tested it - it should be Ok. I tried all different combinations. It seems to me only the combinations less than or equal to 2Gb works fine and more than 2Gb, I get trouble. The only combination I could get it boot is 512Mb/1Gb/512Mb/1Gb, but after a while, it crashed and displayed messages - I had memory problem, if this is the first time, reboot, otherwise visit Microsoft Vista update. Maybe you can try this combination - see what happen.

That system comes with 1GB, if you got it with less, I'd be jumping up and down, don't know of any place that ships or builds Vista with less than 1GB unless you have Home Basic.

The combination is correct since you have dual channel capable chipset and motherboard, If you have SP1 and all the updates, I have to ask if your 2 512MB modules are same make and model as well as the 2 X 1GB modules.

You don't want to mix and match!

Thanks for the input.

 

[longerno1]

Memory problem more than 2Gb

I bought this Acer Ast180 computer from Bestbuy about 2 years ago. It came with Vista Home Basic and 512Mb ram. Then I bought one 512Mb and two 1Gb from Bestbuy - all same brand Kingston. The original one 512Mb came with the computer I checked is not Kingston. Do you think that is the problem? I appreciate your information. Thank you.

 

[Sharam]

Since the dual channel is supported and operated by the chipset, any combination should work, modules do not have to be identical or even same size but it is highly recommended to use identical modules, at least per channel.

If both 1GB modules are "new" and same make and model, remove the 2 X 512MB modules, make sure you place the 2 X 1GB in Channel A or B based on your manual. Boot vista up, do all Windows update and Service Pack 1, if you don't have SP1, it will install series of updates before offering SP1 then there are more updates after SP1.

Once we know for certain, you have all updates and the SP, then we can look deeper in to your issue. Have you checked Acer for any BIOS updates, do you have the latest Chipset drivers?