Vista x64 error with 4gb memory

ttysco

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Nov 8, 2006
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This is a newly built computer and I am having problems running 4gb of memory.

I did a clean install (obviously) of vista on a hard drive with only 1gb of memory in.

After installation and vista boots up fine and dandy everything seems to work fine. I then put 2 more sticks of memory in for a total of 3gb and everything runs fine. I run tests and everything checks okay.

Now when i put my 4th stick in when windows boots up its giving me this windows boot manager error and says to run repair off the vista disc. Problem is when i try to boot from disc it gives me the same error. Something like the one file is corrupt insert disc to run repair (which I cant).

If I take any one of the sticks out, vista boots up fine.

Has anyone experienced this problem before? And is there anything i can do to fix this?
 
That one stick may just be bad, run memtest86 for a good hour or so with all 4 sticks in and see what happens.
 
Ran memtest... they are all fine.. Also tried them all interchangeable, 3gb ok, 4gb not.
 
There is one paticular stick is giving you problem or you can try this stick with any other 2 and see if it boots fine. If yest then stick is fine, your motherboard could be a problem, try all different combination like different memory slots, different sticks etc.

Report back.
 
Already have done that. It runs fine with 3gb. Also it probably isn't the motherboard becuase xp 64bit works fine.
 
Use search several others have had the same problem with Vista and 4gb of ram. It is a Vista related problem.
 
Already have done that. It runs fine with 3gb. Also it probably isn't the motherboard becuase xp 64bit works fine.


What motherboard is it?

There are a few issues with certain motherboards, Vista, and 4+ GB of ram and it makes a big fat dick bit of difference if XP 64-bit runs ok. We're not talking about XP, we're talking about Vista. Check your motherboard manufacturer and see if a BIOS update is available for your board.
 
Asus p5n32e-sli plus... and I have that hot fix installed. Plus I am running the most up to date bios.
 
I have a similar issue. I recently purchased an additional 2GB of RAM (make / model). Upon installation it would boot into windows and almost immediately reboot as if I had set the reset button. I installed the patch listed above, but that didn't resolve the issue. I have also tried the following to remedy the situation:

1. Give the RAM more voltage. I went from 1.8v to 2.3 (tested all settings between) and this helped, but not much. It would fully boot into windows, however I was not able to run a full 3dmark 06 test.

2. Run the machine with 3gb of ram. This solved the issue, however it means I wasted money on the 4th stick of ram, not to mention I no longer ram the memory in dual channel mode. Not satisfied with the outcome.

3. Install the patch listed above. Didn't do much of anything.

4. Install the F12 Bios (newest BIOS) for my board.

Someone suggested that I run the RAM with relaxed timings. Mine do 4-4-4-15 @ DDR2-800, and while I'd like to continue to run them at those, I'd rather have use of the 4th stick. I will post again once I test this (hopefully sometime this weekend).

If you do a google search for this you will quickly notice that you are not the only person with this issue.

Just for reference, here are my specs:

Gigabyte 965P-DS3 rev. 3.3 (F12) BIOS
E6420 processor
OCZ Platinum Rev. 2 DDR2-800 RAM. 4GB total, currently only running 2gb.
GeForce 8800 GTS 640 (PNY)
Water Cooling on Processor and NB
Vista Home Premium x64 Edition
 
Vista Business x64 works fine on my main system.

Abit AB9 Pro (P965 chipset, bios 18)
E4300 @ 3.1GHz
4 x Kingston 1GB DDR2-667 @ 860MHz
eVGA 7600GT

I'd guess you have some kind of compatibility problem.
 
For those people in this thread who are running 4gb of RAM with Vista 64, what are your memory timings?
 
EVGA 680i w/ 4x1gb Crucial Ballistix @ 876mhz 4-4-4-2T 2.225v

I can't install Vista x64 with all 4 sticks in, but once I apply that hotfix someone linked to earlier everything works fine with all 4gb.
 
4 GB DDR400 @ 3-4-4-8. Never a problem since day one.

Is this an A64? Sometimes the integrated memory controller can be picky about memory timings and such. Try loosening timings and boosting voltage, and see what happens.
 
i'm on vista x64
4 gigs of ram using all 4 slots

4-4-4-12
at about 780
 
4x 1GB A-DATA 6400 5-5-5-15 1.8V
E4400 @ 3.4Ghz
Asus P5B-E
Vista Home Premium64
etc.
 
i have 64bit Ultimate running with 4gb of 800mhz ram.
working no problems as far as i can see
 
I have been in contact with Gigabyte's tech support for about a week now with no resolution. Here's what I've tried in the meantime, with limited success:

1. Relaxed RAM timings from 4-4-4-15 to 5-5-5-15. Didn't help.
2. Added more voltage to the RAM. This helped a little.
3. Some HPET switch in the BIOS. It was disabled(used with 32bit OS). I enabled to use with Vista64. Didn't seem to help.

At this point I'm almost out of ideas. I have the newest BIOS, Drivers, and windows updates for Vista. Problem occurs if I'm OC'd or running stock. Memtest86 comes back clean.

Maybe I just need to bite the bullet and build another machine in a few weeks when the Intel prices drop again. I already have the RAM...

Geoff
 
4 Gigs OCZ Gold 4-4-4-12 on Vistal ultimate 64-bit with no problems. Maybe you have a bad ram slot on the mobo?


 
8gb Gskill DDR2-800 on Ultimate x64 here. Installed and grabbed updates with 4gb and bios setting to not remap memory (3gb reported), then switched over to get the full 4gb and 8gb.
 
I'm still not stable, but here's what i'm trying now:

1. I lowered my OC a little. I left everything else the same (voltage for ram, cpu, and so on). I just started (10 minutes ago) an Orthos small FFT test. We'll see how this turns out.

2. I ordered a new PSU. I currently have a 430W PSU, but it looks like I'm dangerously close to being underpowered. I have a corsair HX620 on the way, but I won't have to for another week.

3. With the Intel price cuts, comtemplated using the ram in ANOTHER new machine. This is a bad 3rd option as my money tree seems to be missing a lot of leaves...damn girlfriend.

More to come.
 
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