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Question

Memory Upgrade Win 7 64bit Pro cause bootup-lockup

Apr 10, 2017 5:56AM PDT

Hi everyone
Mobo Asus M5A97R2 I installed 2x8Gbyte (blue dim slots) - installed Win 7 64bit Pro, and all was fine. Memory is Hypermemory rated at 1866, although does not run at that speed. CPU AMD 6350 6 core running at 4Ghz. Been working for past 2 weeks ok.
I have 2 x 4 Gbyte Ballistics memory 1866 (all DDR3) and installed them in the black slots. Power up, BIOS sees 24gbyte RAM, which is good. When Win 7 boots up it locks up at the boot screen that just says Windows 7 and that's it. No matter what I do it wont work. I removed 2x4gbyte sticks, and system boots up fine.
MSCONFIG shows that max memory is UNCHECKED which is what it is supposed to be. Have reseated all DDR3 but makes no difference, even though BIOS sees all DDR3.

Any thoughts on this - what have I done wrong ??
Regards.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: memory
Apr 10, 2017 6:36AM PDT

Mixed memory can be a problem. So try 2*8 or 4*4 = 16 GB or 4*8 = 32 GB, and always have all sticks the same make and model.

Luckily, you must do very special things on your PC to notice any difference in performance between 16 and 24 GB. Most people would never notice nor be able to measure it with their usual application mix.

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Agreeing with Kees
Apr 10, 2017 6:56AM PDT

You haven't told us if you are mixing Brands / types of RAM , but to run right all RAM must match .

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Re: mix
Apr 10, 2017 7:04AM PDT

He said he had 2*8 + 2*4 = 24 now. Not 4*6 (doesn't exist). I call that mixed.

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This Noob missed that
Apr 10, 2017 7:20AM PDT

I'm workin' on it LOL

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Answer
Ram
Apr 10, 2017 7:18AM PDT

Remove the ram that's in the blue slots.
Does the machine boot?

If so run a pass of memtest86, no errors allowed.

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Win 7 pro not boot with mem upgrade
Apr 10, 2017 7:47AM PDT

Hi there
I did clearly state the memory is mixed, 2 x 8gbyte Hypermemory, 2 x 4gbyte Ballistix. The latter works ok in the same PC. The 16 Gbyte works ok without the 8 gbyte ballistix. BIOS says memory is ok. All sticks are DDR3 1866, but, according bios they are running at around 1200, so no due stress there. The CPU is not (although no one asked) being overclocked.
I agree Its unusual, but as I had the 2x4 gbyte around, I thought I would "just install it", and use it.
Memtest86 does not report any problems, all is fine,
If I leave 2x4gbyte in (no other memory) it runs at the same speed as the 2x8, so I do not see any issues there. I know that Win 7 Pro 64 bit supports up to 192Gbyte so it should not be a problem, but it is nevertheless.
The only option I have is to do a new build with 24Gbyte DDR3, see if it takes the new installation.
Any thoughts ???
Regards

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I have a suggestion
Apr 10, 2017 7:51AM PDT

This Noob will probably mess up again LOL .....

Go to Crucial dot com and run their diagnostics program and see what it has to say about upgrades .

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Win 7 Pro not boot with mem upgrade
Apr 10, 2017 9:10AM PDT

Hmmm - I will give it a go - bearing in mind that I can only test either 2x4 shutdown change to 2x8 and test that - see what results....

cu later...

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Trying again
Apr 10, 2017 8:41AM PDT

1. remove the ram in the blue slots.
2. put the 2x4 in the black slots.
3. does the machine boot?
4. run a pass of memtest86, no errors allowed.

Just answer 1-4, don't muddy it up with extra stuff.

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Good test!
Apr 10, 2017 9:12AM PDT

Lifetracer, please do this.

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Testing
Apr 10, 2017 1:40PM PDT

Great tips, I'll do some testing.

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Win 7 pro no boot up after mem upgrade
Apr 10, 2017 3:34PM PDT

2x4 mem works in black slots.
No errors reported memtest86

Off to bed .....cu later..many thanks for help

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Another test
Apr 10, 2017 4:44PM PDT

Put the 2x4 in the blue slots.
Put the 2x8 in the black slots.
Does it boot windows?

If not does it boot memtest?

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Win 7 Pro no boot up after mem upgrade
Apr 11, 2017 5:46AM PDT

Hi there - please ignore the results I posted late last night, as they
are oh so flawed due to being up late. I repeated tests this morning.

2x4 in black slots FAIL it does not work-memtest off cd runs, but cannot find memory?
2x8 in black slots work ok.memtest off the cd runs ok and tests out the memory with no faults.

I have no idea why bios sees the memory, I can only presume it reads the header of the DIMM.
The 2x4 were inserted into another PC and PC fails to come up as it reports there is no memory.
It has been binned, so, my apologies if I have wasted everyone's valuable time on this.

Thanks to all those who assisted.
Best Regards

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No problem.
Apr 11, 2017 8:59AM PDT

You worked it out and folk are glad to help.

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Good to hear
Apr 11, 2017 9:23AM PDT

Be aware that not all ram will work with all mobo's or the ram could be busted.

If you look around in your bios you might find a setting to test the ram during post.
It has different names like quick boot/fast boot etc.