Refuses to install/run with 3GB RAM

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
       #1

    Refuses to install/run with 3GB RAM


    I have purchased Windows7 Proessional edition and am doing a clean install, though I have encountered a number of perplexing problems:

    1. Windows7 refuses to install if the system has more than 2GB RAM installed. It hangs at
    the 'Starting Windows' screen. I got past this by reducing RAM to 2GB - but why is this ?

    2. Readjust my RAM to 3GB and reboot. Windows7 gets to the 'Starting Windows' screens, then
    reboots the machine. Just refuses to accept 3GB RAM !

    3. Attempt to enter via Safe Mode, but I can't as it also reboots

    4. I set RAM back to 2GB and rebooted in Safe Mode. I then set the Maximum Memory in the
    msconfig tool to 3072 MB and shutdown the machine. (as I clicked OK, it quickly flicked to
    2048MB before closing the screen !)

    5. Install 3GB RAM and reboot - all ok

    6. Resource Monitor shows that 1GB is being used for hardware. (When I booted using 2GB RAM, only 1MB was reserved for hardware !)

    Now, if I run with 2GB RAM installed or 3GB RAM there is no difference - only 2GB is
    available for Windows 7. I find that rather weird.

    I had Windows XP with the same 3GB RAM running before - with no RAM being reserved for hardware.



    Motherboard : Gigabyte 7N400 Pro2 (revision 1) with latest BIOS (F11)
    CPU : AMD Athlon XP 3200+
    RAM : 3x 1GB Kingston HyperX PC3200 - running at 333MHz in dual channel mode
    Video : nVidia FX5200 with 128MB dedicated RAM


    Any ideas ?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #2

    Have you tried using only 1gb of RAM?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Tews said:
    Have you tried using only 1gb of RAM?
    The idea is to run the computer with 3GB RAM. 2GB works and I am sure 1GB will also work.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,840
    64-bit Windows 8.1 Pro
       #4

    Im confused now... is this an installation problem, or do you already have windows 7 already installed?? Your thread title leads me to think that this is an installation problem... correct ne if Im wrong....
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Tews said:
    is this an installation problem, or do you already have windows 7 already installed??
    Both !

    Installation - I could not install with more than 2GB of RAM. (so I installed with only 2GB)

    Running Windows - adding the 3GB RAM back resulted in Windows hanging at the startup screen.

    My original post outlines the steps I took in order.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #6

    Motherboard : Gigabyte 7N400 Pro2 (revision 1) with latest BIOS (F11)
    CPU : AMD Athlon XP 3200+
    RAM : 3x 1GB Kingston HyperX PC3200 - running at 333MHz in dual channel mode
    Video : nVidia FX5200 with 128MB dedicated RAM



    Dual Channel mode requires an even # of memory sticks, 2, 4, 6, 8

    3 is the odd number causing the problem


    " Doc "
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #7
    Last edited by theog; 24 Jan 2010 at 15:27. Reason: added link
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #8

    DocBrown said:
    RAM : 3x 1GB Kingston HyperX PC3200 - running at 333MHz in dual channel mode

    Dual Channel mode requires an even # of memory sticks, 2, 4, 6, 8

    3 is the odd number causing the problem


    " Doc "
    I don't thnk so. I have had WindowsXP running fine with the same setup - 3x 1GB RAM in dual channel mode.

    My motherboard supports dual channel mode with up to 3 RAM modules (double sided RAM). This is a limitation of the chipset, nForce 2.

    Even with 3x RAM modules, the BIOS says it is running dual channel ! and Windows XP is happy with it !
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #9

    For the record:

    - I have run the WIndows 7 memory diagnostic check (running standard mode) and it reported no errors.

    - I believe that Windows 7 is very picky with RAM modules. My motherboard has 4 RAM slots, but only supports a maximum of 3GB RAM. The slots that can be used for dual channel are as follows:

    DIMM 1: x
    DIMM 2: x
    DIMM 3: x
    DIMM 4:

    or

    DIMM 1: x
    DIMM 2: x
    DIMM 3:
    DIMM 4: x

    where the 'x' marks a RAM module. I have tried both configurations, but still get the same result.

    Now, I have some old 512MB sticks, so I will also try 3x 512MB RAM modules to give me 1.5GB RAM. If that works, the problem can't be the dual channel mode with 3 RAM modules. I will post my results later.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Well, 3x 512MB RAM modules in dual channel mode work ! Here is what I tried:

    Channel A
    ---------
    DIMM 1: Kingmax 512MB PC3200
    DIMM 2: Kingmax 512MB PC3200

    Channel B
    ---------
    DIMM 3: Kingmax 512MB PC3200
    DIMM 4:


    If I try my Kingston 1GB RAM modules as follows:


    Channel A
    ---------
    DIMM 1: Kingston HyperX 1GB PC3200
    DIMM 2: Kingston HyperX 1GB PC3200

    Channel B
    ---------
    DIMM 3: Kingston HyperX 1GB PC3200
    DIMM 4:

    I get Windows hanging.


    Any ideas ?
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:50.
Find Us