Solved Very strange memory problem 8gb installed 3.74gb usable

[seven09]

I recently swapped in a new motherboard to upgrade my graphics. the board came from a model in the same Pavilion dv6 3xxx series.

Everything booted fine, the bios recognizes the processor and windows installed all the missing drivers right away.

However I can only get half of my installed memory to work. I have 64bit processor and windows 7 ultimate 64bit.

This memory issue is a real mystery. I have tried almost every trick;

-Uncecking memory box is msconfig advanced boot options.
-Ran memtest86 - 6 passes took 8 hours and came out clean
-Ran Windows memory diagnostic with no problems
-Ran bios memort check with no issues

Now here's the strangest part. Even though the bios and windows can detect that 8gb are installed(as in both 4gb ddr3 memory cards), the computer WILL NOT boot on on memory card in the bottom slot. there is no bios, no display but it starts. Does this not indicate a bad memory slot? I can boot with the same card in the upper slot and run fine

But in task manager I see In a grey box "hardware reserved 4358" which is the half of the memory I cant use?

What is the fix??

 

[whs]

Can you show us this page: Control Panel\System and Security\System

 

[seven09]

Can you show us this page: Control Panel\System and Security\System

Yes, thanks for the reply. This is the updated experience index too so you know.

 

[Britton30]

Is Resource Monitor, sort the various memory usage columns to find what is the hardware hog there. Something is using way more that its share.

 

[carwiz]

Check for dirty contacts and be sure both modules are the same make, type and speed. A matched pair is essential.

 

[seven09]

Hi, here is a screen shot of that. Thanks.

 

[seven09]

Check for dirty contacts and be sure both modules are the same make, type and speed. A matched pair is essential.

You know the contacts look messed up, as you can see here. The bios or computer can;t be booted when using this slot by tself, but the other can. I am definitely thinking it is bad contatcs, however ALL the 8gb of ram shows in bios and in total physical memory installed in windows, so I have no way to prove this is the cause

Open image in new window to zoom

these are pictures I took and sent to the retailer in hopes to get a refund for this mobo. My question is WHY has this not shown up in any diagnostic programs like memtest86 or windows memory diagnostic??

 

[Britton30]

Resource manager is no help, unfortunately.
What is the picture of? It does look like there are 6-7 solder lugs shorted.

 

[carwiz]

Oh yeah, that's toast. Looks like someone raked a screwdriver across it. A couple look like they're broken. Memory can be recognized but not functional. The BIOS just does a quick test.

 

[seven09]

Oh yeah, that's toast. Looks like someone raked a screwdriver across it. A couple look like they're broken. Memory can be recognized but not functional. The BIOS just does a quick test.

I know. brutal


But not 6 and a half passes with memtest86???

What is the picture of? It does look like there are 6-7 solder lugs shorted.

That's half of the dimm slot contacts for the ddr3 memory

 

[Britton30]

Is this a laptop, SODIMM memory?
Odd it passes memtest. The BIOS reads the SPD (Serial Presence Detect) chip on the DIMMs to show it's installed.
I think it's solved, maybe, the slot isn't working at all. Toasted as carwiz said.

Also odd you show so much RAM as hardware reserved though.

 

[seven09]

Can anyone here do BSOD dump file diagnostics? I have a post in BSOD hlp forum but nobody is answering, here is a link to that thread...if i can prove it's a memory issue causing BSOD during games, it's more evidence i have

http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/323242-blue-screen-game.html

 

[seven09]

Is this a laptop, SODIMM memory?
Odd it passes memtest. The BIOS reads the SPD (Serial Presence Detect) chip on the DIMMs to show it's installed.
I think it's solved, maybe, the slot isn't working at all. Toasted as carwiz said.

Also odd you show so much RAM as hardware reserved though.

DDr3 1333mhz

 

[carwiz]

I doubt that memtest even looks at hardware reserved memory. That's set and used by the BIOS. I don't think Windows will access it so neither will memtest. If the BIOS can't allocate the memory, it marks it as reserved. There used to be an option to do a full memory test on boot but it takes a while so the default was changed to a "presents test". I don't even remember seeing the option in the last 10 years or so.

 

[seven09]

What about a startup test.?

Edit: Tried, did not catch anything...

Also the graphics are non-integrated and use its own 1gb of memory so it's not reserve for graphics

 

[carwiz]

What about a startup test.?

Edit: Tried, did not catch anything...

Also the graphics are non-integrated and use its own 1gb of memory so it's not reserve for graphics

From previous post:
There used to be an option to do a full memory test on boot but it takes a while so the default was changed to a "presents test". I don't even remember seeing the option in the last 10 years or so.

 

[Britton30]

So it is a laptop, I was going by your specs which say desktop. It explains the pic, it is SODIMM memory, that's a physical size reference rather than type, as DDR3 is.

 

[seven09]

So it is a laptop, I was going by your specs which say desktop. It explains the pic, it is SODIMM memory, that's a physical size reference rather than type, as DDR3 is.

Oops, yes i just added those specs today..fixed it

 

[carwiz]

I wonder about the label on the board. "Replace With HP Spare" It looks to me like it's a known defective motherboard.

 

[seven09]

they all say that, my old one has that sticker on it too.