Solved Constant lockups

[whiplash]

I recently had a thread started about my PC locking up. I thought I fixed it but yesterday the problem came back. I have already tried reinstalling windows, which didn't fix the problem. I've reinstalled/updated all drivers. Again, didn't solve the problem. Currently I have uninstalled all programs and windows up dates. I also uninstalled drivers, to rule them out. Understand that nothing at all is installed anymore that didn't come with windows. It's like a fresh new install except I have my user folder from my old install of windows. My next step is to remove my ram and put my old sick in. If that doesn't work then I will try updating my BIOS. I will need help on that. I've never done a BIOS up date before and I don't know how to. After that I out of ideas. I could try putting my old video card in and see if that works. I need some help badly here. I've done almost everything I can think of and my PC still freezes up when ever I use it to any degree. If you guys need any more info please let me know. I'm gonna swap RAM now. I'll post back soon. Any idea are appreciated.

 

[whiplash]

I just swaped all my ram for a single 2GB stick I had as backup. I used that stick before win 7. My testing consists of running Prime95 and having RealTemp running also so I know my CPU temps durring the test. The 2GB stick made it through two, one hour tests. Usually my PC froze up anywhere from 5 minutes into the test, to 1 hour. I put one of my other 2GB sticks of ram, the ones I suspect are tue problem, in and started Prime95. Well see how it goes.

It's worth mentioning that all my ram has passed MemTest and Windows Memory Diagnostic without any errors. Also my ram isn't listed of the list of supported memory. I don't know if that could be the problem or not.

Edit - If my ram is the problem, do any of you know if a BIOS update would make the ran compatible?

 

[whiplash]

One by one I have been booting with only one stick of ram. I've been booting and testing each one. So far I have tested two out of four and both of them have not caused any system lockup of any kind. I'm gonna test the last two sticks tomorrow, it's getting really late here, 1:30am Lol. I hope the problem is one of the sticks of ram. That's and easy fix. I'll post again before I start testing the other two tomorrow.

 

[whiplash]

I'm testing stick 3 of 4 now

 

[whiplash]

I just got done testing the last stick of ram and my PC didn't lock up. This means the ram is good. Now I'm concerned that the problem is a ram slot in my mobo. To test this, I have 3 out of 4 sticks of ram in my PC. the 4th slot is empty. I'm running prime95 now.

 

[whiplash]

Is it ok to put one stick of ram in any slot? Usually if I have only one stick I put it in slot one, like your supposed to. For example, can I boot up with one stick in slot 3? for testing pourposes.

 

[whiplash]

The test with slot 4 being empty didn't produce a freeze. I put a 4th stick of ram in and im running prime95 again. In this test all 8GB of my ram is in. My PC should lock up during this test, that is what I expect at the moment.

 

[whiplash]

As expected, my PC locked up in 35 minutes with all my ram. I took out the stick in slo. 4 and am running prime95. It shouldn't lock up with slot 4 empty. This suggests a bad ram slot. When I think back, I didn't get these problems until I installed 64-bit and started using that 4th slot. I'll bet that slot was bad from the factory. I'll be testing and re-testing for a while today just so I'm sure that the slot Is the problem.

 

[whiplash]

Nevermind, the problem isn't the 4th ram slot. With that slot empty I was running another test and 22 minutes into it my PC locked up. I'm re-testing with only on stick of ram.

I need ideas. Does anyone have any?

 

[whiplash]

It locked up with just one stick of ram. I testing again with my spare 2GB stick that I have as back up

 

[whiplash]

With my back up stick of ram, I've ran prime95 in two, one hour test with no freezes. I'll be running more tonight and I might let a test go all night and see if it makes it until morning.

If the problem is caused by my new ram not being 100% compatible with my mobo, do any of you think a BIOS update will help?

No one has replied at all and I really need some to suggest idea or give me advise or anything. I can here to get help from people who know more about computers than I do and I've been talkin to myself. I at least need someone to bounce ideas off of. Please

 

[whiplash]

I'm running a few more verification test with my back up stick of ram. If I doesnt freeze within a few tests I'm going to update my BIOS and see if that adds compatibility for my 8GB of ram.

 

[whiplash]

out of curiousity i put all 8GB of rram back in and booted to safe mode and ran Prime95. no lockup. ill do that a few more times to make sure it wasnt a flook. still though, in normal windows mode my pc locks up with my ram, but doesn't with my back up 2GB stick.

any ideas? please post if you have any ideas.

i wanted to update my BIOS today but there is a storm comming and i dont want to risk a power outage in the middle of the update. that would be bad.

 

[MvdB]

Hello Whiplash... I had a look... But first a hint for future posts. Most of us here try to help and look for threads with zero replies and then start with the older ones. You have benn bumping your thread 13 times... Which is ok, no rule against it but the consequence regretfully is that most probably thought you were already getting help.

As for your problem.....
Memtest should be done for 5-6 passes for each individual stick and in each slot. However, if memtest came out fine with your 8g tested at the same time and with a min of 6 passes, I'll believe it is not your memory, for now.

I know you say it freezes and you don't ention BSODs. Even so, please post full details as instructed here http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

It gives us a lot of info we need.... Thx.
We'll get there, just need some patience.

 

[whiplash]

Here is the info you wanted. I'll run Memtest like you said. is it ok to boot with one stick of ram in slot 3, for example, with all other slots empty?

 

[whiplash]

Apperently I've been using a different type of memory test, called memtest. I just now downloaded memtest86 and burnt it to a cd and I'm currently on pass 20 with no errors. I like memtest86 much better than the other one, this one is so much faster.

I've been usin this one MemTest: RAM reliability tester for Windows there is a picture at the bottom of the page. It works well it just takes a long time to complete.

On pass 26 now with no errors. I'm gonna start testing each stick on it's own now

 

[whiplash]

Never mind about the test being so fast. I misread the pass couture and thought I was on pass 20 when I was really only 20% done with one pass. Lol I had a dumb moment. Anyway, I'm re-testing my ram.

I also updated my BIOS. after memtest86 is done I will see if the BIOS up date worked.

 

[whiplash]

Memtest86 tested all my ram and it passed.

Now I believe I know what my problem is. My ram is enhanced latency, 5-5-5-12. I believe that those timings aren't compatible with my motherboard. This explains why my back up ram wont lock up my PC. I have emailed asus but they might not get back to my until Monday or later, you know how support can be. Lol.

In the interest of not having to buy 8GB of new ram, is it possible to change the timings to something more normal? I guess you could call it underclocking lol.

I still don't know why it never locked up in safe mode.

 

[MvdB]

A couple of comments...
Memtest should run for 6-7 passes which will take approx 8 hours....
The diff between Safe Mode and normal could be that, only in normal mode, you have mobo software running that changes the default bios settings....

You need to get into that anyway because if it WAS BIOS that did this and the cause is mem timings.... You would have the same probs in Safe Mode....

 

[whiplash]

So what are you suggesting I do? Im gonna run memtest86 some more later today.

Sense I put my spare ram in, I haven't locked up. It ran all yesterday evening when I was installing thngs and it ran all night