Ram speed or amount on Acer Travelmate 5742

[Antcs]

Hi there.
I have peculiar error condition. Here is the run down.
Client brought a laptop to me. Acer Travelmate 5742. Windows 7 pro 32bit. Had the ram upgraded in the USA, 2x4 gb1 Rx8 Pc3L 12800s 11-12-b3.
I was under the impression the the OS was only seeing 3.4 because of the 32 bit OS. I attempted to load 8.1 64 bit to correct.
That is where it all went pearShape. the laptop would not boot. I tried all i knew, i deduced it was the ram as I got several BSOD pointing to ram. slotted in some 2x 2GB 2R X 8 PC3- 8500- 7 10-F1. Installation went without a hitch. Thinking the 1600 ram was too fast for the 1086 mobo I started looking for 1068 ram but could not find. Did some research and understood that I could get 1333 ram and the mobo would just slow it down. No way, will not boot. well, it loads the bios, then starts windows for about 2 seconds, then shutdown or DSOD

How is this possible. I have been in the pc business for 18 years, never saw this. I am asking, how was it possible for the laptop to boot and operate with the upgraded ram but wont boot to install new os. What magic was performed. I went through all the scenarios in my head, back in the DOS days.

load himem.sys
load ems driver
load some type of memory manager on post
run script after or on post.
bios insyde version 3.5 has little or no settings i can get to. besides boot order and type.

is there anyone here that is clever enough to assist me.

thank you

 

[torchwood]

first id shoot over to the acer home page for that model.
Check what the 7->8 advisories are
note i know that BIOS changes are needed for UEFI
.
Have a read of this as well

UEFI settings for ASUS z77 prior to Clean install

Roy

 

[Mellon Head]

Thinking the 1600 ram was too fast for the 1086 mobo I started looking for 1068 ram but could not find. Did some research and understood that I could get 1333 ram and the mobo would just slow it down.

Just to clear this up. RAM will only run at the speed that the system board tells it to. If you put 1600 MHz RAM in a 1086 socket it will only clock at 1086 MHz. The 1600 RAM should work fine if it's seated properly and the timings are right. Being on a laptop, the timings are automatically set to AUTO and it's unlikely that you can change them.

So, nothing to worry about with your 1600 MHz RAM. You don't need to buy other RAM for it.

I think that the problem is probably Windows 8.1 and the UEFI BIOS requirement. I would follow torchwood's advice on this one.

 

[Antcs]

Thank you. I did not see anything on Acer's Site about that but I will look again.
I will report back in a day or so. At least I have another angle now.