Added extra RAM, now usb ports not working, therefore not starting.

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PaasNL

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Aug 19, 2014
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Dear Tom's Hardware community.

For many years I have came to hear to read the posts to find solutions for my computer problems. Today, I came across a problem that I have not yet found an answer to.


Recently I have came across an SSD hardisk, I have decided to buy it and also to buy some extra RAM to take the most out of it.

My RAM at the moment: Corsair DDR3 4GB PC 1333 CL9 KIT (2x2GB)
My motherboard: Foxconn Flaming Blade GTI, having 3 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets

So at the moment I have 2 of the 3 RAM slots used. Each stick having 2GB. I decided to purchase the exact same stick but then with 4GB, making it a total of 8GB in my 3 sockets.

Bought RAM: Corsair ValueSelect 4GB DDR3-1333 CL9, CMV4GX3M1A1333C9, 4 GB, DDR3, 1333 MHz, DIMM, 1 x, CL9, 1.5 V, ECC

When I installed the new 4GB RAM in the 3rd socket and started the computer, I noticed that all the USB ports where not working, therefore the PC monitor would not start either.

Question: I am looking to find here the reason why the USB ports are not working as soon as I put the new 4GB RAM in to the 3rd socket.



Second Question, I went in my BIOS to see whether everything is okay, and I noticed that it said: ''Installed memory 2048M'' meaning that 1 of the 2 RAM sticks is either broke or the 1 of the 2 sockets are broken. How to confirm this?



Many thanks in advance!
Best regards


Extra info:
What the foxconn flaming blade manual says about the memory:

Memory 3 x 240-pin DDR3 DIMM sockets
Supports up to 12GB of system memory
Triple channel
DDR3 1800(oc)/1600(oc)/1333/1066/800MHz (oc*: Overclocking)
* The memory controller is integrated into the Core
TM i7 CPU, overclocking might vary from CPU to CPU. Intel officially only supports DDR3 1333

 
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My opinion is that you mixed and matched RAM on your motherboard. It screws up timings, voltage, etc. It also depends on the motherboard that the RAM supports. If you take out the one RAM stick does the USB ports start working again? If so, then I would buy another stick of the RAM that you are currently using, not the ones you just bought. Also, if you purchased a DRAM SSD then that could be the case as well. I am sure you were aware of that during your purchase as DRAM SSDs arent used that often, but can be mistaken.
 
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Thanks for the quick replies.

Just to clarify some things: I have bought the Crucial MX100 512GB SDD, but not installed it yet because I first want to solve my RAM issue.
The computer works fine with the current set-up, which is the: '' Corsair DDR3 4GB PC 1333 CL9 KIT (2x2GB) '' Installed. However, I noticed in my bios that it is only running on 2048M. Sounds to me it only noticed 1 of the 2.

Anyway, when I plug in the new RAM into the 3rd and last available socket (4GB stick) then the USB's do not work when i boot the PC. When I plug it out, then it works again.

 
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Sounds like a motherboard issue quite honestly. Are they the same exact modules? The new stick of RAM seems to be the culprit of the USB issue. On the other hand, the 2048M is either the motherboard not detecting the RAM or the DIMMs themselves are very meticulous or broken.

If you could, state what motherboard you have :)
 
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Yes there are the exact same modules i think, because the name's are the same and both 1333.

Would it harm my PC if I would take the RAM from the 1st and/or 2nd socket, (2GB) and place it in 3rd socket. To test wheter I will have either no usb power again, and to see wheter the 2nd socket is broken, or the RAM is broken?


My motherboard is Foxconn Flaming Blade GTI, I am aware there are sub-models, but actually no idea how to find out which one I got.
 
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This is very random, but your motherboard is badass! Anyways, no it wont hurt it. It is triple channel DDR3. You'll be fine.
 
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2048M is just the module. Now for your 4GB problem it seems one of them is not getting detected. Probably the new one you got is now getting detected because of timings, voltage or something else. Although, your virtual memory is 8GB. If you want to upgrade your RAM try 2x4GB and see if it detects it.
 
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I am not sure which one gets detected or not, all I know is that the USB don't work.
Thanks, yes I see it now aswell that 2048M is now the module. Meaning that my PC DOES recognise the current 4GB (2x2gb) set-up.

But to finalize the RAM information I have added a screenshot: http://s7.postimg.org/63kt5fubv/memory.jpg

As you notice is says that there is nothing in the Second slot. That is not correct. There is only nothing in the 3rd slot. See it for yourself: http://s14.postimg.org/xayo6avtd/ram.jpg

By the way I have read someone that it could be the CSOM battery, causing this. Is that likely?

 
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Yeah the CMOS battery could be it.
 
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Allright, are there any other solutions? I live in a very remote area where a CMOS battery will be one of the hardest things to find...

EDIT/UPDATE: I just installed my new SSD hardisk into my PC, and the same thing happened. All USB ports do not fuction anymore. Once I plugged it out, it works again. Strange...
 
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Goodmorning,

Problems are gettting worse. I started my PC this morning and even without the new RAM and the new SSD the USB ports were not working. I think that as of now this problem has nothing to do with the RAM anymore but it probably is a electric issue as a whole.

I restarted my PC and now only the mouse was working. Then I got the message: AHCI Bios not working. Screenshot: http://s29.postimg.org/ch9c2qq1z/bios_not_installed.jpg I think this is correlated to the SSD that has been automaticly installed on my PC yesterday, but that I also have plugged out because of the USB ports not working.

I restarted my PC again and now everything works fine again.

Perhaps I should share that for the last 5 months my PC case has been giving off electrical shocks. Not very strong ones but it is still uncomfortable.

 
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Hey Vic 40,

I have tried to update the bios, but the latest update is only compatible with 32bit and not 64bit, so that did not work.

Meaning that pretty much the only solution would be to get a NEW CMOS battery right? Would that directly fix all my issues?
 
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I don't think that the batterey is the problem,but you could look at it's volt values like this,

Download the next program,

http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html

You can open hwinfo32,after that open the sensor window by marking sensors=V,after that click run.You will see in that window a number of valtages displayed,the Vbat is the one of the battery,it should be about 3.3 volts,could be a little less but not much.

I think you need to check each ram module with memtest and look for problems,memtest will needs to be on a boottable device,let it run for a few ~4 passes.If they pass is there maybe something with your motherboard and since it is already an older one is that a possibilty.

The new module is probably just not compatible,try to work with the vendor to a solution like a swap,best to let it be a 2gb module then for a good triple channel set-up,6gb's is still a lot to have or get a 4x4set and try to sell what you have now.

The shocks are a point of concern too,make sure what makes them happen and try to resolve that.

Have you btw tried a clear cmos?
 
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EDIT: I noticed that I accidently clicked on solution solved. This absoluty not the case, how to undo this :/


Original message:

I am having a big problem now.

I found a cmos battery at the local store. I went home, placed the new cmos battery inside the motherboard and also directly placed the new 4GB ram in it aswell. The computer booted and the USB ports and the fans were all working. (Previously the fans would not work with the new ram in the PC). I was directly very optimistic. I put all my bios settings back to normal and then I pressed save&exit Y.

The computer rebooted out of itself and abslutely no USB port was working.


I decided to take out the CMOS out again and put it back in, this time without the 4GB RAM. Again all the USB ports were working I entered the bios and this time I did NOT change the bios to the old settings but simply left it at factory default. Once again after I save&exit the computer rebooted, this time again the USB ports do not work.

This leaves me right now with an unuseable computer which makes me really worried.

Please please, can someone help? I really need to work on my computer.

Thanks in advance!
 
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Looks like something in the bios,look for entries that relate to usb usage and play with those settings (enabling/disabling),maybe that will help.

Will try to look at the manual to see if i can find somehing too.

Look in the bios under "Integrated Peripherals",enter the "usb device settings" and try these out in different ways.
 
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Allright, I got my USB/computer back to work by following this thread: http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/archive/index.php?t-250944.html
Actually quite simple.

Luckily the PC then booted together with the new 4GB ram installed. All USB ports worked. Unfortunately, my PC did not recognize the new 4GB stick. Even more strange, while the new stick was in the computer one of the old 2 RAMs decide not to function. Therefore I had now a total of only 2GB RAM instead of the old 4GB. After playing around in the BIOS nothing helped, eventually I had to take out the new 4GB, for the old RAM sticks to work properly again.

Meanwhile I have installed my new SSD without any USB port issues 😀 very glad.


Vic 40, I also checked the voltage, it was 3,1. I have not yet tried to check each ram module with memtest. I know this will be the next step that needs to be taken. However at the moment I am more than happy that my (expensive) SSD is finally working without any USB problems.

Probably this week once I find some time I will go through the memtest and let you know the results.

Thanks!
 
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