Question Interesting RAM problem on ASUS P5Q MB

[jack6128]

I started getting some blue screen deaths recently, first, three instances of KERNEL_MODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED, and then two instances of DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL. Mixed in were "NTDLDR is missing" and "Sorry, can't boot, sucks to be you I guess" type messages.

I did what I usually do, reseat the RAM and drive cables. That always has fixed these issues in the past, but not this time. I have 4 sticks of DDR2, 2gb each. Same type, different Chinese no-name brands. I dual-boot with XP and Win7. These sticks have been peacefully coexisting for some time. I have BIOS set to remap memory. I built this system many years ago and have serviced and maintained it myself, both hardware and software.

The situation that I ended up with after the above error messages was that upon turning on the desktop I heard the whir of the fans, but that familiar single beep did not occur and I heard what sounded like the cd drive churning. The screen remained black and I could not turn off or hard reset. The beast ignored these puny button pushings. I had to shut it down using the on/off switch in the back of the tower.

After some quick fiddling I found that I could boot up normally with any combination of RAM sticks in any of the four slots: one, two or three sticks in any of the four slots. But as soon as I install all four sticks, no boot. All four sticks test OK in memtest, singly, any two or any three, but if I install all four, no boot. So I have determined that all four slots work fine if one two or three sticks are installed, but not four. Same behavior whether remap, or no remap in BIOS.

That's it. That is the interesting problem. I actually cannot tell whether this points to a motherboard problem or a RAM problem, because all four slots function with one, two or three sticks installed, and all four sticks test good with memtest. But as soon as I install all four sticks, no boot.

Enjoy
Jack

 

[Lutfij]

Same type, different Chinese no-name brands. I dual-boot with XP and Win7.
You might want to see if a pair works as opposed to 4 sticks. You might also want to factor in that the rams might be faulty or failing and/or that the BIOS chip might be on it's way out. You could try reflashing the BIOS with the latest version and see if the issue is resolved. To add, we're going to need the specs to your full system. The info you've parsed in the thread body is only half of the troubleshooting equation.

Make and model of the PSU as well as it's age, apart from the wattage?

 

[jack6128]

You might want to see if a pair works as opposed to 4 sticks.

ME: "After some quick fiddling I found that I could boot up normally with any combination of RAM sticks in any of the four slots: one, two or three sticks in any of the four slots."

You might also want to factor in that the rams might be faulty or failing

Me: "All four sticks test OK in memtest, singly, any two or any three, but if I install all four, no boot "

You could try reflashing the BIOS with the latest version and see if the issue is resolved.

ME: "These sticks have been peacefully coexisting for some time."

I will add that the BIOS is flashed to the latest version.

Make and model of the PSU as well as it's age, apart from the wattage?

ME: EVGA 100-W1-0500-KR --- 500 watts, way more capacity than the system draws, especially using an SSD. PSU is 3 years old.

Again, this problem occurred on a system that has been working perfectly for quite some time, apart from very infrequent blue screens that are cured by reseating RAM, drive cables, and twice the CPU needed reseating. As long as I only use any three RAM sticks in any three RAM slots the system runs perfectly. I can live with that. I don't need high performance for gaming or other RAM intense operations. Using only three slots causes a slowdown in the RAM speed, but I can easily live with that. I presented this problem for anyone who might find it interesting, and in the off chance that this problem has been encountered before, not because I am stuck and desperately need help. If anyone finds this problem interesting, or if it adds to anyone's store of knowledge, I offer it freely.

Jack