[SOLVED] My Motherboard suddenly can only read 2GB DDR3 RAM

[WillSurvive]

This is actually kinda long story, it happens 2 days ago...

So my friend asked me to check his SSD to my PC, which is normal, i've been using this PC for many years, no issue, normal, daily and gaming, normal. And then i agreed, take his SSD, remove my SSD first, and then plug his SSD, and then his SSD missing OS, so he asked me to install Windows 10, alright, i install it for him, setup > loading > Done, no problem, easy task, job done.

After that, i remove his SSD, and then i plug my SSD again, and i know my BIOS Boot priorities will be kinda messed up, so i open BIOS to set my SSD to #1 Priorities, but something usually aren't there, there's... "Windows Boot Manager" on my Hard Drive Priorities List, i never see this WBM in my entire life using this PC, my PC suddenly have it, usually only 5 of my Hard Drive, and 1 of my SSD, that's it.
Alright, i think that's okay, i put my SSD to #1 Priorities and #2 is WBM, i think it will be gone after i going to desktop, but no... My PC boot to WBM and showing 2 Windows 7, ask me to choose which one should i pick, both of them lead me to and error, i re-do the Priorities thingy, still didn't work, and then i disabled the WBM, suddenly my PC didn't detect any OS from my SSD. It ask me to install new OS, i don't want to install new OS, i still have important files in there!
I still don't know how to fix it, so i use ChatGPT to ask for assistance, and then it lead me to remove CMOS and leave it, the next day i plugged in the CMOS again, it stuck, can't boot, it's on but nothing showing on the monitor, i remove all the components, GPU, RAM, SSD, HDD, and then i decided to use only 1 of my RAM, it's on! i backup all my files, this and that. I turn my PC off, i want to use all of my RAM again, plugged in like usual, but sadly it stuck again, power on, nothing showing, why? I thought the RAM is dead, so i test all of my RAM one by one
-2x 2GB DDR3
-1x 4GB DDR3
-1x 8GB DDR3
All of them 12800U, and my motherboard is Biostar TZ75B.
The result is I can only use 1x 2GB RAM, the rest will make the PC Stuck at number 32 (Digital-Like Clock below the Motherboard).
i test all of the slots using the working RAM, and still working, but using 2x 2GB or 1x 4GB or 1x 8GB will result stuck 32.

This stuck 32 will be like: Power On > 32 > d0 > Power Off > Power On > 32 (Stuck here).

Alright, i think the rest of the RAM is dead, and i ask my friend to use his PC to test the dead ram, guess what?! IT WORKS!! i was like "WTH? it works here, but make my PC stuck? i've using these 3 piece RAM for many years, but suddenly make my PC stuck?! But Works on your PC?!"

What's happening, i swear i had no idea what's going on with my PC, today i write this i'm still using 2GB RAM that working on test.

My PC:
3770
16GB
1060 3GB
1 SSD
5 HDD

 

[Lutfij]

My PC:
3770
16GB
1060 3GB
1 SSD
5 HDD
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

"Windows Boot Manager" on my Hard Drive Priorities List, i never see this WBM in my entire life using this PC, my PC suddenly have it, usually only 5 of my Hard Drive, and 1 of my SSD, that's it.
If you're working with Windows 10 or later, Windows Boot Manager is what shows up in Boot Device Priorities/Manager in BIOS for any motherboard.
Alright, i think that's okay, i put my SSD to #1 Priorities and #2 is WBM
Windows Boot Manager should be the first device.

Might want to remove all drives from your system with only the drive that the OS is on and see if that helps.

and then his SSD missing OS, so he asked me to install Windows 10,
I've got some bad news for you/your friend. That install you performed was a waste, as you're advised to install the OS on the platform that the drive will reside in. Transplanting an OS drive onto another platform will only lead to troubleshooting or grey hair or hair loss.

-2x 2GB DDR3
-1x 4GB DDR3
-1x 8GB DDR3
Mixing and matching often times leads to troubleshooting. To add, see if your motherboard is pending a BIOS update but your issue would be the result of your OS being corrupt. Do you see 16GB of ram in BIOS? Try and clear the CMOS and see if that helps.

 

[WillSurvive]

My PC:
3770
16GB
1060 3GB
1 SSD
5 HDD
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

"Windows Boot Manager" on my Hard Drive Priorities List, i never see this WBM in my entire life using this PC, my PC suddenly have it, usually only 5 of my Hard Drive, and 1 of my SSD, that's it.
If you're working with Windows 10 or later, Windows Boot Manager is what shows up in Boot Device Priorities/Manager in BIOS for any motherboard.
Alright, i think that's okay, i put my SSD to #1 Priorities and #2 is WBM
Windows Boot Manager should be the first device.

Might want to remove all drives from your system with only the drive that the OS is on and see if that helps.

and then his SSD missing OS, so he asked me to install Windows 10,
I've got some bad news for you/your friend. That install you performed was a waste, as you're advised to install the OS on the platform that the drive will reside in. Transplanting an OS drive onto another platform will only lead to troubleshooting or grey hair or hair loss.

-2x 2GB DDR3
-1x 4GB DDR3
-1x 8GB DDR3
Mixing and matching often times leads to troubleshooting. To add, see if your motherboard is pending a BIOS update but your issue would be the result of your OS being corrupt. Do you see 16GB of ram in BIOS? Try and clear the CMOS and see if that helps.

CPU: i7-3770
CPU cooler: PCCooler R400 ARGB
Motherboard: Biostar TZ75B ATX
Ram: 16GB DDR3 (2x 2GB, 1x 4GB, 1x8GB) 12800U
SSD/HDD: 1x RX7 500GB SSD, 2x 1TB WD Blue, 3x 2TB Seagate
GPU: ZOTAC 1060 3GB AMP Edition
PSU: Cooler Master 450 MWE
Chassis: ThermalTake (i don't know the details, it secondhand)
OS: Latest Update Windows 10 (i always turn on auto update)
Monitor: Acer 22
.
"If you're working with Windows 10 or later, Windows Boot Manager is what shows up in Boot Device Priorities/Manager in BIOS for any motherboard."
No, i've been using this PC many years, and never see WBM in my BIOS, never, usually the boot direct to my SSD RX7 512GB, and that's it.
.
"Windows Boot Manager should be the first device."
Yes, because it now exist on my BIOS, the working method to boot is to make WBM #1 Priorities
.
"Might want to remove all drives from your system with only the drive that the OS is on and see if that helps."
I do this to check if my PC can load the right boot, and it is, now it's ON, but still not let me using all of the RAM
.
"I've got some bad news for you/your friend. That install you performed was a waste, as you're advised to install the OS on the platform that the drive will reside in. Transplanting an OS drive onto another platform will only lead to troubleshooting or grey hair or hair loss."
Sorry, i don't know what this means.
.
"Mixing and matching often times leads to troubleshooting"
No, because this PC already do that many years without problem until 2 days ago, i don't even touch RAM Overclock, i leave it default.
.
"To add, see if your motherboard is pending a BIOS update but your issue would be the result of your OS being corrupt"
ChatGPT also suggest the same thing, this BIOS version already latest
.
"Do you see 16GB of ram in BIOS? Try and clear the CMOS and see if that helps."
Yes, before this happens, All of my RAMs are detected, all of them, the speed, the size, the clock, i can check it from BIOS. Clearing CMOS? i laready done that 4 times, ChatGPT also suggest deep CMOS, already done that, no result.
.
So, my PC is on, normal like usual, but it not let me use All of my RAM, i don't know what cause it, so i tell the whole story

 

[Misgar]

Sorry, i don't know what this means.

When you install Windows on a drive in a PC you're supposed to leave the drive in the PC, not transplant it to another machine. During setup, Windows installs the correct drivers for the mobo, CPU, GPU, etc. If you move the drive to another PC, the hardware will probably be different and Windows might get confused by the new hardware.

Installing a 4GB DIMM and an 8GB DIMM is not a good idea even if it worked in the past. For a stable system you're advised to fit DIMMs in matched pairs, i.e. 2 x 4GB or 2 x 8GB, not 4GB + 8GB. If you're unlucky enough to have fitted 4GB + 8GB in Dual Channel mode, it'll probably fail.

In addition, unless you fitted the two 2GB DIMMs in the correct DIMM sockets, but instead end up with 2GB + 8GB in DIMM slots A1, B1 and 2GB + 4GB in DIMM slots A2, B2, then the BIOS will probably get confused and fail to boot.

If you don't understand what any of this means, just accept the fact that mixing different size RAM modules (4GB + 8GB) is a bad idea.

If the RAM tests fine (as individual sticks) in your friend's mobo, that's quite normal. It's the weird mixture of sizes that's causing the problem in your PC.

Don't mix 4GB with 8GB. You might be running one "pair" of DIMMs in Dual Channel mode (2GB + 2GB) and the other "pair" of DIMMs in Single Channel mode (4GB + 8GB). Who knows? No wonder the BIOS is confused.

My guess is you might have replaced the four sticks of RAM in different sockets. Clearing the CMOS will have wiped the previously stable BIOS settings and now you have an unstable system.

Check your mobo manual. See what the manufacturer recommends as the default sockets for two DIMMs. It's normally slots A2, B2. Fit the two 2GB modules in A2 and B2. Do not fit the 4GB and 8GB. See if the machine boots with 4GB RAM.

If 2x2GB works and you need more RAM, buy a matched pair of 4GB DIMMs (2x4GB) or a matched pair of 8GB DIMMs (2x8GB).

 

[SkyNetRising]

i open BIOS to set my SSD to #1 Priorities, but something usually aren't there, there's... "Windows Boot Manager" on my Hard Drive Priorities List,
i never see this WBM in my entire life using this PC, my PC suddenly have it, usually only 5 of my Hard Drive, and 1 of my SSD, that's it.

"Windows Boot Manager" is boot entry for UEFI boot.
Legacy boot entries are with drive model name in it.

Is windows on your pc installed in legacy mode or in UEFI mode? You should know that.
For legacy boot to be available, you have to enable CSM (compatibility support module) in BIOS.

My PC boot to WBM and showing 2 Windows 7, ask me to choose which one should i pick, both of them lead me to and error

Didn't you say, you have windows 10 (and not windows 7) ?
You're booting from wrong bootloader.
This happens with multiple drives in system. Then correct bootloader is probably located on different drive than windows OS drive.

I still don't know how to fix it, so i use ChatGPT to ask for assistance

I'm sorry, but this is one of top 3 dumbest things. LOL
DO NOT rely on ChatGPT, when diagnosing computer problems.

 

[WillSurvive]

"Windows Boot Manager" is boot entry for UEFI boot.
Legacy boot entries are with drive model name in it.

Is windows on your pc installed in legacy mode or in UEFI mode? You should know that.
For legacy boot to be available, you have to enable CSM (compatibility support module) in BIOS.

Didn't you say, you have windows 10 (and not windows 7) ?
You're booting from wrong bootloader.
This happens with multiple drives in system. Then correct bootloader is probably located on different drive than windows OS drive.

I'm sorry, but this is one of top 3 dumbest things. LOL
DO NOT rely on ChatGPT, when diagnosing computer problems.

"I'm sorry, but this is one of top 3 dumbest things. LOL
DO NOT rely on ChatGPT, when diagnosing computer problems."

Nah, it's okay, but i didn't too "Rely" on it, i was in highscool that focus on IT too, so didn't rely on ChatGPT that much, only i don't know what to do, ChatGPT said check BIOS Setting and set this and that, no i din't do that but at least i have clue to check the BIOS Setting, that's all.
.
And i figured it out all myself, the motherboard is f***ed up LOL

 

[WillSurvive]

I was working on it to see any slot, or RAM, or any components, nope, it was All Fine, all working, instead, i found the motherboard are hitting the age, it can boot now with all of the RAM plugged in, but only 12GB Useable, don't know how, the RAMs also detected in BIOS, all of them, the size, the clock, the speed, but only 12GB useable (of 16GB), well at least it's on, i think it's time to upgrade, or at least change to a new motherboard for a moment

 

[Misgar]

but only 12GB useable (of 16GB),

I'm guessing (and it's only a guess) that with the current configuration, the BIOS is only using half of the 8GB DIMM, if it's paired with the 4GB DIMM.

If you have the first true pair of DIMMs configured with 2GB + 2GB, that's 4GB, plus a second pseudo "pair" of DIMMs, 4GB + 8GB (with only 4GB working out of the 8GB) making another 8GB.

True pair 1: 4GB
Pseudo pair 2: 8GB
Total: 12GB

If it works great, but I'd be inclined to boot the computer from MemTest86 and run a full pass (several hours). If any of your RAM is bad, you may end up with "bit rot" and corrupted files.
https://robots.net/tech/what-causes-ram-to-fail/

DO NOT rely on ChatGPT, when diagnosing computer problems."

I wonder how much of ChatGPT's so-called computer expertise comes from trawling forums such as Tom's and combining all the varied opinions into one glorified mess (LLM)? I'm a Luddite and I've not touched ChatGPT or CoPilot, et al.