Question RAM Upgrade - windows 11 now boot looping in repair mode

[cooperhanson]

Specs:
motherboard - ASRock Z690-C/ac
CPU - Intel (not sure on model yet)
RAM - CORSAIR Dominator Platinum RGB 32GB (2x16GB) DDR4 3600 (PC4-28800) C18
Windows 11

My friend upgraded ram, he had 2x16GB and upgraded to 4x16GB. The two new sticks are the same, they both are c18 and have the same timings and speed, only difference we found was the "version" written on the ram, but all the specs line up. As far as we can tell its the same 4 sticks.

He added them and booted to windows, but launching COD caused the game / pc to freeze several times in a row. He tried taking the two new ram sticks out, now it's boot looping (installed in slots 2&4 as per manual). The red debug light comes on (this motherboard only has a single debug light for all issues). We tried swapping into an old ram stick he used to have in slot 2, the new sticks, the old sticks, still windows is boot looping. I told him to clear CMOS, and after it said system time was no longer set so we continued and it went back to automatic repair boot loop. We reset bios to UEFI defaults. He cannot restore windows when he clicks the restore point it wont let him click next.

Any additional recommendations? He's on his way to the store to get a USB stick so we can try and update bios or use it to reinstall windows.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

separately packaged kits of RAM, even if they may be the same make & model with the same specs, are not guaranteed to work together.

usually there are differences in the overall materials and/or specific die.

try each 2x kit again separately in DIMM slots A_2 & B_2.
if they both work as intended when installed separately then you know it is a compatibility issue.

if there still is an issue beyond the simple hardware incompatibility it may be an issue caused by the software alone.
create a new OS installation package using the MS Media Creation Tool and try reinstalling Windows with the latest package available directly from MS.

 

[ubuysa]

As above, the RAM sticks are NOT the same. They're only the same if purchased in a pack of matched sticks. I see a great many BSODs caused by mixing RAM.