really big problem

[matador_de_sa]

Okay, so I ordered a DS3 about 6 weeks ago. I started it up and installed windows, then I installed some programs like firefox, tat, drivers, cpu-z, and then stupidly enough, flashed the bios using @flash utility. I turned it back on and it didn't POST. I posted on these forums and I was told to try and reset the CMOS, which I did, but it didn't work. So I sent it in to gigabyte for them to repair it. 5 and a half weeks later (today) they send it back. So I hooked it up and turned it on. I set my memory to +.2V, because that's what it's rated at, and the multiplier to 2. Everything was going fine, it asked to register windows since I installed it 6 weeks ago, so I tried to do it over the internet, but that didn't work. So I closed down the activation window and restarted my computer. I then chose to activate it by phone, and it worked. Windows started and windows update asked me to update my computer, and my logitech drivers asked to update. I said yes to windows updates, but not the logitech updates. I tried to run firefox, but it said that it needed to restart to be properly installed. I found that weird, but I decided to turn off my computer to install windows updates. I tried to turn it back on and now it won't POST. I have the exact same problem as before now. I have built a computer before without troubles, so I don't think that I'm doing anything wrong. It just seems really weird that I turned it off and suddenly it won't work, even though I had it on for like 2 hours while I was eating and doing some homework, but it was only on the activation window, windows xp didn't start yet. It's the F10 BIOS, so there shouldn't be a compatibility problem. Can anyone help me out here?

Edit: I just now decided to test it out and take out one stick of RAM. My computer now boots. So could it be that one of my sticks of RAM is bad?

 

[billdcat4]

I know from personal experience that a bad stick of ram can mess up a lot.

Run Memtest if it can post with the 'bad' stick in. If Memtest does show errors, then your windows installation and programs might be corrupted.\

Try running Memtest on the bad stick alone if you can get it to post. Ive got a friend who lost a stick of ram a couple weeks ago that wouldnt even post. He is in the process of RMAing it now. Newegg accepts RMA exchanges after up to a year.

Good luck

 

[matador_de_sa]

I got them both as a pair. Would I have to send both in for the RMA to newegg (I'm assuming so)?

Anyone else have an idea? I'm afraid to shut down my computer until I'm sure that it will start back up again...

 

[CmdPT]

RMA the thing if you bought something that doesn't work, why keep it? Yes you will have to send both of them back since they did come in pairs, so it would only make sense to.

 

[matador_de_sa]

okay, so now I have a few programs that won't work. Xfire crashes before it even starts, wc3 banlist launches but comes up with an error saying something like the memory referenced at xxxxxx could not be read, whenever I try to install photoshop CS2 I select my language it experiences a fatal error, and my logitech keyboard driver crashes whenever I press the "media" button on my keyboard. It sounds like a memory problem to me, but I just want to make sure. I'm testing one stick of memory as I type this, I will update with the results when the test is done.

When I shut down my computer to start memtest, I tried to turn it back on and it wouldn't POST. I was using the same stick that I have been running for the past day. I switched the stick, using the same slot on the mobo, and it booted with the other stick that I thought was bad. This is really confusing me...

Edit: I ran 2 memtest loops on each stick (it takes about 20 minutes for each so I could only do 2) and no errors came up. I'm now testing them both together and no errors so far.

 

[billdcat4]

You need to run memtest for a minimum of 7 runs or 1 hour.

The issues that you are having in Windows could be from using bad ram. You should not use windows again until you have checked the ram out fully.
When you use bad ram, it can corrupt everything.

Make sure that the DIMMS are firmly seated in the sockets and that there isnt any dust in there.

Remember MINIMUM 1 HOUR.

 

[matador_de_sa]

okay, so I ran memtest overnight for 7 and a half hours and 19 passes, no errors. I've run p95 for probably a total of 30 hours so far, so I don't think that my processor could possibly be the problem. I am still having trouble with the before mentioned programs.

 

[billdcat4]

okay, so I ran memtest overnight for 7 and a half hours and 19 passes, no errors. I've run p95 for probably a total of 30 hours so far, so I don't think that my processor could possibly be the problem. I am still having trouble with the before mentioned programs.

Have you run it on both sticks or just the "bad" one?
It would be best if you wrote down all of your components, maybe there is an incompatibility or not enough power.

Try reformatting and reinstalling WinXP.

i dunno, good luck

 

[CmdPT]

okay, so I ran memtest overnight for 7 and a half hours and 19 passes, no errors. I've run p95 for probably a total of 30 hours so far, so I don't think that my processor could possibly be the problem. I am still having trouble with the before mentioned programs.

Have you run it on both sticks or just the "bad" one?
It would be best if you wrote down all of your components, maybe there is an incompatibility or not enough power.

Try reformatting and reinstalling WinXP.

i dunno, good luck

Reformatting should be a last resort since you will be deleting all of the files you have.

Have you tried increasing your voltage for your RAM by 0.1V+ see if that helps a bit, maybe because the RAM is not recieving enough voltage.

I hope this helps a bit.

 

[billdcat4]

Thats right, the DS3 is a P965 based board and it has the P965 1.8v ram issues.

What type of ram do you have? It is important that the ram be set at 1.8v to run on a P965 board well. Give us a link to where you bought it.