Dual Boot problem - help please

[Gorsh]

Happy New Year to all!
I have just rebuilt my PC with all parts from OcUK (thanks guys for great advice and service), and have installed XP Pro and then Vista 64 Ultimate. I have a strange problem which happens when selecting XP from the boot option screen :-

If I have been in Vista, then reboot and select XP it almost boots OK then just before the welcome screen appears it gives a very quick flash of BSOD and restarts - if I then select XP again it boots normally and says it has recovered from a serious error. Clicking the link to Microsoft says it doesn't know what caused the error but it is likely to be RAM or Bios related and suggests updating the Bios amongst CPU checks, etc.

If I then boot into XP on successive restarts there are no problems, however if I have been back in Vista I get the BSOD on the first attempt at booting XP every time. Vista boots perfectly on every occasion.

My Hardware is:-
Abit IP 35 Pro (Bios14)
Q6600 at 3Ghz GO (have tried stock with no difference to above problem)
Tuniq Tower cooler
4 x 1GB Crucial Ballistix 8500C5 (voltage set to 2.2v - correct I think? instead of default 1.8v)
Asus HD 3850 Pro 256MB
WD Caviar SE16 500GB in three primary partitions
Corsair HX 620w PSU

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. This is my first high spec build and I am new to dual booting and overclocking.
Thanks
Gordon

 

[melbourne720]

Does it do this if everything is returned to stock (inc memory)?
If you do a cold boot will it do this? My guess at the culprit would be:-

1. Windows install
2. Hard drive error
3. Memory fault / incompatibility
4. Overclocked component being erratic

in that order

 

[Gorsh]

Thanks for your reply

I will try setting everything to default and report back.

Logic tells me the problem would be something Vista is doing on shutdown as if I do multiple boots into XP everything is fine - it's only a problem if the previous boot was into Vista. This means the XP install is OK, and Vista is OK as it always runs perfectly. The HD is brand new and would surely show other symptoms if faulty?

Also, can someone please confirm if I am correct in thinking 2.2v is correct for my RAM?

Thanks again

 

[caithomas44]

do you have anything important on there? if not wipe it all, fresh vista install, reset to default settings

if not working still i suggest you do memtest

 

[Gorsh]

Thanks for your advice. I'm reluctant to re-install even though my data is all secure - it's just the time and hassle of configuring everything again.....etc so I will try all I can to fix it first.

Have reset CPU and RAM in Bios to default, but it made no difference at all - also ran Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool at startup with no problems reported. I can reproduce the BSOD 100% of the times I boot into XP after being in Vista, then subsequents boots of XP are OK. I don't think there's anything wrong with Vista as it never gives any trouble at all.

Bit of a mystery really - I may try a repair install of XP - unless anyone can come up with a better suggestion......?....please!

Thanks
Gordon

 

[Gorsh]

Problem solved

Thought I'd let you know I have found the problem, I decided to try with 2GB RAM and it was OK, so tried with 3GB and still OK. Been through the sequence several times now so I'm sure it's fixed.

I can only assume XP was writing something in the bootup files to overcome the 4GB issue hence being OK on second and successive boots, then Vista must have been resetting it and causing XP to crash on it's next boot. I knew 32bit XP didn't use more than about 3GB of RAM but had no idea putting 4GB in would cause a problem. Of course on a single boot system it would have been OK.

It might be worth putting this info into one of your stickys for others as it will be soon lost in this very busy forum.

Thanks for your input guys

 

[melbourne720]

Thanks for reporting back, interesting issue. Strange for Vista and XP to interfere like that.

I have 4GB on a XP single boot. I'll think twice about putting Vista on dual boot now!