Installed New Memory - Now getting BSODs

Conrad11 · 14 Mar 2008 at 19:43

Hi there,

I insatlled 4GB to replace my 2GB of memory in my Dell XPS M1530 laptop and I can't get into windows becuase i keep getting BSODs, even in safe mode.

I have been running memtest8+ v1.65 for about an hour now and no errors have been reported.

I tried to repair the windows installation (by booting the dvd) and got a bsod during that.

What's wrong?

Thanks.

jbloggs · 15 Mar 2008 at 10:51

2.01 is the latest version of memtest86+...you might want to give that a go.

Also, can you boot into the OS with the original 2GB, if you can, then remove it, then try the new 2GB stick(s) individually in first slot, and each of the other slots to see if all the combination work, or if not reveals the problem.

Does you laptop support 4GBs of Ram?

Conrad11 · 15 Mar 2008 at 12:19

Yeah my laptop does support 4GB - you can get it for Dell in a 4GB variant.

Will give the latest memtest a go, but i doubt it'll make a difference, surely it's the same thing really, but detects more chipsets.....?

I can boot with the original 2GB fine without any BSODs, will try the 2GB individually.

What i suspect is that the two modules together are not compatible with each other.

Thanks.

NorthstaNder · 15 Mar 2008 at 12:59

Conrad11 said:
What i suspect is that the two modules together are not compatible with each other.

I'd say that's almost a certainty!

If you're using more than one stick of ram, it's always best to get identical sticks so you know they have the exact same specification and timings.

jbloggs · 15 Mar 2008 at 13:08

Conrad11 said:
....What i suspect is that the two modules together are not compatible with each other.

I would think that is probably the issue.....never a good idea to mix ram in a setup..

Conrad11 · 15 Mar 2008 at 13:22

Woah i think your confused a bit (by my explanation).

I currently have 2x1GB set and a 2x2GB set (both sets have matched modules).

I can boot with the 2x1GB set fine without any troubles.

I can boot with 1x2GB fine without any troubles.

I CAN'T boot with 2x2GB, but it appears to pass Memory Test, it also passes the inbuilt Dell Diagnostics check.

jbloggs · 15 Mar 2008 at 18:04

Does it boot with 1 x 2GB stick installed, also does it boot with either stick installed in either slot (ie. 1 stick installed at any one time)?

What about your BIOS settings for the ram?

Conrad11 · 15 Mar 2008 at 18:27

jbloggs said:
Does it boot with 1 x 2GB stick installed, also does it boot with either stick installed in either slot (ie. 1 stick installed at any one time)?

What about your BIOS settings for the ram?

It boots and works fine with 1 x 2GB installed. Either stick, either slot, just not together.

Cob · 15 Mar 2008 at 18:50

XP or Vista?

If Vista, then there's a hotfix for a 4gb bug.

Conrad11 · 15 Mar 2008 at 19:01

Vista and all up to date but no SP1.

....Surely it wouldn't BSOD during booting the DVD though?

Teki187 · 15 Mar 2008 at 19:06

I had to max out my northbridge voltage to get my 4gb memory stable.

Conrad11 · 15 Mar 2008 at 20:05

Just figured something out, I think one of the sticks is broken. I can boot with one of the 2GB sticks in either socket and can even boot with a 2GB stick and a 1GB stick in there.

But the other stick won't boot in either socket on its own. But when i run MemTest on this stick it appears to be clean. I have run for an hour with no errors. Should I leave it for 12 hours and see how it fairs then?

Teki187 said:
I had to max out my northbridge voltage to get my 4gb memory stable.

jbloggs said:
What about your BIOS settings for the ram?

Its a dell laptop - i am unable to change any options like voltage/timmings.