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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.