Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error

PacificQuest · 02-13-2008, 07:22 AM

Afternoon,

I've recently bought an ASrock 4core dual-SATA motherboard which has dual memory DDR/DDR2 capability.

I've been running on 1GB single stick DDR memory for a while and decided to upgrade to 2x 1GB single stick DDR2 (both exactly the same).

I would have thought by simply turning everything off, removing the DDR memory and installing the 2x DDR2 memory sticks into the relevant DIM's and rebooting would be all I needed to do. However, I manage to boot into windows up as far as the welcome sound and the system makes a painful noise and re-boots. After that, it attempts to boot back into windows and all I get is a black screen.

I've had the unfortunate experience of re-installing everything, and I've rolled-back to my original DDR memory and the computer works fine.

By going into the bios whilst the DDR2 memory is installed I can see that the system recognises it, but I'm at a loss as to why I can't go any further.

Is there something else I need to do?

**speedster123** · 02-13-2008, 01:17 PM

welcome
see if there are any adjustments that need to be made in the bios.
i would clear the cmos and try the ddr2 again.
unplug, destatic yourself, and remove the battery for 30 minutes.

PacificQuest · 02-14-2008, 01:04 PM

I feel slightly embarrassed that I didn't think of it in the first place, but hey presto .. I'm working with 2GB DDR2 memory.

Thanks for you much needed and spot-on advice :)

PacificQuest · 02-14-2008, 01:31 PM

Ah eek, I take the working bit back again.

Everything went fine, my flash player updated itself, rebooted as normal and I only made it half way through the boot process before it rebooted itself again.

It then took me to the safe mode option, however my USB keyboard was disabled so I powered off and replaced the keyboard with a standard PS2 connection and rebooted.

I then received this black screen message:

WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT:

\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM

I powered off, replaced the DDR2 memory to the original DDR and everything works fine.

At a complete loss now :(

PacificQuest · 02-15-2008, 11:00 AM

Update: Cleared the CMOS again. Re-installed the DDR2 memory and booted into windows. Left the computer running all day and I've had no problems at all.

Then I reset the computer ...

It appears that I can leave the computer running for as long as I like and the default settings will run with the DDR2 installed. As soon as I reboot the computer however, that's when everything goes wrong.

Does anyone have any other ideas they can think of? I've heard that sometimes DDR2 ram needs alittle bit extra juice, but then I have no idea on how to change this.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

**speedster123** · 02-16-2008, 07:30 AM

first try a new cmos battery
what is your power supply?

02-13-2008, 07:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
PacificQuest Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7 OS: XP Professional	Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error Afternoon, I've recently bought an ASrock 4core dual-SATA motherboard which has dual memory DDR/DDR2 capability. I've been running on 1GB single stick DDR memory for a while and decided to upgrade to 2x 1GB single stick DDR2 (both exactly the same). I would have thought by simply turning everything off, removing the DDR memory and installing the 2x DDR2 memory sticks into the relevant DIM's and rebooting would be all I needed to do. However, I manage to boot into windows up as far as the welcome sound and the system makes a painful noise and re-boots. After that, it attempts to boot back into windows and all I get is a black screen. I've had the unfortunate experience of re-installing everything, and I've rolled-back to my original DDR memory and the computer works fine. By going into the bios whilst the DDR2 memory is installed I can see that the system recognises it, but I'm at a loss as to why I can't go any further. Is there something else I need to do?

02-13-2008, 01:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,219 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error welcome see if there are any adjustments that need to be made in the bios. i would clear the cmos and try the ddr2 again. unplug, destatic yourself, and remove the battery for 30 minutes. __________________

02-14-2008, 01:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
PacificQuest Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7 OS: XP Professional	Re: Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error I feel slightly embarrassed that I didn't think of it in the first place, but hey presto .. I'm working with 2GB DDR2 memory. Thanks for you much needed and spot-on advice :)

02-14-2008, 01:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
PacificQuest Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7 OS: XP Professional	Re: Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error Ah eek, I take the working bit back again. Everything went fine, my flash player updated itself, rebooted as normal and I only made it half way through the boot process before it rebooted itself again. It then took me to the safe mode option, however my USB keyboard was disabled so I powered off and replaced the keyboard with a standard PS2 connection and rebooted. I then received this black screen message: WINDOWS COULD NOT START BECAUSE THE FOLLOWING FILE IS MISSING OR CORRUPT: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM I powered off, replaced the DDR2 memory to the original DDR and everything works fine. At a complete loss now :(

02-15-2008, 11:00 AM	#5 (permalink)
PacificQuest Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7 OS: XP Professional	Re: Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error Update: Cleared the CMOS again. Re-installed the DDR2 memory and booted into windows. Left the computer running all day and I've had no problems at all. Then I reset the computer ... It appears that I can leave the computer running for as long as I like and the default settings will run with the DDR2 installed. As soon as I reboot the computer however, that's when everything goes wrong. Does anyone have any other ideas they can think of? I've heard that sometimes DDR2 ram needs alittle bit extra juice, but then I have no idea on how to change this. Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

02-16-2008, 07:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,219 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: Upgrading to Dual memory DDR2 error first try a new cmos battery what is your power supply? __________________