Ruined - your mailbox is full....

[Miggy]

... so I'm just going to post my message here.




I downloaded that memory tester utility from Microsoft you pointed me to. I will run that tonight. It might run better than memtest, actually. That had some weird issue with Vista, where you have to run two instances of it at once for it to be able to check all the memory.

Well, I'm not on the second install. I disabled auto updates this time, and I have successfully created a restore point called "Clean Install". I'm going to run it like this for the next couple of days and then go from there.

I'm really leaning toward the video driver being the culprit. The only two things that loaded the last go round were the video and audio drivers, and I used the same audio card and driver on the previous build. Also, I had trouble with the video driver on the previous system anyway, since the desktop would go blank and then come back - along with an ominous message about the video driver having been "recovered".

So next I'll load the audio driver and run that for another day or so.

Wish me luck. I do see that the 32 bit version is available for only $89 including shipping at newegg.

Miggy, the Thief

[Miggy]

I'm about to go out of my mind......

I ran Microsoft's memory tester tool that comes on the Vista disc for four hours last night. It did 33 passes and didn't find any errors. So I booted into Windows, checked my mail, and ... BSOD.

Now comes the fun part. When the computer rebooted, now it doesn't POST. It gives 1 long beep and 2 short beeps. Asus didn't see fit to put the beep codes in the manual, and I can't find it on their site (although it seems that they've GOT to be there somewhere). I found references to this beep code in tech forums and someone said it was video adapter error.

Sigh... I won't have time to mess with this today, it'll have to wait for tomorrow.

Right now I'm thinking order a different systemboard, as I've found numerous references to problems with the M2N4-SLI, which is a shame since my K8V has been a great board.

This is just a venting.. had to get it out of my system so I could forget about it and actually enjoy today at the amusement park.

Miggy, the Thief

[Taxi]

It seems that your problems are definitely video adapter releated. I don't suppose you have a different one there that you can swap out for testing?

[Ruined]

With recent ASUS motherboards I am almost positive that BIOS beep code with 1 long beep and 2 short beeps indicates a memory failure, but I am not 100% on that. Call ASUS tech support to be sure. Also, you have to run memory testing programs for a good 12-24 hours to ensure the entire memory is tested because it is random access.

When you do not POST, it is generally one of these problems:

1) Memory failure
2) CPU failure
3) Motherboard failure
4) Video adapter failure (but IIRC this is a different beep code with modern ASUS boards)
5) Short somewhere to case (usually no beeps)

The first step is calling ASUS and confirming what your beep code means. As I stated in PM, Vista exposes memory problems much more than XP because of Vista's Superfetch that makes full use of your RAM, so that was my guess why RAM was the issue.

Also to debug one easy thing to try is running only one stick of memory in the 1st slot, and trying each stick seperately one at a time to see if one of them causes problems.

Then again, it could also be video-related as Vista also makes use of 3d functions in the OS while XP doesn't. Try playing with the memory as stated above and see if it makes a difference, thats probably the first easy debug step to take. If both memory modules installed one at a time seperately continue to show problems, then try swapping out video cards.

[Miggy]

I sent an e-mail to Asus tech support to verify the beep codes. If I don't get a reply by tomorrow, I'll call them.

I hope to god it's not the video card, as that's the most expensive component to replace by far.

I'll test out each stick of memory tomorrow to see what happens and if they verify that's what the code means, I'll order some more. If new memory doesn't work, I'll order another systemboard, but that means getting a SATA drive and that's going to be a whole new level of fun there.

I guess a bad place in the memory could be the cause of the random BSODs.. seeing as how this last time it occurred before I even loaded any drivers. Would running the memory test on it for four hours make the system not boot up? What I mean is, could that have made any fault in the memory worse, where it resulted in not booting?

Oh, and two quick questions if it does turn out to be memory. The current memory I got was pqi 667, because it was the cheapest. Would I have a better chance of success if I spent a little more and got 800 speed memory instead. Also, I don't know if I mentioned this here, but I have abandoned 64 bit Vista and going to 32 bit. Do you need 64 bit o/s to see more than 4 gigs in either XP or Vista? Or can any version of Vista see 8 gigs?

Miggy, the Thief

[Miggy]

Ruined,

You win the cigar.

I found some time to do a quick test tonight and took out the stick that was in slot 2. System booted up normal. I put in just the one that had been in slot 2, beep codes.

So..... now I assume I should order the same memory to ensure dual channel mode. And if the system starts to run trouble free from now on with the new memory, I guess that was the only issue. But I've already ordered Vista 32 bit, so I've got to decide what to do with that.

Miggy, the Thief

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Miggy

Ruined,

You win the cigar.

I found some time to do a quick test tonight and took out the stick that was in slot 2. System booted up normal. I put in just the one that had been in slot 2, beep codes.

So..... now I assume I should order the same memory to ensure dual channel mode. And if the system starts to run trouble free from now on with the new memory, I guess that was the only issue. But I've already ordered Vista 32 bit, so I've got to decide what to do with that.

Miggy, the Thief

Bad or failing memory can cause havoc on a system, so that was most likely your only issue if you continue to have no problems (you might even want to do the RAM swap a couple more times to verify the bad stick if you have some free time). I would check with the manufacturer of your RAM as many RAM companies offer lifetime warranties on their memory modules - you may be able to get away with a free RMA replacement under warranty instead of having to buy new memory. But, if you do need to buy new RAM, as you guessed try to get RAM that is as closely matched to your current stick as possible to ensure smooth dual channel operation.

Newegg will probably hit you with a 15% restocking fee when you try to return Vista 32bit... fun!

[Miggy]

Well... I just got up and the computer was still doing okay. I set up my mail alert program that montiors pop mail. I set my mail notification method, browsed over to the .WAV file. When I clicked TEST, the screen blanked and ... BSOD!

I'm going to order some Kingston RAM that runs at 800 speed and then do another clean install next Tuesday.

If I still have problems after that, I'm going to be close to giving up.

UPDATE: Newegg doesn't sell a single 2 gig Kingston module that's 800 speed, just 667. If I want 800, my choices are G. Skill, GeIL, and Patriot.

Miggy, the Thief

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Miggy

Well... I just got up and the computer was still doing okay. I set up my mail alert program that montiors pop mail. I set my mail notification method, browsed over to the .WAV file. When I clicked TEST, the screen blanked and ... BSOD!

So you are saying *neither* RAM module works properly when inserted only one stick at a time? If so, then it is probably not a RAM issue.

[Miggy]

The one stick won't boot at all.. gives error beeps.

With the exception of that one BSOD occurrence, the one that's in there now seems okay. I just loaded all the drivers and installed the Tomb Raider Demo with no problems.

Hmmmmm.... I think I'll stick with the plan of getting a 2 gig stick of 800 mhz. memory. I guess I'll get Patriot, I've at least heard of them. Then I'll reload next week and go from there.

Miggy, the Thief

[Taxi]

Patriot is very good memory.

[Miggy]

Cool... I'm glad to hear that.

I'll order it tomorrow and it should be here on Tuesday. I'm also going to take 64 bit out of the equation for now and install the 32 bit version (with the new memory) on Tuesday. My hope is that everything from that point on will work properly. I'll still have my 64 bit disc whenever I feel like venturing back into that territory again.

My thanks to everyone who listened and gave input. I can remember the old days when you didn't have the Internet as a resource!


Miggy, the Thief

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by Miggy

The one stick won't boot at all.. gives error beeps.

Yep, a bad stick for sure.

With the exception of that one BSOD occurrence, the one that's in there now seems okay. I just loaded all the drivers and installed the Tomb Raider Demo with no problems.

Hmmmmm.... I think I'll stick with the plan of getting a 2 gig stick of 800 mhz. memory. I guess I'll get Patriot, I've at least heard of them. Then I'll reload next week and go from there.

Miggy, the Thief

Patriot is a good company, though I just got done with an RMA procedure for my father's computer due to an 800mhz CAS4 2.1v Patriot stick going bad. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to buy from them.

I generally use Crucial.com because they test all of their memory with all of the motherboards so you know you are getting something compatible (some of the latest Intel chipsets are VERY picky about RAM type, even if it meets the specs it still may have problems!

[sub780lime]

Love OCZ...just my two cents

[Miggy]

I wanted to stay with newegg, and the brands they are currently selling for a single 2-gig stick of memory in 800 speed are the ones I mentioned above. So, I order the Patriot today and will redo everything next Wednesday.

Miggy, the Thief