Windows 2000 NT Freezing....

[TxOutlaw]

I have a custom madeTower w/ 2.5G P4 with ABIT MB, ASUS video, Audigy sound... It had 512 DDR and I just plugged in another 1G today.

This has been goin on a while. Computer freezes with any program or activity. Sometimes it will freeze before loading windows completely and sometimes will work for a day or two. All fans but one case fan work, cleaned the inside of the tower, updated virus, firewall, windows, and spyware. Cleaned out as much as I could. I had a guy come by and told me I should add mem. I did and no change. I got far enough in windows to see that the computer recognized the added ddr.

Am I missing anything??? Any help appreciated!!

[patio]

Travel to Crucial's website and enter your systems info to determine what type of RAM that machine likes...then compare the RAM specs you have to see if it is the proper match.

[dahlarbear]

1. Are you sure you don't need that case fan working?

2.  Run memory diagnostics from a bootable CD or floppy diskette.  MemTest86 3.3 is a "free" reputable memory diagnostic.  Boot it, it loops thru different memory tests forever until you hit "Escape" to terminate.  You should do at least one complete pass if possible.  Look for free download on their site:

http://www.memtest86.com/

Don't forget to save and read documentation file (I think it's included with download?).  If you have trouble reading text file, open it in Microsoft word, then save it out again as text file.  I believe this adds explicit cr-lf to text so you can read in Notepad.

If it passes memory test without error, let it run all night, then your memory is probably good.

3.  You should also get motherboard documentation off internet to ensure you don't have to add "matched" pairs of memory (dual channel?) and you're using correct slots on motherboard.  Sometimes a board will accept certain size memory module (e.g. 512 MB) using low density memory chips but not high.  Sometimes documentation suggests adding larger module before smaller module.  Your modules also need to be speed compatible in order to play together.

[TxOutlaw]

Cool thanks for the help. I will try the boot disc tonight.

As for the memory, I did put the 1Gig in DIMM1 and the old 512KB in DIMM2... It freezes instantly now. I cant even get windows fully started. Tonight I may take out the 512KB and see if that helps.

If I had hair, I would be pulling it out... LoL... I am about ready to sell this PC for parts... lol

[TxOutlaw]

Also, where can I get the files I need to create a boot disk for Win2000pro? I don't think I have a cd anymore...

Thanks!

[patio]

bootdisk.com

[TxOutlaw]

OK. I am looking for any more clues to fix this thing. I plan on making a boot disk, swapping the 1gig in DIMM1 and removing the 512K from DIMM2, removing the sound and network cards... If that doesn't help and I have to use the boot disk, can it be from CD or have to be 1.44 diskette? Running a boot disk, will this allow me to windows so that I can get to the memory test?

Any additional pointers would be greatly appreciated!!

[patio]

You can DLoad the Win2k files and make a bootable CD with it...
You can also DLoad MemTest and create a bootable CD ...follow the directions on the MemTest site...
I still believe you may have the wrong type/specs of RAM...did you travel to Crucial's site to see for sure ? ?

[TxOutlaw]

I read in my MB manual and it called for DDR PC 2700, 3200 and several other 184pin DIMM. I got that in a 1Gig.

This may help. A tech told me to try crucial.com yesterday before I bought the new RAM and the site said I had no memory at all. Didn't recognize the 512K that was in there... Did recognize that my MB had 3 DIMM spots tho....

[patio]

The site won't "see" what you have installed...it will only advise on what is the correct type.
What do your RAM stick specs say ? ?

[dahlarbear]

1.  MemTest86 is a bootable program (it is self-contained within its own operating system).  It boots directly from floppy or CD and is the only program running in your machine.  It does not run under Windows...  there is no Windows running.

That's the great part about it.  It not only tests your memory, it allows you to run software that's independent of your current software.  If your problems continue while running MemTest86, then your Windows software is NOT the problem.

Then you can look towards "heat", bad hardware, loose connections.  But work on one thing at a time.  Ensure both memory modules meet specs, are compatible with each other, and are "good" before moving on to something else.

Does motherboard documentation and/or Crucial confirm that you may put 1GB memory module in a "single" DIMM slot or even a 512MB module?

You might be able to run with either the 1GB or the 512MB but not both at the same time (some modules aren't compatible with each other).

If you encounter memory errors while testing, then test each module separately (remove one module from PC); again they may not be compatible with each other (or your motherboard).

If you want a bootable CD then look for this download "Memtest86 v3.3 ISO image (zip)" on the "Free Download" page of the site: 

    http://www.memtest86.com/


2.  Per "patio's" request, be sure to post the "specs" from each memory module that you're attempting to use.  It would also be helpful to know "which" ABIT motherboard you're using.

3.  Thermal Compound/Paste.  You implied "freeze" started before addition of new memory.  Depending upon how your CPU, heatsink, and fan mount you may need to use a "thermal" compound or paste between them.  If you don't, the CPU will overheat and freeze.  And the harder you work it (running programs), the hotter it gets.  An example of a thermal compound/paste is:

    http://www.articsilver.com/

Although if it sometimes runs for a day or two without freeze (are you working it hard?), then thermal compound/paste may not be a factor.


4.  Just a thought...  Did the system ever run smoothly or has it always had problems?

This has been goin on a while.

[TxOutlaw]

OK Geek Squad are idiots... I was at best buy and SHOWED them my ABIT SR7-8X manual. It calls for 184bit PC2700 up to 1gig and they gave me a KByte 1GB PC3200 DDR DT. Think thats the problem. The old 512K is a PC2700 and it worked fine for 5plus years... The problem started a few months ago...

Thanks for the help. I am gonna swap out the new memory and try that.

[TxOutlaw]

Well I got the old mem back in DIMM1 and the new memory out. It lets me get back to windows for a little while. I made the memtest CD (put the iso file burned on a CD) and left it in the cd rom drive and turned off the computer and turned it back on. Went up to windows, but I did see it say "trying to boot from CDROM" before windows started to open.

 

[dahlarbear]

1.  The "Geek Squad" are not idiots.  While it is true that your Abit SR7-8X motherboard manual does call for "Unbuffered PC 2700 DDR Module up to 1GB" in a two slot configuration, the Crucial website says the motherboard "Supports up to two PC2700 (DDR333) or faster DIMMs" (and they go on to list their compatible unbuffered PC2700, PC3200, and PC4000 1GB modules as available).  On a separate page Crucial goes on to state:

Memory is designed to be backward-compatible, so generally speaking, you can safely add faster memory to a computer that was designed to run slower memory. However, your system will operate at the speed of the slowest module or system component (the "lowest common denominator" effect).

Does that guarantee that your two memory modules are compatible? No.


2.  Background and Troubleshooting links:

     a.  Abit SR7-8X Motherboard User Manual (zipped PDF download):

    http://www.uabit.com/downloads/downloads.php?file=/downloads/manual/english/sr7-8x.zip

     b.  KByte Memory Troubleshooting link:
    http://www.kbytememory.com/pages/troubleshooting_main.shtml
   
     c.  Crucial Troubleshooting and Background Info Links:
    http://www.crucial.com/support/troubleshooting_install.aspx

    http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.aspx?qid=4003

    http://www.crucial.com/support/memory_speeds.aspx


3.  MemTest86:

I made the memtest CD (put the iso file burned on a CD) and left it in the cd rom drive and turned off the computer and turned it back on. Went up to windows, but I did see it say "trying to boot from CDROM" before windows started to open.

I've never made a bootable CD, so I'm not sure of the procedure.  Is there a working floppy drive handy?  If not some ISO image research is required.

[TxOutlaw]

Yeah I read that too... PC 3200 should be ok, but it sure doesnt let me do much... I will make a floppy tonight and see how that goes...

My appologies to any members of the "Geek Squad"!!! Just getting frustrated is all!!