urgent

Ok here's the thing, after coming home from the gym, my friend calls me to tell me that the 128MB RAM stick he orded had arrived and if I can go install it. I can't resist an offer to fix a computer, so I shower and go. He had 2 old RAM sticks, a 64mb and a 128mb. So after figuring out (or guessing) which was the 64mb one, I install it. So far, so good. When it boots up I see 256mb so im like 'woot', then I see the WinXP logo so I go "wooot!" Then I see a blue screen..It's a screen I get sometimes anyways so I dont make anything of it. It was a physical memory dump, I figure that it was clearing (?) the old memory stick or whatever. Then after restarting I get "Error loading Operating system" Still, I'm calm, no biggie I think and reboot. Same error..I check the BIOS, nothing wrong to my eyes. So I install the old, 64mb again..I get a Memory decrease thing, but go into the setup and do nothing, save and it fixes itself lol..but still I get the error..I txt Memory or Copyright, pointless, just wasted like 30 cents..in conclusion HELP! lol im stumped..I would like to avoid installing XP again at all costs if possible..

Hi

Did you worked in a moist or humid environment? This once happened to my friend and it fixed itself. The thing is that there was moisture in the RAM and so it stopped working. He kept it outside the CPU and when the moisture dried off it worked fine.

You can try this !!

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I get "Error loading Operating system"

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Mmmmh...me thinks you're screwed ...whenever I get that error I know I'm screwed. ;)

What you could do is check if the HDD is still connected ok ? (Cables removed by accident when inserting the ram)

Or

reset the bios to factory settings ...maybe it got screwed up by the faulty ram (maybe that ram is another speed 100Mhz instead of 133Mhz or vice versa.

C.

Hi Raion,

Hope this helps..

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Solution:

The computers BIOS does not support the computer hard disk drives size or settings

This issue is often caused when the BIOS does not properly detect the hard disk drive. To resolve this issue update the computer motherboards BIOS. Additional information and help with upgrading the BIOS can be found on document CH000236.

Computer Hard disk drive is not properly setup in CMOS

Verify that the computers hard disk drive is properly setup in CMOS setup. Additional information about getting into CMOS setup can be found on document CH000192.

Once in CMOS verify the below hard disk drive settings.

1. Verify the hard disk drive is detected.
2. Try changing the "Access mode" on the hard disk drive to "Large" or "LBA". This setting may vary depending on the type of BIOS.

Issue with drives partitions

This issue can be cause if the disk drives are not properly setup or have been changed by another program such as a utility that comes with a Linux distribution. To resolve this issue delete all and recreate all the partitions before running the Windows XP setup.

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http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000730.htm
CH000730: Error loading Operating System after Windows XP setup.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=326676&sd=RMVP
"Error Loading Operating System" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer During Setup

I'd have to go with cemetric on this one, i am thinking that maybe the stick of Ram is of the wrong speed.

some motherboards only take a certain stick of Ram, ie: certain speed's
while some older ones can take both types and run reasonably well..

I say that because i have a old box and it is running on 256 at 133mhz, and another stick of 256 that is running at 100mhz.

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I txt Memory or Copyright, pointless, just wasted like 30 cents..

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When are you gonna learn that memory don't know shiat when it comes to computers.. :eek:

cheers
front2back:.

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When are you gonna learn that memory don't know shiat when it comes to computers..

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Um Yea, I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with that statement....

Actually, The Post check performed at startup checks for memory. However, all the check does is verify that memory is there. If the speed/type listed in BIOS is different than what is in the slot, BIOS does not know.

Now when windows starts up it runs off and grabs a block of memory. It asks the BIOS where and what and BIOS replies. Then when Windows get the memory address of say SDRAM from BIOS but it's actually DDRAM STOMP !!! Blue Screen.

So with the original memory in the PC, boot into bios and reset the bios setting to factory default or last configuration if the option is there. Let us know

Dino

Edit: Oh and remember - Friday is Hawaiian shirt day

Second Edit: You meant MemorY not memory - Not enough coffee yet

Ok, RAM speed isn't an issue in my opinion since even when I use the old RAM stick, the one that it had when it was working fine, I still get the error. So that is ruled out.

Secondly, I'm probably gonna try what it says on those links Eg, thanks..but the thing is that it was working before, so I don't know if that will fix it..

Thirdly, I didn't even go near the HD. It's one of those crappy Dell computers where the HD is against the wall of the case, and you need to remove the front and the side to remove it.

Finally, I was desperate when I txt'ed MemorY, and I figured that he had installed RAM sticks on a lot of computerse before, and might've encountered this problem himself..needless to say I was wrong..but after .30, and one stupid post, I've realized that MemorY probably doesn't know about computers :P

Sorry for the double post..

im at my friends house right now, i've determined that the new RAM stick doesn't want to work on the system i always get a BSOD when I use the new one. Probably the RAM speed. But there's still a problem. I have both HDs connected. However, I can't seem to access the other one, it asks me if I want to format it now...? When I try to defrag it, it doesn't detect it..? I confused..

do you have two HDD's in your friends PC ?

disconnect the HDD that does NOT have the OS on, one step at a time .....
double check the connections to the [OS loaded] HDD
fit the original RAM [are you saying it was a stick of 128 AND a stick of 64 ?] means it's SDR
DDR likes matched pairs .........

you might like to send up a prayer to St Bill about now :)

switch on again .........

Hmmm,

To get DDR or SDR to go into the other's slot, generally takes a pretty big hammer ;)

Will it boot from a CD or floppy? It sound to me as if the BIOS is corrupted................I have used incompatible memory to exploit that little vulnerability in the past and circumvent BIOS password protection ;) I would try to flash the BIOS.

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you might like to send up a prayer to St Bill about now

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God appears to the Pope and Bill Gates in a dream, and says: "look lads, the World is going to end on thursday"

The Pope calls his cardinals together and says :"I have some good news and some great news. Firstly God exists, secondly we all go to heaven on thursday"

Bill Gates calls his staff together and says "I have some good news and some great news. Firstly God thinks that I am important, secondly we won't have to finish Longhorn/Vista"

:D

Listen SDK and DDK was just an example to state a point. Resetting the BIOS with the old memory configuration should fix the issue.

There is no reason to suspect any other hardware. The problem occurred after replacing the memory. Why look at the HDD first?

Can you give us the stop error? STOP: 0x00000000000000 something like this?

foxy, both HardDrives that were connected had XP installed. However, one didn't work (My friends HD), mine did. Both sticksk were SDRAM, the only difference was the size of them. One was 64mb, the other two (the new one and the old one) are both 128mb.

It is not a BIOS issue since I have brought the HDD home with me, and attempted to boot it up, which didn't work. I also tried to reinstall Windows on it. It tells me that it is corrupted or needs formatting. So after getting approval to format from my friend, I will soon format it.

However, I still am wondering why the other 128 won't work. Tommorrow, I plan on running a series of 'Diagnostic tests' to see why it is that the 2 128mb RAM sticks won't work. I'm going to:
1.) Try to boot up with the new 128mb RAM stick alone.
2.) If that works, which I suspect it should, try to boot with 128mb and 64mb
3.) If that works, sit wondering what could be the reason.

If I do in fact get to #3, my suspicion would/is be what MemorY told me, that the system board can't support that amount (256mb) of RAM. Keep in mind this computer is VERY old, it's a Dell. Any opinions on this?

Hi,

If it won't take 256Mb it would have to be a 486?

As a rule of thumb, you can take the maximum strip size (128Mb in your case?) and multiply it by the number of slots.

I have an old Compaq deskpro that will take 4 x 8Mb EDO (72 pin) strips for a maximum of 32Mb

I also have a PI Digital that has 8 slots that will take 64Mb EDO RAM strips. I currently have it running Win98SE with 320Mb of RAM.

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If I do in fact get to #3, my suspicion would/is be what MemorY told me, that the system board can't support that amount (256mb) of RAM. Keep in mind this computer is VERY old, it's a Dell. Any opinions on this?

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Yeah, I have working computers that are older than he is.......................... ;) :cool: :D

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Originally posted here by nihil
Hi,

If it won't take 256Mb it would have to be a 486?

As a rule of thumb, you can take the maximum strip size (128Mb in your case?) and multiply it by the number of slots.

I have an old Compaq deskpro that will take 4 x 8Mb EDO (72 pin) strips for a maximum of 32Mb

I also have a PI Digital that has 8 slots that will take 64Mb EDO RAM strips. I currently have it running Win98SE with 320Mb of RAM.



Yeah, I have working computers that are older than he is.......................... ;) :cool:

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You may have computers older then him, but not Dell :p

Also, I don't get the whole rule of thumb thing..How do I know the maximum strip size?

Hi,

Go here: http://www.crucial.com/

And use the memory finder tool to check out what the box will take.

My rule of thumb is based on the fact that you had 128 and 64 Mb strips working. So you must have at least two slots, and it will accept 128Mb strips, so it must support 256Mb at least.

:)

it it IS that old, there could be a picture in the lid of the box, showing layout on the Mo/Bo, it should also have a listing of what RAM it can take, and which slots take what ........ [ I had a 486 DX2 66MHz monster :) with the aforementioned listing]

and Raion, nihil meant he has PC's that are physically older than YOU :p

My oldest, now, is about 10 years old, it's a mint Gateway box with W95, and I doubled the EDOS RAM to 16 MB :eek:

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You may have computers older then him, but not Dell

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My oldest Dell is a PII about 10 years old. It takes 128Mb SDRAM strips.

As part of your tests, can you try that memory strip on its own in another machine, it could be that the strip is defective.

:)

well formatting did the trick, fixed the HD, now I have to take the HD over to his computer. He tells me that he's going to give me the RAM stick if it doesn't work (yay, i can use it! lol) so I'll be testing it on my box (rotten box at that :p).

Wow a 10 year old PII Dell, you must not use it a lot :p I would never buy a Dell, I've always found it so hard to work with on the inside. I mess with my friends, aunts, and my schools Dells and can't stand them. I'm gonna check my system board manual to check if it supports 256MB, which it should. (I'm probably the only person who has a 5 year old computer with the manuals...intact, brand new.. :p)

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(I'm probably the only person who has a 5 year old computer with the manuals...intact, brand new.. )

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Your not the only one. ;)

I've got a Box that is nearly 10 years old, still got the original setup, got the manuals for it and everything, the monitor is starting to fleck up so i don't use it. Well at least try not to use it.
Impressed this g33ky chick with it not that long ago. ;)

f2b

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Originally posted here by .:front2back:.
Your not the only one. ;)

I've got a Box that is nearly 10 years old, still got the original setup, got the manuals for it and everything, the monitor is starting to fleck up so i don't use it. Well at least try not to use it.
Impressed this g33ky chick with it not that long ago. ;)

f2b

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lmao nicee

Good news: After all this stress that this has caused me (making me do everything in a hurry to do everything ELSE on time...) He's giving me his RAM stick :-D and I checked MY manual, and it supports up to 2x 256mb :D yay for a total of 512mb. Plus ordering my new video card tommorrow..