Reply to: XP Pro RAM

[TykeMerc]

Have you checked to see if there's an update for the flash Bios available? I've seen the syndrome you mentioned a couple of times where a Bios update resolved it.

Bios flashing is pretty trivial these days as long as you follow the instructions.

[Jubber]

Maybe just stick with 2Gb and save yourself a lot of time and hassle?

Sound advice.













1GB memory anyone Much cheapness

[VectraMan]

Does sound like the graphics card is trying to use the same address space as the extra memory, which is something the BIOS should be sorting out for you I'd have thought. So perhaps go through the BIOS settings, or look to see if you can get an updated BIOS?

FWIW I upgraded both my XP desktop and Vista laptop from 2GB to 4GB, and haven't noticed much difference. The only time I think it was worthwhile was when I was running three different VMs at the same time.

[Platypus]

Or Google, looks like a known issue

http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/arc...fying-3gb.aspx

Use the /3GB switch ?

[Platypus]

Maybe just stick with 2Gb and save yourself a lot of time and hassle?

[DaveB]

Have you got a another graphics card you could swap out with it?

Maybe try upgrading the graphics drivers as well.

[Jubber]

Hmmm, that does sound quite like a graphics problem. Try uninstalling the graphics card drivers and using the card as a plain vanilla generic VGA card. See if it starts up in VGA mode or not.

Wow - with 3GB installed, safe mode produces many flashing multi-coloured boxes for about 30 secs - then nothing.

[Fred Bloggs]

when it gets to where the win xp logo usually appears, all I get is a few multi-coloured squares appearing then disappearing then nothing

Hmmm, that does sound quite like a graphics problem. Try uninstalling the graphics card drivers and using the card as a plain vanilla generic VGA card. See if it starts up in VGA mode or not.

[Fred Bloggs]

The motherboard only has 3 slots

Apologies, I've only ever seen 2 or 4 slots. Never seen 3, sorry

[Jubber]

Tried Safe Mode?

OK - will have a bash

[TykeMerc]

Tried Safe Mode?

[Jubber]

That sounds more like a graphics glitch. Does it have a seperate graphics card or is it integrated onto the motherboard?

It's separate, an NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500

Drop a line to Crucial - they're usually pretty good at offering assistance with this kinda thing.

Will try

It works perfectly with 2GB - in fact, I'm posting with it now

[voodooflux]

Drop a line to Crucial - they're usually pretty good at offering assistance with this kinda thing.

[DaveB]

The motherboard only has 3 slots



erm ... maybe my understanding of POST is wrong. What I mean is that is goes through all the usual BIOS start up type messages, but when it gets to where the win xp logo usually appears, all I get is a few multi-coloured squares appearing then disappearing then nothing - the PC just sits there doing nothing.

That sounds more like a graphics glitch. Does it have a seperate graphics card or is it integrated onto the motherboard?

[Jubber]

Unfortunately, I think you'll have to use either 2 or 4x1Gb sticks for it to boot.

The motherboard only has 3 slots

And anyway, if it's not getting past POST it hasn't got as far as XP. So it's the motherboard, or the BIOS. Perhaps you need to enable something in the BIOS?

erm ... maybe my understanding of POST is wrong. What I mean is that is goes through all the usual BIOS start up type messages, but when it gets to where the win xp logo usually appears, all I get is a few multi-coloured squares appearing then disappearing then nothing - the PC just sits there doing nothing.