New RAM in ASUS A8JP question

Hi!

I bought 2gb of Crucial RAM (the one recommended for my ASUS on the Crucial site) for my notebook and installed it. This was at the same time as the Vista SP1 update. When I first started the notebook after putting in the memory it stuck on the circular Vista symbol at startup and made a repeating chime of the Vista sound.

It started okay in Safe Mode. And the system page said 2gb RAM. I restarted. It started fine in Normal Startup Mode. But the next time it hung on startup.

I was wondering if the problem is the new RAM or new Vista SP1. Can anyone tell me if there is an easy way to determine this?

Thanks for your help!

Brian

 

Take the new RAM out and replace it with the previous RAM that was installed. Start the system up, and see what happens. If it works, then the problem is with the RAM.

If it still gets stuck at the Vista loading screen, then its likely a problem with SP1. You should be able to get it started in Safe Mode and the revert to a previous date, using System Restore.

 

Thanks Zero! That is good advice. However I, like a fool, threw away the old RAM after it started fine once. Now I'm trying a system restore. Is there some memory test to see if your memory is working right? I think there is, but for some reason I remember it requiring a floppy drive.

 

Ah, I see. If you bought the new RAM in a two module package, then you could try induvidual RAM modules. That is, try one on its own, and then try the other. Its highly unlikely that two modules would be faulty.

Alternatively, you could try MemTest, but it takes time, and simply checking the RAM modules in turn could be a faster diagnosis.

 

That's a clever idea. I'll do that when I get home to my mini screwdriver. Thanks, Zero!
Brian

 

No problem. Just make sure you report back and tell us if it is working.

 

You can also make sure that the Ram is all the way in the slot.

 

So I tried each RAM individually and they both work. The computer starts up normally (in a fresh install of Vista Home Premium w/no service pack). I tried each RAM in the lower (or bottom?) slot.

But when I tried them together it doesn't boot normally (although it did boot in safe mode - where it said under "system" that I had 2047MB of RAM).

In fact, when Vista tries to boot it gets to the green scrolling bar (before the Vista circle symbol comes up) and then I hear an audible pop, very faint, and the screen goes blank. ***EDIT*** I find I hear this when it boots properly with only one 1gb RAM module. So not an issue?

I rechecked the Crucial site to make sure I have the right memory and it looks like I do...

Crucial 2GB (2 x 1GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory

Weird. I don't know what to think. Or do.

I've switched the modules around once. Maybe I'll try reseating them again? ...Okay, that didn't work. The strangest thing is the sound, the faint click or pop.

Can modules of RAM sometimes work individually but not together?

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Brian

 

Ah ha! Just for fun I tried installing only one RAM module in the upper/top slot. Computer didn't boot. Maybe the slot is bad? Or maybe you never use just the top/upper slot because it's not supposed to be done like that. Anyhow... just checked the warranty: 24 months. Which gives me 6 months to deal with ASUS and see if they're helpful.

 

Okay. I ordered two sticks of Kingston RAM (2x1gb) of the same speed. I'll see if the computer just doesn't like the Crucial (even though they both worked individually). Both slots worked with the 2x512mb memory. I'll report back.

Thanks again!

Brian

 

This is indeed a strange issue. Its possible your notebook just doesn't like working with the Crucial module in that other RAM slot. Hopefully the Kingston kit will work for you. What are you planning on doing with the Crucial kit? Return it?

 

You should have updated the Bios in your laptop. These hangup's will happen if the bios cannot properly allocate the entire 2 gb of memory.
Try updating teh bios, and see what happens. I hope you are able to get it to work.

I dont think switching to kingston memory is going to make any difference, but you might as well try since you already bought it.

K-TRON