3 y/o build suddenly doesn't boot with both RAM sticks installed

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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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10,510
~System Specs~
MOBO: ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/Gen3
CPU: Intel Core i7-2600k
RAM: Corsair Vengeance CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9B (2x4GB) (1600MHz, 9-9-9-24, 1.50V)
VID CARD: EVGA Geforce GTX 770 4GB Dual Superclocked
PSU: Corsair AX750
SSD1: Corsair Neutron GTX 240GB (This is where Windows is installed)
SSD2: Corsair Force GT 180GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium - 64 bit
Experience Level: Self-taught enthusiast; no professional background, just lots of time consuming mistakes =)

Ok, so I've had this build running solid for about 3 years now. Never a hiccup since day 1. Last week Microsoft rolled out a new critical update which seems to have been its downfall. The day after the update, my system started freezing at the Windows Login screen and then rebooting itself. POST would go fine, but the reboot loop would continue once it hung for awhile at the "Starting Windows" splash screen or at Login.

Safe mode via the SSD would freeze/reboot at 'classpnp.sys'.

Normal boot via the Windows Install DVD would freeze/reboot at the blue background before any dialogue box opens.

Safe mode via Windows DVD would freeze/reboot at the System Recovery Options dialogue box.

Tried all manner of reseating RAM, cables, video card, etc. No luck. So reformatted both SSDs through Command Prompt to attempt fresh Windows install.

DVD would expand all the files, install them, and then do its required restart....bringing me back to another freeze/reboot loop.

Removed video card, switched to MOBO onboard video, unplugged all peripherals. Reformatted again and was able to get the OS installed. Still would freeze/reboot at Login.

Reset CMOS. Removed 1 stick of RAM. System appears to work fine!
So here is where I'm at:
-BIOS is up to date.
-RAM is compatible with MOBO
-BIOS shows correct amount of RAM with any combination of my 2 sticks in the different slots
-Stick 1 (from the A2 slot) seems to work in any slot by itself and is always shown correctly in BIOS
-Stick 2 (from the B2 slot) does NOT work by itself (or as a pair) in any slot, but it still shows correctly in BIOS
-BIOS is set to XMP
-Ran MemTest86 on both sticks for 7 hours last night. Made it to 6 passes this morning with no errors so I turned it off and booted again with the 1 working stick.

Could that 1 stick just suddenly go bad? Some kind of electrical short? Maybe I powered down in the middle of the Critical Update?

I'm tempted to just buy another set of RAM, because these usually need to run as a specific pair, correct? Any other ideas I could try? Recommendations on RAM that would be a good upgrade from my current? (Might as well upgrade if I'm forced to buy new anyways, right?!)

Please let me know if I can provide any more information and I really appreciate any schooling you guys can offer!
 
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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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10,510


I appreciate the link! Had heard of this potential issue with the update, but am mildly skeptical that their mitigation would work for me since I've completed a fresh install of Windows. If they've removed all download links for the update I would assume it also wouldn't be part of the automatic Windows Update that ran once I got Windows up and running again. But I will definitely give it a try in about an hour!
 
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volcanoscout

volcanoscout

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Jan 5, 2014
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Yeah, if you updated Windows after the 16th the update bug shouldn't be an issue. It is possible for DRAM to go bad - if you've checked everything else out and you have a stick that doesn't work in any DIMM slot, with or without a mate, you can always call in your Corsair warranty. Their DRAM warranty is a lifetime one. If you want to upgrade your DRAM, you can always exercise your warranty then sell the replacements.

I'm kind of stumped on how a stick in verified good DIMM slot can succesfully pass MemTest but be non-functional in every other aspect. I would download and run CPUID and see what it shows for that stick.
 
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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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10,510
I checked for the updates. Doesn't appear any of the associated files are on my system since the re-install of Windows.

Downloaded CPU-Z from the CPUID website. But I cannot get any reading on the "bad" stick. The system will not boot normally with that stick in any configuration. I can boot into Safe Mode with the "bad" stick alone, or with both. But CPU-Z doesn't show most of the detailed info in Safe Mode. It does show me that the system is reading 8gb RAM with both sticks installed, but that's it.

 
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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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10,510
I've requested an RMA from Corsair, but will have the current sticks for another couple days while I wait for confirmation of the new set being sent out. Let me know guys if anyone has any other ideas....otherwise I will update once I get the replacements.
 
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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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10,510


Unfortunately, my only other computer at the moment is a MacbookPro.

Tried disabling XMP. Rebooted with AUTO set to 1066 and then set to 1333. Same results. Also tried the OC TUNER setting. All same results.
 
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Matt Eduardo

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Jul 20, 2013
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Received my RMA'd stick. Assumed they would be sending me another 8gb set of 2, but only received one 4gb stick. Was concerned it wouldn't match up...but HUZZAH! System booted right up! Thanks so much for walking me through a couple solutions, I hadn't even realized I had a lifetime warranty with Corsair's memory. So you just saved me about $100!!
 
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