Mobo/Memory/APU Problem Diagnosis Help!

JakeWearingKhakis

Commendable
Apr 5, 2016
153
0
1,690
So I can get to the BIOS screen to change boot options and whatnot, but it seems that no matter what I do it goes to the same error immediately. I can't get the machine to boot from USB (to reinstall windows) either.

blinitializelibrary failed 0xc0000229

I went into the HP Diagnostics on boot-up to run component tests to help me figure out what the problem is.

Memory test immediately fails
Video Memory test immediately fails
Everything Else passes

I tried clearing CMOS with no results.

So I tried booting up with the RAM in different configurations and one at a time to find the culprit. The PC fails to boot up and gives 5 long beeps when EITHER RAM stick is in slot 1 and slot 2 is empty. If either stick is in slot 2 and slot 1 is empty OR both sticks are installed in either slot, then it does boot up (with the same issues that brought me here).

That kind of makes me think that maybe the slot 1 is bad? But what explains the failed video memory test?

Since it is an APU and has integrated graphics/SOC design, can it show the memory tests failing if it is bad? Will bad memory make the video memory test fail like it did?

I'm wondering if anyone has any further advice. I love this community and look forward to your thoughts!

Computer Make and Model: HP Pavilion 500-a60
Processor: AMD A6-5200 w/ AMD Radeon HD 8400 graphics
Memory: ADATA 4GB x2 PC3-12800 DDR3-1600MHz

Full Specs visit https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03786042

 

bignastyid

Titan
Moderator


The gpu in that APU has no dedicated vram, it uses system memory, so if the system ram is failing the video ram will also fail.
Do the tests pass with just a single stick in slot 2?
 

ktolo

Honorable
Jul 19, 2012
457
1
10,960
"Will bad memory make the video memory test fail like it did?" - Yes - your APU is using the same 'bad memory' that is also failing in the memory tests. It does sound like slot1 is bad too. Probably a component on the board, as the memory controller (as far as I am aware) is built into the APU.

Sounds to me like the solution would be buy another stick of ram with double the capacity of your existing sticks, to get you back to where you were before, and just use it in slot2.
 

JakeWearingKhakis

Commendable
Apr 5, 2016
153
0
1,690
**Q**The gpu in that APU has no dedicated vram, it uses system memory, so if the system ram is failing the video ram will also fail.
Do the tests pass with just a single stick in slot 2?

**A**The computer boots to the error message with single stick in slot 2.
The computer boots to the error message with both sticks in both slots, in both configurations.
The computer does not post and gives 5 long beeps if either single stick is in slot 1.
None of the memory configurations that post pass the memory test.



**Q**"Will bad memory make the video memory test fail like it did?" - Yes - your APU is using the same 'bad memory' that is also failing in the memory tests. It does sound like slot1 is bad too. Probably a component on the board, as the memory controller (as far as I am aware) is built into the APU.

Sounds to me like the solution would be buy another stick of ram with double the capacity of your existing sticks, to get you back to where you were before, and just use it in slot2.

**A**I feel like the motherboard slot 1, memory controller, and both sticks of RAM wouldn't go bad at the same time. I feel like replacing the motherboard is the smarter choice to try replacing first. Yeah the memory tests are failing but I think it is because the slot 1 is bad, which it tests first, making it fail.



**Q**Is the BIOS U/EFI? Try it in CSM mode.

Also go into BIOS, when you want to exit choose "Save and Exit", even if you don't change anything and see it system gives that "blinitializelibrary failed 0xc0000229" error again.

**A**No UEFI just a plain old BIOS.

I've tried Save and Exit after making many changes, after making no changes, after changing everything back to defaults, and still get the error