[Solved] Windows 7 64 bit won't install and having freezes on xp setup of same equipment

I have tried one stick at a time trying both individually, I have also tried 2 sticks both in single channel and dual channel mode

And this will tell me what if I run a memory tester? If I still get the freeze it doesnt tell me what the issue is so I can resolve it.

I would think yes and no on that due to it still could be a motherboard or bios setting issue. If the bios is being picky on a setting with this ram, would that not show up as false errors on that tester?

I should only have to worry about the 7-7-7-20 and the 1.7v setting right? Should I have to worry about any other ram settings?

You also need to ensure the RAM is running at the correct speed (1333MHz).

This is almost certainly a memory problem, Windows 7 is much more critical of the memory than XP is. You should as previously suggested run a memory test program to confirm. I have had similar problems with other computers where no amount of adjusting the settings in the BIOS cured the problem, but by changing the brand of memory solved the problem, even though the original memory worked fine in other computers.

I would order the G.Skill kit. It has the same specs as the Corsair RAM, but runs at 1.5v instead of 1.65v. RAM that can run at the same specs at a lower voltage is a good indication of higher quality chips.

Edit: I'm not impressed with the shop you're using if they originally talked you out of that Corsair RAM because they claimed it wouldn't work with an AMD system. That is NOT true. The only reason Corsair mentions Intel compatibility is because the RAM runs under the 1.65v RAM voltage limit of the Intel chips. Both the G.Skill and Corsair kits will work great with either an Intel or AMD system.

I ran that memory tester and not one error. Tried again to put on Windows 7 and nothing.

I think Windows 7 64bit compatibilty issue somewhere probably with the ram.



Question: When I was looking at the bios settings for ram voltage when in manual mode I have it set to 1.7v which is the ram setting. But I was curious because when I looked to see what the lowest it could be set to it was 1.600v then it went in increments to 1.620, 1.640 and so on up and over 1.7v. The motherboard manual says it can support 1.5v and up.

Is it safe to assume that the settings allowed for ram voltage is dependent on what sticks of ram are in there?

Anyways I am going to try and get that ripjaw or the corsair ram. I noticed that this boards likes to default to 9-9-9-24. Both those ram I think where those timings.

Thanks again!

I don't like to touch beta bios updates because to many times I have seen boards go corrupt and safer to go with finished bios updates.

I am aware of both the cpu and memory compatiblity lists. Both Corsair and ripjaw are on that list as companies that have ram that work with this board. Also in a thread on these boards about a budget system the ripjaw was suggested as being good with this board. That is why ripjaw was my first choice and the corsair I listed earlier was my second choice. It was the store owner that suggested the mushkin ram even when I asked if it will be compatible and such and he said he hasn't had any issues. I usually always go by those lists but he didn't have any of it in stock and he talked me out of the corsair set which he did have in stock. Also note that mushkin has no tested ram for that board as a company at all.

Guess that is what I get for second guessing myself. I have been out of the loop on some of the newer technologies but don't think I am that far behind. Only thing I have seen change in settings was that the 1600 ram defaults to 1333 and you have to manually configure that ram and some info about 1666oc and assume that voltage ranges that can be set in the bios are dependent on the ram installed.

I really don't think this is user end issue but a hardware compatibilty issue since that happens. And other then that memtest I have tried everything else that was suggested prior to me even making the post. I really need to stop second guessing myself. I am actually A+, Network+, CCNA lvl 4 with voucher exam passed and ready whenever for final for CCNA and have 2 year college diploma in systemstech/network admin. Anyways just covering everything since I don't claim to know everything and seeing if I missed something on my end.

Well I will let you guys know what the solution is. The suggestion of testing the hard drive is a good one and it will be done when it gets to the shop. First on the menu is switching out ram and then if that doesn't work he is going to continue looking at this system since I have already put to much energy into this and it is not even my system and just trying to help my friend put together a cheap budget gaming rig. With windows xp on it it looked nice in fallout 3 when it wasn't freezing but want to see Bad Company 2 on it with dx 11.

This is the first Windows 7 system to not work out of like 30 of them that I have built thus far. As for Window 7 problems only issue was the fact that it doesn't come with an email program such as the previous operating systems with outlook express. Microsoft office 2000 outlook also is very flakey which I find odd since word , excel and all the other office 2000 programs work. Luckily I now have office 2007 and use outlook off of it now. Not all small businesses can afford to go out and buy these packages outright and most small businesses use email so I was a bit ticked off at that move by Microsoft. Think it has to do with the push to Windows live.

I don't have a copy of vista. Not one system I have built since Vista came out needed Vista and I didn't support it. Thanks for the info though. I will stick with office 2007 outlook.

I have the instructions on how to get it and will note most of the sites that had a zip or such have the file pulled for copy infringements or come up as sites that have bad downloads. I also would be concerned about downloading those files with the possibility that they may have been tampered with so with security in mind I would not use those files on any of my clients computers unless I manually copied the files myself. Also I am not worried about it and was just commenting about about windows 7 mail issue and like I said I will just use office 2007 outlook as my fix.

That's great news! More confirmation that these types of issues are generally RAM related.

Well one thing I saw interesting is that this new ram is running at 1.52 when it is 1.5v ram. The old ram which was 1.7v ran at 1.62v so under powered. I think just a motherboard ram incompatibility now. Also when the ripjaw ram came in it said i5 i7 on the packaging and also said am3 so that finally proved it to him about the ram.

Best answer selected by rograthanoth.