Memory Compatibility?

[toolstylie]

For awhile, if I had two sticks of RAM in my MSI K8T Neo2, the computer would not successfully start. I RMA'd the motherboard and on my new one, both sticks sort of worked. After not long at all the computer started rebooting whenever I used a decent sized program, or more than one small program. (sometimes the screen blacked out before it restarted).

So then I tried to reinstall windows. It gets to a certain point (decently far) and then it cannot copy the file viamraid.sys. I cannot get past this point. I've tried: Different windows disc, different Drivers floppy disk, a different hard drive, and even video card. The same thing happens.

While searching on forums some people mentioned RAM compatibility. I went to MSI's website and it seems like KINGMAX RAM is not on the list of compatible RAM.

Could getting compatible RAM fix this problem? What RAM is compatible and what would you suggest?

 

[concreteDonkey]

If you go to the Crucial website and use the memory advisor tool you should be fine.

This does, however, only give advice for their RAM, but it is good stuff.

 

[pol II]

First, try memtest your RAM. It is possible that you might just need to adjust a few settings on your memory to get it to work. If you can't pass memtest, then don't worry about installing WIndows; it will likely get corrupted, and even if it does not, you may experience instability farther down the line.

Try getting a cheap, small-capacity stick of RAM that is on their compatible memory list. Memtest that and install Windows. In order to be absolutely sure what the problem is, you need to get all of your components compatible with the manufacturer's suggestions.

 

[toolstylie]

how would I do the memtest?

I'm not familiar with that.

Thanks.

 

[toolstylie]

additionally, should I go for a one stick of 512 to match what I will be using, or should I go for a 256 or 128 that will be cheaper? also, what is the difference between the K8T Neo2-F and the K8T Neo2-FIR? I'm not sure which I have as all the box says is K8T Neo2 (K8T800 chipset)

 

[Steaksauce]

Compatibility lists are overrated, almost all RAM works if the specs match for a mobo. MSIs shouldn't be different. But who knows, this combo might be the pair that don't work well with eachother. memtest86.com

 

[Steaksauce]

doubled

 

[toolstylie]

I am in the midst of Memtest and I have 36 errors so far, they occured both times during Test 5. What exactly would this mean? (18 on the first run through, 18 more the next time)


or does it need to be completely finished before you can come to any conclusions?

 

[pol II]

Generally, most folks consider anywhere between 8- and 24-hours of error-free memtest to be stable (not a single error during that time). Since you have found that your memory is not stable, you need to try to isolate the problem. If you are running two sticks of RAM, you can get failures in memtest if one of two sticks are bad. Try running memtest with only one stick in single-channel mode to see if it is stable. If you find that it is, swap out the sticks to test the other. In this way, you can determine whether one or both of the sticks is bad.

 

[toolstylie]

Alright, I am not the best with some terms so bear with me.

I tried two RAM sticks right next to each other (in the same port I guess) and that is where I had many errors. I took out one of the sticks and I had no problems. I then took out that working stick and replaced it with the "faulty" one and there were NO problems. I then put both in, but separated them by a space. (Ram, Empty, Ram) so they are in different sections. There have also been no problems.


Could this mean the RAM is fine and the motherboard has an issue in that RAM slot? (keep in mind this is the "incompatible" RAM according to MSI)

 

[pol II]

If you are populating one green slot and one purple slot (DIMMs 2 and 4, respectively), then that is the correct configuration for running dual-channel mode:

http://www.msi.com.tw/program/products/mainboard/mbd/pro_mbd_detail.php?UID=608

If you got no errors for 8+ hours, then you can be relatively confident that things may go well from here on out. I would double-check the manual to ensure that you are indeede putting your RAM in slots 2 and 4, just to be sure. If you had previously run your computer with both of your your RAM sticks in the same channel (both were in the green slots or both were in the purple slots), then that could have been the origin of your problems.

 

[toolstylie]

alright, so I tested each stick individually and they both seem fine. I also tried them in separate slots (one green, one purple) and it works fine. Then I tried out my friends Corsair RAM which is supposedly compatible and IT STILL CAN'T COPY VIAMRAID.SYS.

No matter what I seem to try it get's to that point in the XP setup and says it can't copy VIAMRAID.SYS


could it be a faulty motherboard? processor? the fact that both hard drives I've tried are SATA? (maybe a non-SATA would work?)



AHHHH I really need to fix this, it's absolutely killing me.

 

[toolstylie]

anyone have ANY clue why "viamraid.sys" can't be copied while I try to install Windows?

 

[toolstylie]

bump.


anyone know anything about viamraid.sys?

 

[DangerIsGo]

Could be a few things. If i have a problem that a file cant be copied over, i ususally skip it P but thats just me) That looks like a Via RAID sys file so unless your running RAID, i feel safe enough to skip it. This could be (if your RAM is fine) that maybe the CD is scratched or the CD drive need to be cleaned a little. If it always happens with the same file, check the CD. If you are running RAID, try making a copy of the windows CD and see what happens...If it STILL happens, ..well lets just try this first