WIN 98SE and more RAM

[voodood]

I just bought a 128MB stick of SDRAM from Mushkin, popped it into my FIC 503+ Mobo for a total of 256MB of RAM, boot up went ok, memory check ok, then Windows gets a woodie and won't open...not even in SAFE MODE!

I got varying error messages including WIN 98 configuration incorrect...reload Windows! Geeez, adding RAM is the simplest upgrade in the world. Obviously, except if you have MS.

I pulled the stick out...everything fine.

Later on I noticed that I was suffering game crashes, and then I couldn't access the game controllers. Checked the system properties to find that the SB Emulation on my Vortex 2 was screwed up as well as the MPU-401. Reloaded the MPU driver ok...but lo and behold, couldn't reload the SB emulation or get back in windows (ultimately got back in in Safe Mode). I disabled the SB emulation and all seems fine.

Is it possible that the SB emulation was also screwing up the memory upgrade? Or do I need to do something else to get Windows to accept the increased memory. I checked my BIOS, all seemed OK, memory was recognized correctly (with the new stick installed). Also, I reset my Windows memory management back to "allow Windows to manage memory", previously I had manually allocated twice my installed RAM and cached it to a literally empty 1GB partition on my 2nd harddrive (not the boot drive).

Any suggestions?

 

[kami]

Looks like a bad/corrupted stick of RAM and it also could have corrupted files on your hard disk and/or registry. I got similar errors when I pushed my memory too much (way above spec at CAS2). It could also be a bad DIMM slot, because I think Mushkin should be fairly reliable.

 

[voodood]

Well, it looks like the boys at Mushkin agree with your prognosis. They're sending me a new stick via overnight today. No questions asked! What a great company!

Thanks for your help.

 

[voodood]

Well, I popped in the new stick and actually got into Windows (once), but the System Properties said that the machine only had 128MB. The BIOS check at boot up said 256.

I reseated the stick and then couldn't get in Windows again, not even in safe mode.

I reseated the stick AGAIN and the BIOS check counted up to 196!

Its not possible that I got TWO bad sticks from Mushkin.

You mentioned something about either Registry problems or corrupted files. I know there's nothing I can do about corrupted files, but can I check and make changes to the Registry (while using the 128MB), then add the other 128 and reboot?

I'm reluctant to try the "good" stick in the other DIMM slot, 'cause I don't want to wreck it if the slot is indeed bad. I'd rather try other options, if any, first.

I can reformat and reload Windows, but I really want to hold off and do that as a last resort.

 

[Blain]

Try pulling the original 128mb stick out and just boot up with the Mushkin stick. Maybe they're not compatable.

 

[TonyT]

If it boots with just the Mushkin stick:

Have you tried switching the Mushkin to a different DIMM slot? How about switching the original with the Mushkin (in other words, put the Mushkin where the original is and the original where the Mushkin is)? I don't think such an operation will kill the memory stick.