Win XP won't install with my RAM

I tried at least 10 times installing winXP on my new machine.
It wouldn't go.
Sometimes it'd just hang halfway, other times it'd blue screen.
Once i made it all the way through, but it wouldn't let me log in (some domain controller error)

I finally swapped the ram (mushkin pc3200) out for some OCZ stuff - XP installed fine on the first attempt.

This has happened to me multiple times, with multiple sticks of ram - is the ram bad? Or is there some setting in CMOS that i'm missing?

 

[Steve]

www.memtest.org

Were you doing the install at overclocked or stock settings? Run memtest at stock settings.

 

[SwiftWind]

what cpu, what's the new ocz ram speed, and what chipset mobo

 

[baddogfog]

Are they two different brands of RAM? This has caused my some trouble in the beginning, but after many tries it finally came up. I had to use just one stick then add the others.

 

cpu is a xp2600 barton
mobo is biostar M7NCG

the ram that XP wouldn't install on is mushkin basic 3200
the OCZ that worked is also 3200

should i swap the ram again and see if the PC will run on it now?
If memtest shows errors, will newegg accept that as a reason for RMA?

 

[cirthix]

they should because memtest will tell you that its faulty (if it is), and a faulty product is reason enough for an exchange. newegg service is good enough that they will take your word for most stuff too

 

[cirthix]

i actually had a similar problem with my geil pc2700, which was prime stable for many hours (memtest too) yet xp wouldnt install. i ended up clocking to 100fsb, installing, then clocking back up to normal. this was on an a7n8x (same chipset), so try what i did

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: troytime
cpu is a xp2600 barton
mobo is biostar M7NCG

the ram that XP wouldn't install on is mushkin basic 3200
the OCZ that worked is also 3200

should i swap the ram again and see if the PC will run on it now?
If memtest shows errors, will newegg accept that as a reason for RMA?

That's the problem. This board is very picky about the RAM. I had graphic errors during the WinXP install, and a BSOD when it would try to boot afterwards. Come to think of it, I made a post about this awhile ago.

Memtest never found any problems, but WinXP (and Linux for that matter, Mandrake's install froze up every time) did.

So send your complaints to Biostar if anyone. This board is waaaaay too choosy about RAM.

 

[mechBgon]

If you can raise memory voltage, that might be worth trying. Try 2.7 volts if you have the option.