Windows errors/missing program settings fixed when re-seating RAM

[ChuckNorr154]

I have an i7-3770k, Asus p8z77-v pro with a 480 GTX and all of a sudden one day a few months ago I had boot issues. What I found was that it would boot with only one 4gb stick of 1.5V Ram. No matter what when I installed more than one stick it would fail. It didn't matter which memory stick was installed just that is was only one. It didn't always work either but I had the best luck with it in slots 1 or 2.

The funny thing is my computer will boot with more than one ram slots filled but it boots with windows errors, my windows color theme is reset to the dull old gray look (looks like 20 years ago) and my Firefox settings are missing as well as all kinds of other program settings. Windows in general acts very slow and I get all kinds of various program errors. But when I take out the other memory and after a few tries It will go back to normal.

Anyways I lived with this for a while but I figured it was time to solve this issue since I just got a 970GTX and want to get this thing running full speed again with more than 4gb RAM. So I completely disassembled my PC yesterday, dusted everything. Did everything except remove the power supply and motherboard. I even reseated the CPU, added new thermal paste etc.

So when I go to boot it up I of course am getting the gray windows with errors BS again and NO memory configuration can get rid of it. My files are still on the C drive but windows in general is completely messed up.

I have been building computers for over 10 years and am an Electrical Engineer with programming/software and hardware experience but I have never seen anything like this. This is seriously strange. I am beginning to suspect the hard drive is corrupted somehow. But why did the 2 sticks of RAM always cause this before? I am so frustrated and so stumped I am ready to go back to a damn cable box for my DVR and a PS4 for my gaming. 🙁

 

[Ketchup]

So one stick in slot 3 would not boot?
Have you tried another brand/speed of RAM?
Have you tried clearing the CMOS?
Make sure you are not using the Asmedia ports for you hard drive (I beleive these are the dark blue ports).
Have you ever run chkdsk on the drive?

 

[daveybrat]

Have you tested each stick of ram one at a time with Memtest yet??

Also try testing them together as well.

If each stick tests fine by itself but not together then you could have bad ram slots on the motherboard.

 

[ChuckNorr154]

So one stick in slot 3 would not boot?
Have you tried another brand/speed of RAM?
Have you tried clearing the CMOS?
Make sure you are not using the Asmedia ports for you hard drive (I beleive these are the dark blue ports).
Have you ever run chkdsk on the drive?

So after prob 50 tries I got it to boot as normal. The first time was after a CMOS reset.

I am using the gray ports for my hard drive, the SATA6. These are what I used for 18 months when it worked so I don't think that is the issue.

Just ran CHKDSK and it passed.

I have stuck with 1600 CL9 ram since this worked for 18 months when I first build the computer. It was rock solid.

Then I could not get it to reboot one day until I had the Ram in the one stick configuration. I could get it to boot with all my 4 sticks in that slot. There has to be something wrong with the motherboard and its absolutely frustrating as hell. The crazy thing is how can this cause windows errors? I suppose memory controler/FSB chipset errors? Time to get a new motherboard and if this is not on warranty it sure won't be an ASUS this time. I have had ram issues with every freakin' Asus I have had and I am beyond sick of it. Well I guess next weekend I am going to replace the motherboard.

 

[denis280]

did you update the bios.