NF7-S Dual Channel Memmory Problem

Ian Anderson · Oct 7, 2003

Recently upgraded my old motherboard to an abit NF7-S, but have encounted a problem running it in dual channel memmory mode with Windows XP and was hopeing for some help.

Got two 256mb DDR266 sticks and can post, even install and run windows 98se with then in dual channel mode. But Windows XP just refuses to install or boot (works fine with them in single channel mode).

When installing XP it finishes copying all the files it needs to the hard disk, then blue screen's with a page fault error. If I switch to single channel (moving the memmory to slots 2 and 3) and install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 1 and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly then just restarts.

So is this the sort of thing that happens when your memmory sticks dont match up enougth for duel channel to work ?

Is their anything I should try ?

Thanks in advance

Ian

dr_hardwrae · Oct 7, 2003

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

Recently upgraded my old motherboard to an abit NF7-S, but have encounted a problem running it in dual channel memmory mode with Windows XP and was hopeing for some help.

Got two 256mb DDR266 sticks and can post, even install and run windows 98se with then in dual channel mode. But Windows XP just refuses to install or boot (works fine with them in single channel mode).

When installing XP it finishes copying all the files it needs to the hard disk, then blue screen's with a page fault error. If I switch to single channel (moving the memmory to slots 2 and 3) and install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 1 and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly then just restarts.

So is this the sort of thing that happens when your memmory sticks dont match up enougth for duel channel to work ?

Is their anything I should try ?

Thanks in advance

Ian

Are you overclocking either the CPU or the memory? If not, you may have a flaky memory module. Run memtest86 to check the memory in either case:
www.memtest86.com

John (26) · Oct 7, 2003

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

Recently upgraded my old motherboard to an abit NF7-S, but have encounted a problem running it in dual channel memmory mode with Windows XP and was hopeing for some help.

Got two 256mb DDR266 sticks and can post, even install and run windows 98se with then in dual channel mode. But Windows XP just refuses to install or boot (works fine with them in single channel mode).

When installing XP it finishes copying all the files it needs to the hard disk, then blue screen's with a page fault error. If I switch to single channel (moving the memmory to slots 2 and 3) and install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 1 and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly then just restarts.

So is this the sort of thing that happens when your memmory sticks dont match up enougth for duel channel to work ?

Is their anything I should try ?

Thanks in advance

Ian

Ian;

Unless I'm mis-reading your post, your system is working correctly. My NF7-M is very much like your board. My manual stresses to use first DIMM3, then DIMM2, finally DIMM3. I have my memory in DIMM3 & 2, and it works fine. I see the message it's working in dual channel as part of the POST messages.

In fact, if you use DIMM1 & 2 or DIMM1 & 3, it won't use dual channel mode.

John

dr_hardwrae · Oct 7, 2003

"John" wrote:

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

Recently upgraded my old motherboard to an abit NF7-S, but have encounted a problem running it in dual channel memmory mode with Windows XP and was hopeing for some help.

Got two 256mb DDR266 sticks and can post, even install and run windows 98se with then in dual channel mode. But Windows XP just refuses to install or boot (works fine with them in single channel mode).

When installing XP it finishes copying all the files it needs to the hard disk, then blue screen's with a page fault error.
If I switch to single channel (moving the memmory to slots 2 and 3) and install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 1
and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly then just restarts.

So is this the sort of thing that happens when your memmory sticks dont match up enougth for duel channel to work ?

Is their anything I should try ?

Thanks in advance

...

messages.

In fact, if you use DIMM1 & 2 or DIMM1 & 3, it won't use dual channel

mode.

John

Slots 1 & 3 = dual channel.
Slots 2 & 3 = dual channel.

Channel 1 = slot 1 & slot 2
Channel 2 = slot 3

Slot 1 is the one closest to the CPU, slot 2 is the next and slot 3 is closest to the edge.

dr_hardwrae · Oct 7, 2003

"John" wrote:

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

Recently upgraded my old motherboard to an abit NF7-S, but have encounted a problem running it in dual channel memmory mode with Windows XP and was hopeing for some help.

Got two 256mb DDR266 sticks and can post, even install and run windows 98se with then in dual channel mode. But Windows XP just refuses to install or boot (works fine with them in single channel mode).

When installing XP it finishes copying all the files it needs to the hard disk, then blue screen's with a page fault error.
If I switch to single channel (moving the memmory to slots 2 and 3) and install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 1
and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly then just restarts.

So is this the sort of thing that happens when your memmory sticks dont match up enougth for duel channel to work ?

Is their anything I should try ?

Thanks in advance

...

messages.

In fact, if you use DIMM1 & 2 or DIMM1 & 3, it won't use dual channel

mode.

John

Slots 1 & 3 = dual channel.
Slots 2 & 3 = dual channel.

Channel 1 = slot 1 & slot 2
Channel 2 = slot 3

Slot 1 is the one closest to the CPU, slot 2 is the next and slot 3 is closest to the edge.

Ian Anderson · Oct 8, 2003

"Ian Anderson" wrote:
install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots
1
and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen briefly

Slots 1 & 3 = dual channel.
Slots 2 & 3 = dual channel.

Channel 1 = slot 1 & slot 2
Channel 2 = slot 3

Slot 1 is the one closest to the CPU, slot 2 is the next and slot 3 is closest to the edge.

Sorry reffering to my memmory slots the wrong way, should of said "but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 3 and 1 or 2)"

When it boot's up and the memmory is in thoes slots I do get the Dual channel enabled message, but windows XP just refuses to work.

Ian

Ian Anderson · Oct 8, 2003

Are you overclocking either the CPU or the memory? If not, you may have a flaky memory module. Run memtest86 to check the memory in either case:
www.memtest86.com

No overclocking anywhere,

Downloaded and have just finished my first run of memtest (excellent link and program, thankyou !) I am getting errors in the 260mb-271mb range so am now going to see if I can work out whitch stick is causeing the trouble.

Thankyou for pointing me in the right direction,

Ian

dr_hardwrae · Oct 8, 2003

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

"Ian Anderson" wrote:
install XP it's fine but if I move the memmory back to dual channel
(slots
1
and 2 or 3) gets as far as displaying a black startup screen

briefly

Slots 1 & 3 = dual channel.
Slots 2 & 3 = dual channel.

Channel 1 = slot 1 & slot 2
Channel 2 = slot 3

Slot 1 is the one closest to the CPU, slot 2 is the next and slot 3 is
closest to the edge.

Sorry reffering to my memmory slots the wrong way, should of said "but if I move the memmory back to dual channel (slots 3 and 1 or 2)"

When it boot's up and the memmory is in thoes slots I do get the Dual channel enabled message, but windows XP just refuses to work.

Ian

Hi, Ian. I just wanted to straighten out what John had mentioned about which slots were what. It's straightforward with the Abit MB, but the Epox 8RDA+ MB has the slots numbered 1,3,2 or something like that.

Anyway, I'm glad memtest86 helped you to find that probably one of the modules has a problem. That makes sense as to why XP won't work. I had a similar problem and ended up with a bad module myself (replaced with no trouble by the vendor), uncovered by memtest86.

Let us know how you make out.

Rob

"Jens C. Hansen [Odense]" "usenet[]greylion[=]dk" · Oct 8, 2003

dr_hardwrae wrote:

Let us know how you make out.

No, please don't =)

dr_hardwrae · Oct 8, 2003

"Jens C. Hansen [Odense]" <"usenet[ï¿½]greylion[=]dk"> wrote:

dr_hardwrae wrote:

Let us know how you make out.

No, please don't =)

Ok, bad choice of words

. Let us know what fixes the problem.

Ian Anderson · Oct 9, 2003

"Jens C. Hansen [Odense]" <"usenet[ï¿½]greylion[=]dk"> wrote:

dr_hardwrae wrote:

Let us know how you make out.

No, please don't =)

Ok, bad choice of words . Let us know what fixes the problem.

Worked out witch stick, was causing the trouble, swapped it for a 256mb DDR400 borrowed from a friend. And it now works !! Dual channel and Windows XP running together, !!!

Thanks again, I very much approve of memtest.

Just have to buy some new memory now, oh well

Ian

dr_hardwrae · Oct 9, 2003

"Ian Anderson" wrote:

"Jens C. Hansen [Odense]" <"usenet[ï¿½]greylion[=]dk"> wrote:

dr_hardwrae wrote:

Let us know how you make out.

No, please don't =)

Ok, bad choice of words . Let us know what fixes the problem.

Worked out witch stick, was causing the trouble, swapped it for a 256mb ...

Great! Glad to hear you found the probelm. Thanks for letting us know.