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#1
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Unstable BIOS Settings
I have recently made the mistake of trying to install incompatable RAM.
Before I learned that it was incompatible I change alot of the BIOS settings to try to get my system to boot. Since then I have put my old RAM back in which allowed my computer to boot but is now unstable and often reboots or I get the blue screen. After a reboot I will get one of two error reports: RAM failure or device driver failure. I believe I have narrowed the problem down to a BIOS issue bcause I have completely reinstalled windows and updated all hardware drivers. At the moment I can't use my system for more demanding programmes such as internet explorer or games. Since I am a novice at best when it comes to BIOS I would really appriciate some advice Gary |
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#2
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Unstable BIOS Settings
Hi, Gary.
As you must have figured out by now, this is not a Windows issue at all. It's a BIOS issue. Microsoft wrote Windows, but Microsoft did not write your BIOS. The BIOS controls the hardware and gets your computer ready to load Windows. Windows can't fix the BIOS; the best it can do is try to adapt to your settings as you are installing it and, later, as you are loading Windows on each reboot. Your first step - obviously - is to make sure your BIOS settings are good. You haven't mentioned the make and model of your computer - or your motherboard if you built it yourself. We don't even know if you have an Award BIOS, or AMI or some other, so we can't tell you exact settings or the steps to get there. All we can give is "generic" advice. Reboot your computer and press Del or whatever key is appropriate to enter your BIOS setup utility. Press F7 (or whatever key fits) to Load Optimal Defaults (or whatever similar function your BIOS provides). Then Save the changes and reboot and enter the BIOS utility again. This time, scan through each page of settings, making sure each setting on each page fits your individual situation. In your case, since you've changed your RAM, be sure you have the BIOS configured to match what you currently have installed. If necessary, READ the documentation for both your computer and for the RAM you are using. Then Save and reboot one last time. Now, if you get device driver errors, post back with the exact error messages - and a reasonably detailed description of your hardware. Then maybe we can offer some useful advice instead of just lashing out blindly in the dark. But it really is NOT a Windows problem at this point. RC -- R. C. White, CPA San Marcos, TX Microsoft Windows MVP "Gary" wrote in message ... I have recently made the mistake of trying to install incompatable RAM. Before I learned that it was incompatible I change alot of the BIOS settings to try to get my system to boot. Since then I have put my old RAM back in which allowed my computer to boot but is now unstable and often reboots or I get the blue screen. After a reboot I will get one of two error reports: RAM failure or device driver failure. I believe I have narrowed the problem down to a BIOS issue bcause I have completely reinstalled windows and updated all hardware drivers. At the moment I can't use my system for more demanding programmes such as internet explorer or games. Since I am a novice at best when it comes to BIOS I would really appriciate some advice Gary |
#3
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Unstable BIOS Settings
Ok more info for you:
home built pc windows xp home sp2 mother board: ABIT NF7-S Award BIOS V6.00PG Athlon xp 3000 (333Hhz) 512Mb DDR400 PC3200 (unbranded) Graphics Card: ASUS V9280/TD 128Mb Sound Card: SB Live 5.1 What I'm trying to determine is if it's a BIOS problem or I've damaged my RAM. I've put a new thermal pad on my CPU checked with AMD if my heatsink is recomended, this was to try and account for the reboots. The device driver failure is a generic failure which the fault report can't detmine exactly what is failing. Could it be posible that my RAM is overclocking the graphics card? I've previously run BIOS with fail safe defaults and the problem persists. My CPU/RAM ratios are set to by SPD whenever I change these the problem seems to get worse so I don't like blindly playing with those settings too much. Would it help if I short the CMOS jumper? I'm not entirely sure what this does or how to do it though. Gary "R. C. White" wrote in message ... Hi, Gary. As you must have figured out by now, this is not a Windows issue at all. It's a BIOS issue. Microsoft wrote Windows, but Microsoft did not write your BIOS. The BIOS controls the hardware and gets your computer ready to load Windows. Windows can't fix the BIOS; the best it can do is try to adapt to your settings as you are installing it and, later, as you are loading Windows on each reboot. Your first step - obviously - is to make sure your BIOS settings are good. You haven't mentioned the make and model of your computer - or your motherboard if you built it yourself. We don't even know if you have an Award BIOS, or AMI or some other, so we can't tell you exact settings or the steps to get there. All we can give is "generic" advice. Reboot your computer and press Del or whatever key is appropriate to enter your BIOS setup utility. Press F7 (or whatever key fits) to Load Optimal Defaults (or whatever similar function your BIOS provides). Then Save the changes and reboot and enter the BIOS utility again. This time, scan through each page of settings, making sure each setting on each page fits your individual situation. In your case, since you've changed your RAM, be sure you have the BIOS configured to match what you currently have installed. If necessary, READ the documentation for both your computer and for the RAM you are using. Then Save and reboot one last time. Now, if you get device driver errors, post back with the exact error messages - and a reasonably detailed description of your hardware. Then maybe we can offer some useful advice instead of just lashing out blindly in the dark. But it really is NOT a Windows problem at this point. RC -- R. C. White, CPA San Marcos, TX Microsoft Windows MVP "Gary" wrote in message ... I have recently made the mistake of trying to install incompatable RAM. Before I learned that it was incompatible I change alot of the BIOS settings to try to get my system to boot. Since then I have put my old RAM back in which allowed my computer to boot but is now unstable and often reboots or I get the blue screen. After a reboot I will get one of two error reports: RAM failure or device driver failure. I believe I have narrowed the problem down to a BIOS issue bcause I have completely reinstalled windows and updated all hardware drivers. At the moment I can't use my system for more demanding programmes such as internet explorer or games. Since I am a novice at best when it comes to BIOS I would really appriciate some advice Gary |
#4
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Unstable BIOS Settings
The motherboard manual will tell you. You can download it from there
website. If they have my PX5 p200MMX then they must have yours. r. "Gary" wrote in message ... Ok more info for you: home built pc windows xp home sp2 mother board: ABIT NF7-S Award BIOS V6.00PG Athlon xp 3000 (333Hhz) 512Mb DDR400 PC3200 (unbranded) Graphics Card: ASUS V9280/TD 128Mb Sound Card: SB Live 5.1 What I'm trying to determine is if it's a BIOS problem or I've damaged my RAM. I've put a new thermal pad on my CPU checked with AMD if my heatsink is recomended, this was to try and account for the reboots. The device driver failure is a generic failure which the fault report can't detmine exactly what is failing. Could it be posible that my RAM is overclocking the graphics card? I've previously run BIOS with fail safe defaults and the problem persists. My CPU/RAM ratios are set to by SPD whenever I change these the problem seems to get worse so I don't like blindly playing with those settings too much. Would it help if I short the CMOS jumper? I'm not entirely sure what this does or how to do it though. Gary "R. C. White" wrote in message ... Hi, Gary. As you must have figured out by now, this is not a Windows issue at all. It's a BIOS issue. Microsoft wrote Windows, but Microsoft did not write your BIOS. The BIOS controls the hardware and gets your computer ready to load Windows. Windows can't fix the BIOS; the best it can do is try to adapt to your settings as you are installing it and, later, as you are loading Windows on each reboot. Your first step - obviously - is to make sure your BIOS settings are good. You haven't mentioned the make and model of your computer - or your motherboard if you built it yourself. We don't even know if you have an Award BIOS, or AMI or some other, so we can't tell you exact settings or the steps to get there. All we can give is "generic" advice. Reboot your computer and press Del or whatever key is appropriate to enter your BIOS setup utility. Press F7 (or whatever key fits) to Load Optimal Defaults (or whatever similar function your BIOS provides). Then Save the changes and reboot and enter the BIOS utility again. This time, scan through each page of settings, making sure each setting on each page fits your individual situation. In your case, since you've changed your RAM, be sure you have the BIOS configured to match what you currently have installed. If necessary, READ the documentation for both your computer and for the RAM you are using. Then Save and reboot one last time. Now, if you get device driver errors, post back with the exact error messages - and a reasonably detailed description of your hardware. Then maybe we can offer some useful advice instead of just lashing out blindly in the dark. But it really is NOT a Windows problem at this point. RC -- R. C. White, CPA San Marcos, TX Microsoft Windows MVP "Gary" wrote in message ... I have recently made the mistake of trying to install incompatable RAM. Before I learned that it was incompatible I change alot of the BIOS settings to try to get my system to boot. Since then I have put my old RAM back in which allowed my computer to boot but is now unstable and often reboots or I get the blue screen. After a reboot I will get one of two error reports: RAM failure or device driver failure. I believe I have narrowed the problem down to a BIOS issue bcause I have completely reinstalled windows and updated all hardware drivers. At the moment I can't use my system for more demanding programmes such as internet explorer or games. Since I am a novice at best when it comes to BIOS I would really appriciate some advice Gary |
#5
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Unstable BIOS Settings
did you manually change RAM setting?
not knowing your MOBO or BIOS, i would suggest looking for a "reset to default" setting. this may help you. or you might try looking at the MOBO manual, if you don't have one they are usually online. |
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