pc boots with one ram but not 2

[doehrli]

it is kinda funny how i never had any problems with it until about 3-4 wks ago is right.  is there something that happened then with an update from hp or windows thats messed up the computers??  sounds to wierd that both his and mine start acting with the bsod right about the same time.  is there an unknow virus out there doing this to hp's???

[Woodwood]

A note on RAM speed:

A m/b runs the memory at a certain speed.  If your memory is is not capable of this speed (it is slower) then the RAM will not work.  If your memory is the correct speed, or rated for higher speed, then most likely it will work.  The memory speed you attain will be that of the slowest RAM stick you have, if your pc supports that configuration (ie excepting dual channel architectures).  Programs like CPU-Z often give the memory speed as half of what the memory speed is operating at because that is the clock speed, and the read/write speed is twice this as r/w happens on both the rising edge and falling edge of the clock pulse in all but the oldest RAM (not in use in any machine I have come across !).

However, unfortunately that is not relevant to the problem, to which I have no further suggestions, as you have the latest BIOS versions (check HP website) [my own BIOS does not allow you adjust the memory settings].  A sentence about problems starting after updating SP2 might be the answer ?  There may be a problem with Vista SP2 unique to the sr5510F ?  Might I suggest if that is the case you run under SP1  ?

Woodwod (helpless|)

3.November.2011

[dutzone]

I remember that I was on SP2 since was on the market.

At the time the problem occured, 3-4 weeks ago, I wasn't upgraded or updated something.

Also, the memoryes are the original and worked just fine for 3 years in a row.

But since Doehrli has the same problem in same period, maybe you are right and is an update that messed up the motherboard, I don't know, or just the 3 years is the life of this computer.

I did a lot of browsing on the net lately trying to solve the problem and I can say that the conclusion would be the motherboard is not working properly anymore. The chipset is probably not able to handle two memories at high speed anymore.

I still would like an answer, if somebody knows, if I change the motherbord or combo MOBO/CPU, do I still going to be able to intall the OS from the recovery cds, or the recorey has to recognize the motherboard???

Since the warranty expired for this PC, we don't have anymore technical support from HP (I tried) and is unlikely they will send us a cd with OS for a new motherboard.

Thanks

[Woodwood]

Dutzone, it must be clear to you that I don't have a good answer or even suggestion to solve this problem (but I certainly do want to know what's wrong)

I think it's unlikely to the memory cards, in that 3 pairs, two of which used to work and the other brand new, show the same symptoms in two different SR5510F's.  For a similar reason I doubt it is the motherboard.  Doerlhi has reset his system to factory status at which point it worked (I seem to remember).  Only when he updated cdid he have this problem.  Which update caused the problem, and whether it did any hardware damage (unlikely ?) is not known.  It might be an HP upgrade or a Microsoft upgrade.  If it is a new upgrade that caused the problem, it is the interaction of this software and your PC hardware which is resulting in tis problem. (Unlikely to be memory as Doerlgi's new memory would function, and hundreds of people who have memory would be complaining !).  You could try 'System Restore' to 4 weeks ago ?  That way you would not lose all your data (you should have back ups !) which a factory reset would do.

Although your HP warranty may have expired, in the UK there is recourse to HP may have you sold you 'goods not fit for purpose', a consumer protection law which has, I understand, a duration of six years from the date of purchase.

Good Luck !

Woodwood

3,November.2011

[dutzone]

Woodwood, thank you for the reply.

However, I had a different experience with the reset to the factory settings. Until I figured out that is a memory problem, I reseted 3 times (1 time with the new HDD) and each time, after the installation, when the system restart first time, then it freezes. At this point I even do not get to set the computer (boot the OS, country, time, screen settings ..etc), and no updates of course.

So, the problem, at least in my case, doesn't come from updates.

I didn't try other memories since the ones I have are just fine, individually.

I suppose than when we do a reset, all harwares are back to default settings, including motherbord BIOS and so, isn't?.

But when it freezes at the first restart (it was also very difficult to access every time the System Recovery option, the system was showing it is loading but it just freezed. How I managed is that I succeeded easier with the Boot option (not at first, but after 3-4 trials), and accesed manually the recovery CDs.

To me, all these seems to be more a physical problem, likely one of the components of the motherboard is damaged, or get heated, or is not capable to work anymore to its parameters, and so, it can not handle both memories in same time (Doehrli changed the memories and the problem still there). I do not know too much about computer's components, but I bilieve that is about the chipset, I think this is the one that handles the memories. You know better.

Thanks.

[Woodwood]

Ok I have a completely different suggestion (which although you have not mentioned it you may have tried)

Maybe your pc or your psu is overheating with the extra power consumption needed to run the extra RAM (I don't know how much extra power this might be). This might have started because of accumulated dust build up over the years in your CPU or other fan-cooled heatsinks. 

You say you have SANDRA, this might give you an idea of the temperature with one RAM stick in place.  Have you taken the cover off and had a look inside ?  (if it is dust you may not bbe ale to see it as it's probably inside the h/s.). 

I use MBM5 to montor the temp of my CPU every 10s running all the time with a little display in the system tray but it's an old program and maybe you m/b isn't supported.  There are oher programs anyway (Speedfan ?), you might search on the internet.

In My PC you can partly access the CPU heatsink without taking it out and I tried blowing canned air through it between the fan blades and a lot of dust came out.  After,  the CPU ran more than 10C cooler.  In other models you have take the CPU out with its fan, which will entail cleaning the CPU module and using fresh h/s compound. There are youtube videos to show you how to do this if you have to do it.  But it does allow thorough cleaning of the h/s of dust.

Woodwood

3.November.2011

[dutzone]

I am doing inside cleaning quite often. last time I even removed the fan and that blok with fins from the top of the CPU and cleaned.

Sandra shows 39.5oC. I don't know if this is low or high for a CPU.

From the Logical/Chipset Memory Banks and memory alone data, something is wrong for me about the speed of the RAM. I found the MSDS of the RAM and states very clearly that I have the 800MHz ones.

See bellow what Sandra gave me, you can interpretate better the report than me. I don't have separate video or audio cards, they are integrated, I think is just as always for every AMD motherboard.

Computer
Manufacturer : HP (Compaq) Presario
Model : KQ513AAR-ABA SR5510F
Family : 103C_53316J
Serial Number : {Removed for privacy}
ID : 8149E380-10141250-709FDE84-248B171C
SKU Number : {Removed for privacy}

Computer Chassis
Manufacturer : HP
Type : Desktop
Can be locked : No

Mainboard
Manufacturer : ECS
Multi-Processor (MP) Support : No
Multi-Processing (MPS) Version : 1.40
Model : Iris8
Version : 1.0
BIOS : 06/10/2008-MCP61P-6A61KE11C-00
Chipset : nVidia nForce 6100/6150 MCP

On-board Devices
Other : Other (Disabled)
Video Adapter : Video Adapter (Disabled)
Ethernet Adapter : Ethernet Adapter (Disabled)
Sound Adapter : Sound Adapter (Disabled)

Computer Memory Controller
Location : Mainboard
Error Correction Capability : None
Number of Memory Slots : 2
Maximum Installable Memory : 8GB
Bank0/1 - A4 : Empty
Bank2/3 - A6 : None None None None DIMM 1GB/64

Chipset
Model : AMD Athlon 64/Opteron HT Hub
Revision : A1
Bus : HyperTransport
Version : 1.02
Front Side Bus Speed : 2x 1GHz (2GHz)
Maximum FSB Speed : 2x 1.8GHz (3.6GHz)
Width : 16-bit / 16-bit
I/O Queue Depth : 4 request(s)
Maximum Bus Bandwidth : 7.85GB/s

Chipset 1 Hub Interface
Type : HyperTransport
Version : 1.02
In/Out Width : 16-bit / 16-bit
Duplex : No
Multiplier : 5x
Speed : 2x 1GHz (2GHz)

Logical/Chipset Memory Banks
Bank 6 : 1GB DIMM DDR2 6-6-6-18 3-25-6-3 2T
Supported Memory Types : ECC DIMM Registered DDR2 ChipKill
Channels : 1
Memory Bus Speed : 2x 373MHz (746MHz)
Maximum Memory Speed : 2x 400MHz (800MHz)
Multiplier : 1/7x
Width : 64-bit
Integrated in Processor : Yes
Cores per Memory Controller : 2 Unit(s)
Refresh Rate : 7.80µs
Power Save Mode : Yes
Fixed Hole Present : No
Maximum Memory Bus Bandwidth : 5.83GB/s

APIC 1
Version : 1.01
Maximum Interrupts : 24
IRQ Handler Engaged : Yes
Enhanced Support : Yes

Memory Module
Manufacturer : Hynix (Hyundai)
Model : HYMP112U64CP8-S6
Serial Number : 00001004
Type : 1GB DIMM DDR2
Technology : 8x(128Mx8)
Speed : PC2-6400U DDR2-800
Standard Timings : 5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3
Version : 1.02
Date of Manufacture : August-05-08
Memory DC Line : 1.800V
Timing @ 400MHz : 5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3
Timing @ 333MHz : 4-5-5-15 3-20-5-3

Sensor
Model : AMD K8 CPU [P0, C2, SC1, SN0]
Version : 107.02
Mainboard Specific Support : No

Temperature Sensor(s)
CPU Temperature : 39.50°C

Voltage Sensor(s)
CPU DC Line : 1.325V

System Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.30
System Bus 0 : PCI
System Bus 1 : PCI
System Bus 2 : PCIe 1.00 x16 2.5Gbps
System Bus 3 : PCIe 1.00 x1 2.5Gbps
System Bus 4 : PCIe 1.00 x1 2.5Gbps

LPC Hub Controller 1
Model : HP MCP61 LPC Bridge           
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 LPC Bridge           
Revision : K3
ACPI Power Management : Yes
ACPI Power Management Enabled : No

LPC Legacy Controller 1
Type : ITE IT8726F
Version : 0.26
Number of Enabled Devices : 6 Unit(s)

Disk Controller
Model : HP MCP61 IDE
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 IDE
Interface : ATA
Revision : K3
Channels : 4

Disk Controller
Model : HP MCP61 SATA Controller
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 SATA Controller
Interface : SATA
Revision : K3
RAID Support : Yes
RAID Enabled : No

Audio Device
Model : HP MCP61 High Definition Audio
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 High Definition Audio
Revision : K3
Type : HD (High-Definition) Audio
Version : 1.00
Number of In / Out / Bi-Directional Streams : 4 / 4 / 0
Number of Serial Data Streams : 1

Audio Codec
Model : Realtek Semi 888 High Definition Audio
Revision : A2
Version : 1.00
Audio Channels : 12

USB Controller 1
Model : HP MCP61 USB Controller
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 USB Controller
Revision : K4
Version : 1.00
Interface : OHCI
Channels : 10
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

USB Controller 2
Model : HP MCP61 USB Controller
OEM Device Name : nVidia MCP61 USB Controller
Revision : K4
Version : 2.00
Specification : 1.00
Interface : EHCI
Channels : 10
Companion Controllers : 1
Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps) High (480Mbps)
Addressing Support : 32-bit
Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

SMBus/i2c Controller 1
Model : nVidia MCP5 SMBus 1
Version : 10.02
Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
Slave Device Enabled : No
PEC Support : No

SMBus/i2c Controller 2
Model : nVidia MCP5 SMBus 2
Version : 10.02
Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
Slave Device Enabled : No
PEC Support : No

Expansion Slot(s)
PCI0 (1h) : PCI 32-bit +5V PME Full Available
PCI1 (2h) : PCI 32-bit +5V PME Full Available
PCI2 (3h) : PCI 32-bit +5V PME Full Available
PCI3 (4h) : PCIe 32-bit +5V PME Full Used
PCI4 (5h) : PCIe 32-bit +5V PME Full Used
PCI5 (6h) : PCIe 32-bit +5V PME Full Used
PCI6 : PCI 32-bit +5V PME Full Used

Port Connector(s)
PRIMARY IDE : ATA
SECONDARY IDE : ATA
FDD : 8251 FIFO / Floppy Disk
COM1 : Serial Port 16450 / 9 Pin Dual Inline / DB-9 pin male
COM2 : Serial Port 16450 / 9 Pin Dual Inline / DB-9 pin male
LPT1 : Parallel Port ECP/EPP / DB-25 pin female / DB-25 pin female
Keyboard : Keyboard / PS/2 / PS/2
PS/2 Mouse : Mouse / PS/2 / PS/2
USB0 : USB
VIDEO : Video / DB-15 pin female
AUDIO : Audio
ETHERNET : Network / RJ-45

[Woodwood]

> I am doing inside cleaning quite often. last time I even removed the fan and that blok with fins from the top of the

> CPU and  cleaned.

I hadn't realised as I don't think you said.  That seeems to exclude that problem.

> Sandra shows 39.5oC. I don't know if this is low or high for a CPU.

Looks reasonable to me, but it will depend on what you computer is doing: when Sandra reads the sensor chip on the m/b I suspect this is is not very much.  You should be able to find somewhere (internet search ?) temperature limits for your CPU.  Mine is 67C but I have a vague feeling some are >100C

>From the Logical/Chipset Memory Banks and memory alone data, something is wrong for me about the speed of the >RAM. I found the MSDS of the RAM and states very clearly that I have the 800MHz ones.

At a glance, things seem consistent to me.There seems to be an inconsistency between the Logical/Chipset bdata and the memory module data, but your system will only work at the speed of the slowest unit, and of ten some parts are overspecified (higher spec than necessary). bearing in mind my remark below, can you say in more detail what is perturbing you ?

> See bellow what Sandra gave me, you can interpretate better the report than me. I don't have separate video or audio

> cards, they are integrated, I think is just as always for every AMD motherboard.

So you are using the built in chipset to perform the video/audio.  Sandra reports some devices in your PCI slots ?

I don't think I am much able to interpret the report than you !

Woodwood

5.November.2011

[dutzone]

I've changed the motherboard, not with the same as the deffective one, I couldn't find new.

I ran a system recovery with both memory sticks attached to the new motherboard. The recovery CDs didn't work ("for this PC" as the error said) but finally it took it from the HDD partition.

Everything was OK during every restart, no freezing again. So it is a motherboard problem.

The issue now is that the OEM OS doesn't recognize the new motherboard. After the PC was able to go through all the settings after the recovery, finally, before loading the Vista, the error said something like "New configuration system, turn OFF and contact the manufacturer"). I ran repair start - same error.

OK, I called HP support, transfered to India support center, talked 1 hour with two very polite indiens (is true, I liked them). After bull**bleep**ing me around for awhile, they finnaly told me that it is not that simple, they can not provide a new key for the Vista, every motherboard with its own key and so etc....They offered me a new PC instead, at good price they said and I said bull**bleep**, too. And that is the end of the story.

What I learned: never buy again a manufacturer PC, better to assamble by myself and buy the OS from Microsoft. The guys told me that the motherboard is the only one that you can not change in an OEM PC. The CPU is OK (and of course all the other components). And that because the motherboard is the one that has a chip inserted and has to be recognized by the OEM OS that comes with.

[Big_Dave]

Hi duzone,

This might work. How to activate VISTA by phone.