Hi. I have a biostart m7mia mobo 1.2ghz athlon, and I just added another 256mb DDR PC2100 RAM. I currently have 128mb DDR PC2100 RAM. Well, when I booted up the system, the RAM was recognized but it said "Windows could not load, protection error" or something like that. When I tried booting up in Normal Mode, it said "VCACHE couldn't initialize", or something like that. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that if you add too much RAM to your system, your system thinks that there isn't enough memory because of something or other in the VCACHE. But I thought that was only if you have greater that 512 mb of RAM. I would have a total of about 400mb. What's going on here?

Hey Zero,

Check out this link. Hopefully you can boot in Safe Mode and make the changes suggested. Post back if you have success, or if you don't have success.
http://twcny.rr.com/technofile/texts/bkvcache98.html

Good luck.

Big Blue 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Hey blue --

I went to the site you listed and did as it said. But, when I tried adding the RAM after that, my system wouldn't even POST. I mean, nothing would appear on the monitor. How could adding new RAM not allow my system to even POST after the vcache changes in the system.ini file?

Hmmm, well, might be bad RAM. Or the RAM is not fully seated. Try reseating it and put the largest stick in the first memory bank that the mobo reads.

Or maybe you should try booting with just one stick in. Try the 128 first, then the 256. Let us know what happens.

Good luck.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Hey Blue -- Thanks for all the help so far =). Well, I took out the stick of 128 (from the 1st DIMM module) and replaced it with the new stick of 256mb. The system recognized it fine and booted just like normal. So, I shut the system off, and added the stick of 128 into the SECOND DIMM module. I turned on the computer and it only recogized the stick of 256mb. The RAM was DEFINITElY seated correctly, so why isn't it recognizing it in the 2nd slot? Could I have damaged the RAM?? What kind of tolerance does RAM have when handling?

Hey Zero,

Sorry to hear of your problems. In answer to your question, memory sticks have a very very low tolerance for ESD. As Pete has said before, just turning in your chair can create enough of the static electricity to fry RAM sticks.

Ok, so the next question is: Are the two RAM sticks identical in every way? Not sure why the second slot is not recognized.

Hang tight for some more opinions. In the meantime, try a search on your specific error message, both on the web and at MS Knowledge Base.

Good luck.

BB 66


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Yes Sir, Occifer!

Hi;

I agree with BB, may be the RAM. My Biostar M7MKA ran into three problems. First, It would only accept up to a 500 mhz Athlon (yes classic), although it was rated for 800.

Secondly, I found that this board is a hog with power and needs a good power supply. The only response that I got from Biostar confirmed this.

Thirdly, it would only accept and read the same brand name and type of RAM in each slot, in my case Crucial. Nada PNY, I can't remember the others I tried. Have you checked the recommended memory in the users manual? The ram that would not work in the Biostar board, worked fine in a ColorPower board (and look where they are now). At first, I though that the Biostar board had bad 2nd and 3rd memory slots also.

The last step may be to see if there is an updated flash bios for the board. Biostar is not very responsive about this, but it's worth a try.


Addendeum;

Just checked the Biostar web site. Nada on the bios update, at least specific to the problem that I can see.

You may want to look at the memory tests at the following,
http://www.cmtlabs.com/Quicksearch/Biostar/M7MIA.asp



[This message has been edited by danleff (edited 08-19-2001).]

Sigh... Thanks for all the help guys. I think I have bad RAM. I bought it from a guy off of yahoo! auctions. That's the next endeavor: getting my money back... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif