Hello. I'm hoping that someone out there can help me with this as I haven't been having much luck with it myself. I have installed, or have tried to install, new RAM from 128MB to 256MB. I had increased the RAM previously to 128MB with no problem. Now I purchased two sticks of 128 and am having problems. When I put them in I get the error "Invalid VxD dynamic link call to device number 3 service B," and then the computer will shut down. I have tried a few things and have received many different errors, but this one seems to be the repeating one when booting up. I get registry errors in which I have to restore the old registry. The computer will beep several times on boot up and never boot up. This one doesn't happen as often as the others though and really isn't a concern as I have only been able to repeat it once or twice. When I go into setup, it will only indicate 128MB of RAM. No matter what I do I can not get into Windows even using safe mode. I have tried different combinations, new RAM with the old 64MB of RAM with no luck. I have tried each stick individually however, and had no problem there. I have been reading and wonder if this could be the problem. There are chips on both sides and the older RAM doesn't have this. It is DIMM RAM. The only thing I'm confused about is that on stick works fine so why not both? Here is the system information just in case it is needed. Thanks in advance.

AMD K-6 2 3D Now 400MHZ
128 PC100 DIMM RAM upgradeable to 256
8GB HD

If there is anything else that anyone may need, please let me know and I'll do my best to help. I know a decent amount about computers, but not enough to get me a job as a tech in the field or anything like that.

Oh yes, and the one thing I keep forgetting, the OS is Win98.

Hello philslick

Go to
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q192397

which says this problem is caused by DEFECTIVE RAM.

Cool and not cool. Thanks for the link. I swear I went to that website several times and couldn't find that. Stinkin' search engine. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif There's only a couple of things that puzzle me now though. When I only have one stick in it seems to boot fine and everything works fine. I have switched out both of the sticks to see if it was one or the other and they both worked just fine. Just when I put both in they don't want to cooperate. Is there any reason that they do this? Is there anyway to check which stick may be bad? The second thing is that it would not let me into safe mode at all. Anytime I would try any boot up into the OS, it would give me that error, invalid VxD, and then make me reset it. Should I just return this RAM and try new RAM and forget about it? I just hate to send it back since it has to go to a different state and they think they have to charge $13 for S&H. But, if that is the best route, or easiest is more like it, then I will just go that way. Thanks.

Which Motherboard are you using?

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

Try the following if you have not done so already:
Insert both of the new 128MB RAM modules at the same time(do not insert any old RAM).
If the system does not boot, insert one of the new RAM modules in slot 1, see if the system boots, remove it and insert it in slot 2, see if the system boots. If the system does not boot with the module inserted in one of the slots, then that slot is bad. If the system boots with the module inserted in either slot, then boot into Windows, got to Start/Run, type msconfig, click OK/Advanced, and make sure the box for 'Limit Memory To....' is unchecked. If it already is unchecked, then your system may be limited to 128MB of memory max.

Whyzman, The motherboard is a Microstar/AMD (Lucas) MBDSAC. Ok, I just pulled that form the Gateway site so I hope that's right.

Ski, when I put both of them in there at the same time I get the error and it won't boot along with eventually corrupting my registry. I have put them each in there individually with no problem. I haven't put one of them in the second slot, but do currently have two sticks of 64MB in there with no problem. Should I still try them in each slot? The box is unchecked and I have gone to a couple of websites, this one in paticular
http://www.ec.kingston.com/ecom/configurator/modelsinfo.asp?SysID=7609&distributor=0&submit=Find

that states that I can use any configuration up to 256 can be used.

I'm not sure if I have asked this one before, I may have so forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but my two stick of 64 only have chips on one side and the two sticks of 128 have chips on both sides. Does this have anything to do with the problem? If so, why do the work individually. I thank you all for your help, it's really helping me as I've tried other places and haven't been able to get any response at all. Thanks a lot.

Well, now I'm really confused. I put each stick in each DIMM slot and they both work individually. What is really confusing though is the fact that I did one of those RAM test things. When I did them both together it failed all the tests. When I did them individually, it would pass all the tests. I did the tests in both slots and on both sticks. Instead of things getting more clear they are getting more confusing. The RAM test seems to recognize the 256 while the setup, BIOS?, does not. Any ideas?

Are both ram sticks identical? If each one works by itself it may suggest that they are not working together. Are they both made by the same manufacturer? Are they the same type PC100, PC133 etc Sdram? Is parity checking the same etc. Some computer systems bios may work better if everything is identical. I dont think there anything wrong with those ram chips. It sounds like they are different from each other.

Actually, the funny thing is that they are both the same and the ones that do work are different. I bought them both together, PC100, 128MB, 168 pins, DIMM SDRAM, Non-ECc, Generic. The ones that work, the two sticks of 64MB, are from the manufacurer, the one that came with the computer, and the other is from a computer store. It's just confusing me. Maybe something to do with the motherboard?

Ok, new twist thrown into this entire thing. I have another computer in which has just about the same stats. The only differences may be that the processor is a little faster, 450 instead of 400, and maybe a little more upgrades here and there since it's a few moths newer. I put both sticks in the new computer and it works just fine. Could it be something with the BIOS or something like that? If I'm sounding stupid because I don't know what I'm talking about then please let me know. When I go into setup, pushing F1 in the beginning, then it shows that there are only 128MB available. I'm not able to change this number at all. Any other suggestions. Again, thanks for all the help.

This sounds like a good possibility. There may be an issue where you have to upgrade the bios. There may be a memory issue where they have had to create a patch or fix to accept the larger amount of memory.

Maybe try combinations of one 128 stick and one 64 stick, in different slots.
It could be the chipset (which is what?....)
Could need a BIOS upgrade....
Did you run a diagnositics program? Put in one stick of 128, and run something like ONTRACK FIX IT UTILITIES/ System Diagnostics/ RAM test.(or any system diagnostic software you like that has RAM testing) It'll show any problems with the RAM.There might be a component that is designed to see other banks of RAM and communicate RAM addresses to the mobo. Alone, the stick may work fine, but in combonation with another stick, its not "continueing" the addresses (which is mainly controlled by memory managemant and the mobo, but who knows - maybe theres something on each stick that also serves to combine both sticks into a complete address index - or memory mapping.
When booting up, the CMOS installs data(drivers and TSR's) into upper memory (or reserved memory). Maybe theres something happening when you install both of these sticks and they are fighting for upper memory (although I would guess upper memory would automatically go to slot one, but who knows).
Memory troubleshooting can be the most grueling type. You'll get the widest range of error messages, symtoms, etc. from RAM problems. Yours, however, is unique indeed. I'll also learn something here when you finally figure this out....please post your results when you do... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif .
Hope this helps,
DCO

Unfortunately, I don't know what the chipset it. I'm sure there is a way to take of the cover and find them, but I'm not sure how to do that. I'm sure the book for the motherboard and such would help a lot, but for some reason I think Gateway seems to think it's cool not to include it. I have been switching out the RAM to see if different combinations would work with no luck. I have also run diagnostics for the RAM, have received errors with both of them installed, have received no errors with only one of them installed, and have received no problems with both of them installed on a different computer with similar stats. I figured that this one was going to be a tough one by all the different answers I was getting. Man, sometimes it sucks to be special. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif And I am getting many different errors. I can get one to repeat everytime which indicates that the RAM is bad, even though it's been proven that it's not, and one that will mess up my registry and if I keep reseting the computer. I am very puzzled by this and I think the next step I'm going to take is to upgrade the BIOS since there seems to be an upgrade available. We'll see what happens.

I have a headache let me just say that. I updated the BIOS and got something at least positive out of it. Doesn't mean that it worked, just ended up getting something positive out of it. The computer now recognizes the 256MB of memory and I no longer get the VxD error. I know instead get a invalid VDT or something like that and it says protection fault and I need to restart the computer. I guess that would be some slight progress? I wish it would work, but at least I'm getting somewhere.

Back some time ago there were an issues concerning
some Mboard components that just wouldn't play with
double-sided RAM. Back when SDRAM first came out.

I'll dig around some on it.

What does that Mboard happen to have for a chipset?

OOPS. You said you didn't know. Also, DCO is
really close. As his post would explain what shows with
an incompatability w/double-sided RAM.

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......
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[This message has been edited by ranchdog (edited 05-26-2002).]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking that it may be the double side issue. I think that may be the only thing really left to try. I read this on the PC Guide, but wasn't sure if it had anything to do with it. As mentioned, I did get it to finally recognize the 256MB of RAM, but that's about it. I guess I'll just have to send it back and see if they have single sided RAM.

Not sure if this has anything to do with the motherboard's chipset or not, but I got it from the Gateway website to see if it helps any.

MicroStar/AMD (Lucas) MBDSAC K6-2 400MHz R1

Not sure if this helps with anything either, but this is the RAM they say came with the computer.

64MB 100Mhz 64Bit 4-clock CL=2 SDRAM UNBUFFERED DIMM.

And finally, this would be the RAM that I ordered:

PC100, 128MB, 168 pins DIMM SDRAM, Non-ECC, Generic (Lifetime Warranty)

Anything look out of place?

Perhaps you might want to try using CRUCIAL'S (http://www.crucial.com) memory selector to see what your MB is capable of using. They are usually quite accurate if you can furnish the proper information.

I got as far as Micro Star (MSI) but could not find your exact model.

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

I've actually gone to several websites to find out as much information I can about the amount of RAM I can put into this thing. I went to about three of them and unfortunately, have only been able to do it by the manufacturer of the computer and not the motherboard. You can do the same thing at the Crucial website if you choose personal desktop. The all say 256MB, I just wish one of them would tell me what the motherboard is. Actually, I think if Gateway would have just given me the book then it would have made it much easier in the first place. I'm going to call the manufacturer of the RAM tomorrow to see what they can do. When I talked to them before they didn't believe that the double sided chips have anything to do with it, but to me, that's just about the only explenation left. The only way to contact their tech support is by e-mail and that just takes too much time and make troubleshooting that much harder. I think it might just be easier to send it back even though they are going to charge a restocking fee and that $14.00 shipping fee again. Can we say they are making some money off of that shipping fee.

Download and run WCPUid (http://www.videocarddrivers.com/wcpuid.htm), this will give you exactly what your chipset is-and then you can look for some more info on it's properties.

Honestly it sounds like to me that you have a faulty memory controller on your board that's not allowing it to recognize both slots at once.

you may have to consider replacing your motherboard.




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iisbob

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.-Mark Twain

Ok, I'm going to lay it out as it shows since a few people have been asking me about the chipset. If need be I can lay this out a little better. Thank you very much for the program iisbob. One thing that does puzzle me however, is if I have a faulty memory controller, then why does it recognize the two sticks of 64MB? When I updated the BIOS, it finally recognized the 256MB, but still would not boot and gave me a different error this time.


[ WCPUID Version 3.0 (c) 1996-2001 By H.Oda! ]
$$--- Chipset Information

Host Bridg : 10B9 1541 04 154110B9 ALi Aladdin 5/5+
ISA Bridg : 10B9 1533 C3 153310B9 ALi M1533
IDE Controller : 10B9 5229 C1 00000000
VGA Device : 1002 4742 5C 8083107B ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP 1X/2X

AGP Revision : 1.0 / Enabled
(Status) (Command)
Data Rate : 1x 2x / 2x
Side Band Addr.: Supported / Enabled
---------------------------------------------------------------
B0:[02] B1:[E0] B2:[10] B3:[00] B4:[03] B5:[02] B6:[00] B7:[1B]
B8:[02] B9:[03] BA:[00] BB:[1B] BC:[08] BD:[A0] BE:[F9] BF:[07]

##--- Date 05/28/2002, Time 02:01:31

Well, I thought that I would bring this back from the depths in which it came to do an update and ask for more help. I may be in the wrong area on this, but I thought that I would check. Now this isn't the computer with the video and sound problems, this is the one at the very beginning with the RAM issues, my fiances computer or my old computer. I never could figure out what the problem was with those two sticks, which are now sitting in another computer with no problems, but now I'm running into something different.

I have one stick of 256MB PC133 SDRAM in this computer. Everything seems to be working fine...or so I thought when I started it up. I get "stuttering" problems it seems in certain spots. When I go to another website or open IE, sometimes the mouse pointer will "stick" for a moment before going back to normal. The same thing will go for playing music, I'll open IE or AOL and it will start skipping. I wouldn't think that this would be a problem with 256MB of RAM and no other programs running except in the background.

The main reason for the upgrade was to get the Sims to work as it should, and this hasn't solved that problem either. Trying to write EAs tech support is like going through hurdles. You think you are writing them, they have you fill everything out and give them an explenation, and then you get an automated response. Nice. Anyway, is it possible that the RAM isn't being fully used or something? Is there anyway for me to find out? It definately says 256MB of RAM with 70% resources free. I figured this number would have gone up also, but I guess not. Well....on second thought, when I kill everything in the background it does jump up to 83%. It does seem to help with the music killing the background tasks, but there are still slow downs. Is this the only thing I can do? Thank you.

Unfortunately, I don't know what the chipset it. I'm sure there is a way to take of the cover and find them, but I'm not sure how to do that. I'm sure the book for the motherboard and such would help a lot, but for some reason I think Gateway seems to think it's cool not to include it.

The chipset on your board is an Ali Magic M1541&M5143C

Cool, thank you for pointing this out for me. I think this will help if there are any further problems in the future. Hopefully, I won't have that many more problems with this computer, preferably none. Thanks again.