XP install and 2 GB/3200XP

I built a new system with an MSI motherboard, 2 GB of Samsung DDR 3200 memory. Fired it up and made sure it was properly working through the post.

The person I built it for wanted to install the XP Pro himself. He said it worked fine for a week then started "acting weird ".

I am unable to reinstall XP unless I slow down the FSB to 333. Even after doing that the machine will reboot itself at windows load or it will open windows but not properly. For instance, I can change the display properties by right click but am unable to open the start menu. No keyboard input accepted.

Any ideas? I will check back in a couple of hours after I get to work. Thanks for any insight.

Rick

 

Yup - head back into your BIOS and work on those memory settings. I'd even suggest you clear CMOS first so you are back to square one. You didn't mention processor but it sounds like you might be pushing a 2500+ Barton to 3200+ by uping the FSB to 200. If so, post back, there are a few other things you can check out too.

 

Okay, more info.

processor= 3200 XP

memory = two 1 GB Samsung slips

Motherboard = MSI K7n2 Delta

The BIOS has been reset after each problem. Settings have been set to bring the processor speed to 2500 and the memory FSB from 400 to 333.

After loading XP at this level all appears fine until I install SP1a. Then windows fails and blue screen for IRQL_less_then.

If I put in a 512 MB memory slip and load windows, everything works fine. As soon as I up the processor to its 3200 XP and up the memory to the 1GB chips windows fails again.

Is this an XP problem? Anyone have experience with the stability of the ! GB mem chips? The board is rated for dual channel 400 MHZ up to 2 GB.

 

CPO - I know bupkus about hardware (and even less about tweaked hardware) but a look at the entire BSOD message might help pin down the problem. Is the system set to automatically restart after a stop error? If so, turning that off will leave the blue screen up for as long as you want so you could copy the entire error message string.

And a question - you mention that with only a single 512Mb memory stick all is well. Have you tested the Gb sticks in another system to see if they are OK?

 

I did a little searching on the Newegg site from reviews of this board and came up with this:

"I can't believe no one has brought up the problems with this motherboard yet! The board is clearly defective. Look around on MSI's forum and you will discover the teeming masses who have nothing but grief with this board when using it in conjunction with a modern video card. AGP 8x doesn't work without causing lockups. ATI cards crash like mad under this board and Nvidia cards don't fare much better, either. I even had strange problems with my mouse until I swapped motherboards (yes, I reinstalled a few times to be sure). I am absolutely not the only one, either. MSI has admitted that the delta was rushed out the door. My advice: Skip the misery and buy an abit NF7-S 2.0 like the rest of us poor former MSI owners. You don't want this motherboard. "

Also, seems that board needs the latest bios update.
There seems to be conflicts between the NVidia chipset and certain brands of memory.
MSI recommends Kingston, check here;

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/detail_spec/product_detail.asp?model=K7N2_Delta-L#

Daddad

 

to the last two posts.....thank you for your input.

The error code I receive on teh blue screen is 0x0000008E. I called Microsoft and they don't have an answer but are setting up a conference call with MSI today. I will post back.

The chips test good at the vendor. I don;t have another system to set up that will push the 400 MHZ envelop. Like I said, they appear fine at 333 dual channel.

I have switched to MSI from ASUS because of problems with ASUS and high end processors and memory. Looks like I might be searching again. Thanks for the tip on Abit. I will look.