Back about 1 month ago I bought 1 stick of ram 256MB and put it in my system with my 512MB making 768MB RAM in total. I used the Memory checker tool in Vista. I did an extended test on the RAM and it said hardware problems were detected after it got to 3% done. Also with both sticks in it windows crashes constantly. When I take the 512MB of RAM out and do an extended test on the 256MB RAM that I bought it passes every test I give it and windows never crashes. Also when I take the 256MB RAM out and put the 512MB RAM in it also passes every test I give it and windows never crashes. There are never problems with either one by themselves but together there is always problems. What is wrong here? Can this be fixed? I really do want to be able to use this RAM together because I bought this RAM and I don't want to have bought it for nothing. The RAM I bought was Kingston Value RAM. Part number KVR: 400/256r and my computer is an eMachines w3107 desktop computer with 512MB RAM.

First of all, let me hear what kind of memory you have. Depending upon status numbers, the compatibility of your two memory sticks might not work. Also try sticking your memory sticks into a different slot each time to ensure that you might get a proper connection. And Finally, if that doesn't work, I would advise you to get or upgrade to another memory module, and if youre upgrade doesn't work, then there is something wrong with your motherboard DDR Slots. Thanks for your time, Steven Suttles Stone ~~~

From: Crucial for eMachines W3107 Quote System Type Desktop Computer Maximum Memory 2048MB Standard Memory 512MB removable Slots/Banks 2 (2 banks of 1) End of quote It uses DDR suggesting to me that you may need to use a matched amount. Add a second stick of 512mb instead of the 256mb module. Bryan

You had better trust the memtest. Get a new system or memory. Last solution might be to try bios changes. Use failsafe or default settings.

well im glad to see that im not the only one having this problem, i recently tried to upgrade my emachines t3104 it had two 256 pc400 3200 ddr in it, i wanted to up it to 1gig total, so i bought two 512mb pc400 3200 cards to replace those. thinking ok just take out the old, put in the new and bam. But it seems that my system won't let that happen. it comes on boots up and is quicker than hell, but it soon locks up completly. i removed the cards switching them out one at a time thinking maybe one was bad, but they operate fine with just one at a time. this doesn't make sinse to me at all, i thought ok maybe it won't hold one gig, but i downloaded cpuid -cpuz and found out the motherboard model number, did a cross referance to the manifacture's website and found out that it maxes out at two gig, so why won't it hold 2 X 512? i even went so far as to reset the cmos, and then update bios-(not an easy task) it still isn't working!!!!!!!!!!!!! help!!!!! -trystan

I figured it out, one stick was double Rank ram meaning it has 16 chips on it instead of 8 meaning it disables one slot for ram. Most motherbords won't even reconize the extra RAM because the slot is disabled, but because my motherboard has only 2 slots it still reconizes the ram but Windows detects that this shouldn't be happening and thinks there is a problem and shuts you down.