I have a major problem with loading up Windows XP Pro on my PC.

I only upgraded a month ago (20th June) and decided to go for a fresh install. When doing so, I chose to change my File Allocation Table to NTFS.

I have a removable hard disc caddy, for use with various hard drives that I have obtained from friends and work.

When my PC boots up and only detects 384MB when I have 640mb RAM. The original 128Mb and two new 256MB modules.

Whenever the full memory (640mb) is not detected it fails to load Windows XP. I get the first DOS screen saying that XP didn't load correctly and gives me options. When I try Last Good Configuration, after a few whirls and hisses from the hard drive nothing happens and I get the same with selecting the option: "Load Windows normally".

Please can you help? I've run a BIOS upgrade (I have a ASUS K7 Slot A board, American Megatrends BIOS, AMD Athlon 600MHz chip!) and I thought that had solved the problem but it hasn't.

Previously, to get around the problem, I would change the hard disc drive in the caddy to another drive which I use a lot and this would 'jump start' my PC and the full memory allocation with be detected and Windows XP would load fine.

If you have had this problem, or know how to resolve it please get in touch as soon as you can. It's driving me MAD!!!

Kind regards,

Andrew Tegala

Computer Science Undergradure, UK

did you check to see if the RAM slot plugin correctly?

cuz HD and OS has nothing to do with memory...i think

Hi
those times when XP won't load have you checked in bios before that that it shows 640MB ?

beacuse Winxp and HD has notning to do with Ram like Ir0nM4n says!

//crisun

The PC refuses to load when only 384MB are detected.

I have tried to move the RAM slots around.
When booting and displaying the hardware configuration on the screen. Under RAM is says only slots 2,3 are in use.

1 - 256MB
2 - 128MB
3 - 256MB

Why does Windows XP refuse to load under 384MB RAM? It boots the option screen, which says that Windows didn't load properly and that you can use the following options.

When selecting Normal bootup or last good configuration it starts to boot up (major hard disk activity) but nothing happens and I'm left with a blank screen.

Kind regards,

Andrew

First whatever your BIOS states if Windows finds a memrory mapping error it will not boot, safety feature?

The first thing is to get memory sorted as you have incompatibilities between you sticks, are they all same type ie single or double sided chips. PC100/PC133/PC1600/PC2100/PC2700?

BIOS loads only 384MB 393... in bytes

Memory is PC133, and I've checked all chips are double sided and the same type.

Does the slot configuration need to be changed?

It does detect the full memory on board sometimes, 640MB (655...bytes) and loads Windows XP Pro fine...