when Upgrading RAM Certain Stuff Stops Working!

[PowerMan57two]

Okay, so I finally got the correct RAM for my desktop. I have an Acer M5100 and it can handle up to 8GB of RAM. So I bought 4 2GB Kingston RAM chips. All 667Mhz. So I put in all 4 chips, when my computer gets to the login screen where you type your password-- it's all white and frizzy and you can see the Vista login stuff behind. When you type in the password, the desktop comes on and the white stuff goes away.

Next, my sound completely stopped working when upgrading the RAM. It now says something like High Definition Audio Device HDMI or something like that down in the system tray for my sound.. and when I play sound, only this horrible static comes out. (Yes I checked the cable! It didn't come halfway unplugged from the back of the computer!)

I thought maybe to do a BIOS update.. I have version 2.4. but I cannot figure out where to go to see if this will help or even if there is a BIOS update! Acer's website sucks! I don't even know if it's the BIOS.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[mountain_rage]

Did you try removing your sound card drivers and reinstalling them???

[PowerMan57two]

Yes, still nothing. Even the video driver I did the same and nothing =(

[Mels_Smileys45]

Wow, that is strange. Sorry, I have no solution but I had to comment on the weirdness.

[mountain_rage]

Just out of curiosity, are you running a 32 bit or 64 bit version of windows? 32 bit can only handle 3 gigs of ram. Not sure what happens if you surpass its limit.

edit: Never mind your other thread mentioned 64bit vista.

Hmmm I'm kind of baffled here, is there a possibility you knocked your sound card out of place when you installed the ram?

[PowerMan57two]

64 bit windows vista ;-)

[PowerMan57two]

Any ideas on where to go to flash the BIOS? I can't seem to find any files on the acer.com website!

[RACKnRAIL]

Any ideas on where to go to flash the BIOS? I can't seem to find any files on the acer.com website!

You need to be very sure you download the exact update for your motherboard (bios). It's usually a very easy to do, but the wrong update can be disastrous. Just make sure you read the exact name and numbers from your motherboard. For example, asus p4p8x - pe. Go directly to Asus or Gigabyte, etc...for your motherboard.

[PowerMan57two]

Sweet! Will do! I'll try when I get home. Also, my IT guy at work said to put in the old RAM, update BIOS, then stick new RAM back in. I'll post results later on!


Thanks,
PM572

[wapazoid]

Okay, so I finally got the correct RAM for my desktop. I have an Acer M5100 and it can handle up to 8GB of RAM. So I bought 4 2GB Kingston RAM chips. All 667Mhz. So I put in all 4 chips, when my computer gets to the login screen where you type your password-- it's all white and frizzy and you can see the Vista login stuff behind. When you type in the password, the desktop comes on and the white stuff goes away.

Next, my sound completely stopped working when upgrading the RAM. It now says something like High Definition Audio Device HDMI or something like that down in the system tray for my sound.. and when I play sound, only this horrible static comes out. (Yes I checked the cable! It didn't come halfway unplugged from the back of the computer!)

I thought maybe to do a BIOS update.. I have version 2.4. but I cannot figure out where to go to see if this will help or even if there is a BIOS update! Acer's website sucks! I don't even know if it's the BIOS.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Regarding your sound,

Is that the only audio chipset in your system, meaning onboard audio only? Or do you have an independent audio card installed as well? If you're using a PCI audio card, you'll definitely want to disable onboard audio through the bios. What does your device manager report? Did you recently install Vista x64? If so, were drivers for your sound device automatically installed? Try to identify the audio chipset, then see if 64-bit drivers are available from the manufacturer's website.

[mountain_rage]

You need to be very sure you download the exact update for your motherboard (bios). It's usually a very easy to do, but the wrong update can be disastrous. Just make sure you read the exact name and numbers from your motherboard. For example, asus p4p8x - pe. Go directly to Asus or Gigabyte, etc...for your motherboard.

Flashing Bios is not as risky as it used to be. Most motherboards have a backup bios that you can flash back to in the event that you screw up. Its usually just a matter of moving a jumper.

[RACKnRAIL]

Flashing Bios is not as risky as it used to be. Most motherboards have a backup bios that you can flash back to in the event that you screw up. Its usually just a matter of moving a jumper.

The key word is most motherboards.

I have only had to flash the bios in a computer a few times, so far. They have all worked flawlessly, however, I would still exercise caution if it was my computer.

[mfgbypooter]

The best way to flash that motherboard is to put it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes.

*

[wapazoid]

Not to mention *most* novices aren't comfortable with jumpers, let alone know what a jumper is.

[Mels_Smileys45]

The best way to flash that motherboard is to put it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes.

*

Another thread goes to poop. lol


You just couldnt resist could ya?

[mfgbypooter]

just krell deja vu.

*

[RACKnRAIL]

just krell deja vu.

*

I miss Krell around here. He always put the n00bs and turds in their rightful place.

[Feather]

You and me both. I fear it will take more than another Alba thread to get him to show up again

[RACKnRAIL]

You and me both. I fear it will take more than another Alba thread to get him to show up again

I believe he'll be back someday. Just a hunch.

[Feather]

It would liven the place up a bit

[Mels_Smileys45]

First thing he would do would be to tell you guys to stop jerking off in this thread and go to the playground (lounge) if you want to keep jabber jawing about farts and turds. Then he would call for a mod to delete your posts.

[wapazoid]

Now that's how you run a forum.

We're all running amok.

[w31n3r]

The best way to flash that motherboard is to put it in the microwave on high for 5 minutes.

*

lmao, MR and wapa's got this thread covered, but i had to reply to this. hey pooter, that isn't how you flash a motherboard and you know it, the proper technique is to stand facing the motherboard and dropping your pants.

anyway, getting back on topic powerman, the guys have done a great job, but if you still have a problem after trying out their advice, give us your mobo model. we're just shooting in the dark till then. it isn't enough to say it's an acer so and so model, since mfrs change their components sometimes to suit their inventory. good luck.

[mountain_rage]

lmao, MR and wapa's got this thread covered, but i had to reply to this. hey pooter, that isn't how you flash a motherboard and you know it, the proper technique is to stand facing the motherboard and dropping your pants.

anyway, getting back on topic powerman, the guys have done a great job, but if you still have a problem after trying out their advice, give us your mobo model. we're just shooting in the dark till then. it isn't enough to say it's an acer so and so model, since mfrs change their components sometimes to suit their inventory. good luck.

Its an Acer Aspire M5100 desktop.

[RACKnRAIL]

Its an Acer Aspire M5100 desktop.

The model computer M5100 and model number of the motherboard are not the same thing. The motherboard has a model number on it, which is what he needs, if Acer does not have a flash update for a model M5100 on their site. He would have to get the update directly from the mb manufacturer. I probably would look their first, not at Acer.

[PowerMan57two]

Nothings worked =( I went to Best Buy and bought a brand new sound card and 512MB Video card... installed them both, both seem to work fine. However, after I pop in the 8GB of RAM, my computer boots up to the Vista screen where the bar is going across the screen to show that the OS is loading.. then it just goes to the black screen, and the login screen never shows up!! It loaded the OS once, and then everytime after that the computer would just sit on the black screen. I can boot into safe mode, but I'm not gonna do that everytime!!

Errr.. I'm frustrated. They say it can support 8GB of RAM, but they didn't say you would have all these problems! You should just be able to pop in the RAM and have it work :-/ I will never buy an Acer desktop again!

[Mels_Smileys45]

Sucks spending so much money and the damn thing not work. It really sounds like it just doesn't support 8 Gigs but I don't know why it would not. I guess it didn't come with a mother board book.

[mountain_rage]

Have you tried only installing one ram chip in your system at a time to see if they all work???

If not put each in individually and boot. Then if they all work, test each ram slot, if they all work than move to the next step. If everything works fine, then put 2chips in, then 3, then finally 4. You will at least be able to rule out hardware problems. Also some motherboards only support 4 gigs so you might want to look into information on your Mobo.

[RACKnRAIL]

I found some relevant info for you.

"I have been having the issues with installing the 4th module to complete my 8 gigs. While searching the NVidia (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t295796.html#) forums, I seen where there might have been a fix for this, and so far it works!

I uninstalled the Windows Ram Hotfix for >4gigs. I reinstalled the update and rather than just a simple restart, I shut the system down, powered off and unplugged my PSU, and installed the remaining stick... I powered back up (http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t295796.html#) my system with all 8 gigs installed, and thus far, it is working like a champ!"

http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/t295796.html