Procedure for troubleshootiing newly built systems
If you are building a brand new computer and some of the memory modules
work in some of the slots, but not all of the memory modules will work,
try the following procedure, after making sure that you are trying to
use matching memory modules in the slot positions recommended by the
motherboard manufacturer.
- Put one memory module in a slot that works, boot the computer, then see
if there is a newer version of the UEFI available from the motherboard
manufacturer’s website.
If there is an updated version of the UEFI, download and install it.
Make sure that the computer does not lose power during the UEFI upgrade
as this could potentially make the system unbootable.
You can minimise the risk by connecting the computer to an
uninterruptible power supply if one is available.
- Remove all external power from the system then remove the CMOS battery
and clear the volatile UEFI settings by using the ‘Clear
CMOS’ jumper on the motherboard, assuming there is one.
If there is no such jumper, you can simply leave the CMOS battery out
of the system for several minutes or manually short-circuit the CMOS
battery connections.
- After replacing the CMOS battery, load the safest possible UEFI
settings, rather than the default settings or the optimised
settings.
Do not try anything clever like overclocking until the system works in a
non-overclocked state.
In fact, I would not recommend overclocking even when the system is up
and running stably.
- Try turning down the speed at which you are trying to run the memory
modules, in case one or more of them cannot actually run at its
rated speed when installed in your particular motherboard.
- Remove all unnecessary hardware from the system to reduce the power
consumption, just in case the memory problems are being caused by
the power supply being overloaded.
- Boot the computer using a USB flash drive containing a UEFI-bootable
copy of Memtest86 version 8.4, and follow the procedure below.
If you can demonstrate that a component is faulty, ask your supplier
as soon as possible to replace it.
Procedure for systems that support UEFI
- Boot the computer that has suspected memory problems using a USB flash
drive containing a UEFI-bootable copy of Memtest86 version 8.4.
- If you see any failures, you may as well stop further testing straight
away.
- In the case of a high-performance system, turn down the memory’s
speed then run Memtest86 again.
- If there is more than one memory module fitted, try removing the one
that seems to be faulty.
- Sometimes individual memory module slots on the motherboard become
faulty, so try any apparently faulty memory module in another
slot.
- Occasionally memory controller circuitry on the motherboard becomes
faulty, in which case no memory module will work in any position.
Procedure for older systems
- Boot the computer that has suspected memory problems using Hiren’s
Boot CD version 15.2.
- Run Memtest86+ version 4.30.
- If you see any failures, you may as well stop further testing straight
away.
- In the case of a high-performance system, turn down the memory’s
speed then run Memtest86+ again.
- If there is more than one memory module fitted, try removing the one
that seems to be faulty.
- Sometimes individual memory module slots on the motherboard become
faulty, so try any apparently faulty memory module in another
slot.
- Occasionally memory controller circuitry on the motherboard becomes
faulty, in which case no memory module will work in any position.