I'm having problems adding an extra 512MB of memory to my 256MB
GA-7VRXP W2K/W95 dual boot system and would appreciate some advice.

I've tried three different types of memory, two lots of PC2700 and now a
strip of PC2100 (Kingston branded). In each case the symptoms are the
same; The BIOS recognises the memory and POSTs, Windows starts loading,
crashes partway through the process and the machine restarts. This boot
loop would apparently continue forever if I don't interrupt it.

At first I suspected a HAL issue but W95 (which doesn't have one)
experiences the same symptoms. I've tried using the BIOS 'Failsafe
defaults'; I've tried using different slots - with and without the
original memory and I've tried upgrading the BIOS (F12 - very
unreliable, lots of blue screens, so backed out). In every case the
symptoms are pretty much the same. Either the CHKDSK crashes while
still counting down (always in the same place, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, bang!) or
occasionally, a BSOD ("PFN_list_corrupt",
"Driver_IRQL_not_less_or_equal", "KMODE_exception_not_handled" amongst a
selection) depending on the BIOS I'm using at the time.

On a couple of occasions I got the blue desktop background of a Windows
system starting up, but nothing happened (no "Loading Network Settings"
or "Security Settings" messages, keyboard and mouse apparently not
recognised) and I had to reboot.

I'm currently looking for a copy of the same brand as the original
memory (VData - found some on eBay); in the meantime, can anyone suggest
what might be going wrong? I'm puzzled because the board has been
thoroughly reliable since I originally built it.

--

Simon Elliott