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#1
How to troubleshoot possible bad DIMM slot(s)
Have just updated my 6 year old Windows 10 to a point where it is eligible for upgrade to Windows 11. To that end I have purchased a new case, new PSU, new motherboard, new CPU, and new RAM. Have retained the old HDD, video card, sound card, and the DVD unit (which I can't use in this case). The 1st M/B I returned as being 'DOA'. Problem is I had the same issue with the replacement M/B. I installed the two new RAM sticks per the user manual in DIMM slots A2 & B2 and the system would not BOOT. After much reading and racking my little brain I quite by chance removed the stick in B2 and got one hell of a surprise. It works!!!!!! Have now tested the two new sticks in all possible DIMM slots on this M/B (there are only 4). It appears that in no instance can a stick be in DIMM B1 nor DIMM B2. In any combination it will fail if either of those two are in the mix. It appears that the only viable setup is by using either 1 or both RAM sticks in the DIMM slots A1 & A2. Question is - how do I ascertain what is wrong with these slots and what if anything can be done about it if anything. I hesitate to attempt to RMA this M/B as it entails dismantling, repacking and taking it to the local UPS store for return to Amazon. This will leave me the choice of what new M/B I want to deal with. If I try again at the ASUS Prime Z690M-PLUS D4 I may end up with the same issue. I may well keep what I have with it working with the 2x8GBs in A1 and A2 and registering in BIOS O.K. The user manual suggests if only 1 stick to put it in A2 - if 2 sticks use A2 & B2 - if 4 sticks use all 4 DIMMs. Have not seen anywhere where there is mention of a software method of testing for bad DIMM slots. Anyone have any ideas??? THANX