Problems Installing Memory in GA-970A-DS3

[jaf]

Hi -- first post here.  I recently had to replace the old ASUS motherboard in my system, and chose a GA-970A-DS3 motherboard.  I asked for 16 gb of memory to go with it.memory (Crucial Ballistix 4 - 4GB Sport DDR3 1600.)

I installed everything and it booted right up and everything works fine, except the memory.  During the boot memory test, it shows 8 GB of memory and the OS confirms that when looking at the task manager.  If I run Pirform's Speccy, it shows 16 mb of memory.

I've tried various setting in the BIOS, but can't seem to get the system to show and use all 16 gb.  I'm starting to think I should have purchased 2 8gb modules for the first and third memory slots?

Anyway, maybe someone can help me?

[jaf]

I removed the sticks in slots three and four and now the system shows 4gb.  Why is it showing half -- shouldn't two 4gb sticks show 8gb's of memory?

[absic]

Hi there,

you don't say which revision your motherboard is but are you running the latest BIOS version for it? If it is a rev 1.0 or 1.1 motherboard then I would suggest updating to the latest F6 BIOS and see if that helps.

[jaf]

I tried to update the bios, but the F6 Flashspi.exe programs gave a message "doesn't support 64 bit operating systems."

[absic]

The  flashspi program is meant to be run in DOS not Windows which is why you are getting an error message. It is much better to update the BIOS using the QFlash Utility check here: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.msg13929.html#msg13929  for further details on how to do that.

[jaf]

I seem to be getting nowhere.

I went to the download page at
   http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/support-downloads.aspx

In the downloads section, I entered GA-970A-DS3 in the Search box.

I re-checked to ensure my MB rev is 1.1, and it is, so I clicked on "BIOS" under "GA-970A-DS3 (rev. 1.1)"

The F6 version was listed, dated 2012/10/23, so I clicked the download here link for America.

After it downloaded, I ran the mb_bios_ga-970a-ds3_f6.exe file and extracted to my usb memory stick, which was formated as FAT32 and empty.  It extracted three files: autoexec.bat, FLASHSPI.EXE, and 970ADS3.F6 (I assume this is the bios data file.)

Leaving the usb memory stick plugged in, I rebooted and used the "end" key to enter the q-flash utility.  I selected "update bios from file (I think the was the menu wording".)

The screen came up with this:
    Floppy A               <Drive>

there was a Tab control and Enter.  Hitting Enter was the only way I could get off of "Floppy" (I don't have a floppy drive installed.)  It came up with this:

..                         <DIR>

The top of the screen had:
MXIC  25L1605/1606    4M

So that's where I'm stuck.  There's no selection (I expected to see "970ADS3.F6" sitting there to be selected.)

[absic]

Make sure your USB stick is formatted as FAT32 not NTFS.
Make sure it is in a USB2.0 port NOT a USB3.0 port.
Use a USB port on the computer not through a hub.

If that doesn't work can you use another USB stick? I have found that some pendrives are not recognised for some reason.

[jaf]

Hi absic,

I tried a different USB stick -- FAT32 and plugged directly into the MB usb 2 slot.  Same thing.  The q-flash utility came up with floppy a and I hit enter and it came up with 0 file(s) found and the "..                 <DIR>".

At the bottom, it said "Total size 15.11G          Free size: 15.4G"      This identifies the memory stick correctly because it is a 16G.  The difference between the 15.11 and 15.4 is the size of the three files (autoexec.bat, flashspi.exe, and 970ads3.f6) that I out on the USB memory stick.  It's like the q-flash utility is looking for a specific bios flash name (extension) and .F6 isn't correct.

[absic]

normally I wouldn't suggest using the @BIOS utility but in this instance I would run this utility to update the BIOS as you are having problems with a USB stick.

[jaf]

I tried that several times but always get the "this program is not for 64 bit ......"  Is there a 64 bit version of  flashspi.exe?

Also, you mentioned DOS.  I'm assuming you mean the command line utility, since there hasn't been DOS for years (just the emulated command line.)  I tried this in safe mode command line, but still get the "not for 64 bit ... " message.

[absic]

@BIOS is Gigabyte's software for flashing the BIOS through Windows and you need to install the program from either your install CD that came with the motherboard or from the download page here: http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4297&dl=1#utility it is the 2nd program in the list. Once you have installed @BIOS use that to update the BIOS

The flashspi.exe will not work in the windows environment which is why you are getting the error message. You need to create a BOOT Disk to use this programme for updating BIOS.

[jaf]

I've tried this before and just did again.  I select my operating system, which is win xp x64 and doenload @BIOS.  I extract it and run setup.exe and get an error "Open driver handle failure!!".  Same thing I get when I try it from my cd included with the motherboard.

[jaf]

Well, I made some progress.  I got the idea of using a 32mb SD card from my digital camera.  I copies the 970AD3.F6 file to it.  I went into q-flash and it saw the file.  However, after it looked like it would work, it output "BIOS ID check error".  I re-downloaded the file again for my ver. 1.1 motherboard and did a binary compare with both files and they were identical.

I checked the format type of the sd card and it was "FAT" instead of FAT32.  When I tried to format it as FAT32, I got a "drive is too small for FAT32".  Seems like each hurdle is followed by another.

Now I'm going to try a 2GB SD card.

[absic]

might be worthwhile double checking the revision of your motherboard to make sure that it is rev 1.1.
You can find the revision number printed on the motherboard in the lower left hand corner.

[jaf]

Yes, it's definitely 1.1 -- just checked it again.  Also, the 2gb sd card must be too big because I'm back to the mis-identification of it being a floppy, though it shows the 2gb size (but no file listed.)

I try a floppy, but the mb doesn't support it (I would have to go out and buy a sata or usb floppy.

I was able to backup my current .F4 BIOS to the 32mb sd card though.  I haven't tried to restore it (just to see if it would work.)  Is it okay to restore the same version, do you think?

[edit]  I guess another thing I can try is I purchased win8 pro.  I have plans of  installing it on a ssd  Maybe @BIOS would run under win8?