Vista x64 RTM - Stop 0x0000000A on EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI Mainboard + EVGA Support A++

The system we put together based on the EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI Motherboard (previous blog post) had a similar install issue as the Intel boards we work with: Vista setup would not run with more than 2GB installed.

We eventually had a successful install of Windows Vista Ultimate x64 RTM on the system. Once the OS booted up fine with the 2GB of RAM, we shut the system down and installed the additional 2GB for a total of 4GB DDR3 RAM.

When we went to boot the system up, we were greeted with a BSOD Stop Error: 0x0000000A with no indicators as to the problem.

Having struggled with Blue Screens to this point, it was time to place a quick call to EVGA support. For one, to test their product support system as it looked good from their Web site, and to see if there was a quick fix.

The requisite phone menu system was in place to guide us through to the correct support technician. Once the button presses were finished, and our call was transferred, the unthinkable happened: We did not wait on hold and got to speak to someone on the NA continent!

James was the EVGA support technician who helped answer the quick question: Who, what, where, and why are we getting this particular Windows stop error?

We were pointed to: MS Knowledge Base article 929777: Error message when you try to install Windows Vista on a computer that uses more than 3 GB of RAM: "STOP 0x0000000A".

From the description:

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The computer uses more than 3 GB of RAM.
• The computer uses a storage system that is running the Storport miniport driver.
• The computer uses a controller that uses 32-bit direct memory access(DMA).

In our case, the first point definitely qualifies us for this issue.

We were given a support case ID by James, and we concluded the call, but not before indicating to him that in this day and age of off-shoring tech support and long hold times, we were really impressed by the level of tech support provided by EVGA.

With the system off, the extra 2GB of RAM was removed again, we booted the system up, and applied Windows Vista Service Pack 1. The service pack installed in very short order.

Once complete, the system was shut down, the 2GB of RAM reinstalled, and the system booted up again.

No BSOD! :D

Completed QX6850, EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI in an Antec Nine Hundred

The above picture was taken quite late at night. We don't get a break on sunshine here! It stays light well past 22:00hrs (10PM) now. Otherwise, the LEDs would stand out a bit more.

Neat rig. Our client is sure to be quite happy with the end result. The final system configuration can be found in our previous blog post: EVGA nForce 790i Ultra SLI Motherboard near the bottom.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.