Memory Specification for MSI K8N NEO4 Motherboard

 

An MSI K8N NEO4 motherboard has 4 184-pin DIMM slots using Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology.  It supports both single channel and dual channel DDR-266 (PC-2100), DDR-333 (PC-2700), DDR-400 (PC-3200) standards and supports 2.5 volt DDR SDRAM DIMM.

The four DIMM slots are color coded — DIMM1 (Channel A): Green, DIMM2 (Channel B): Purple, DIMM3 (Channel A): Green, and DIMM4 (Channel B): Purple.

The color code determines whether a single-channel or dual-channel operation is used when a combination of DIMM module is installed in the slots.  It also determines the maximum speed of the combined memory installed in the slots.

This motherboard allows you to install up to 4 GB of DDR memory by populating all four slots with either a single-sided or double-sided DDR module in each slot.  Each DIMM slot supports 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB and up to a maximum size of 1 GB.  You need to install at least one DIMM module in the slots, and you should install it in the green slot first. 

Each DIMM can work respectively for single-channel DDR, and you may install memory modules of different type and density on different-channel DDR DIMMs.  However, there are some rules while using dual-channel DDR, and the same type and density memory modules are necessary while using dual-channel DDR, or instability may happen.

Dual-Channel DDR Installation

Green DIMM1 (Channel A)	Purple DIMM2 (Channel B)	Green DIMM3 (Channel A)	Purple DIMM4 (Channel B)	Total Memory
1 GB	1 GB			2 GB
		1 GB	1 GB	2 GB
1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	4 GB

Single-Channel DDR Installation

Green DIMM1 (Channel A)	Purple DIMM2 (Channel B)	Green DIMM3 (Channel A)	Purple DIMM4 (Channel B)	Total Memory
1 GB		1 GB		2 GB
	1 GB		1 GB	2 GB
1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	4 GB

To gain the maximum memory speed of DDR-400, MSI recommends the following memory combination when using either a single-sided or double-sided DDR memory module.

Note:  A single-sided memory module has chips that occupy one side of the module.  A dual-sided memory module has chips that occupy both sides of the module.

MSI Recommends Memory Combination

DIMM Slots				Maximum Speed
DIMM1	DIMM2	DIMM3	DIMM4
Single-Sided				DDR-400
		Single-Sided		DDR-400
Double-Sided				DDR-400
		Double-Sided		DDR-400
Single-Sided		Single-Sided		DDR-400
Double-Sided		Double-Sided		DDR-333
Single-Sided	Single-Sided			DDR-400
		Single-Sided	Single-Sided	DDR-400
Double-Sided	Double-Sided			DDR-400
		Double-Sided	Double-Sided	DDR-400
Single-Sided	Single-Sided	Single-Sided	Single-Sided	DDR-400
Double-Sided	Double-Sided	Double-Sided	Double-Sided	DDR-333

Conclusion

An MSI K8N Neo4 motherboard supports DDR-266/333/400 using 184-pin SDRAM DIMMs.  Each of the four DIMM slots supports a maximum size of 1 GB.  So, you can maximize the size of the memory up to 4 GB by installing a 1 GB of either a single-sided or double-sided DDR memory module in each of the four slots.  You enable a dual-channel memory operation when you install a DDR module in a green DIMM1 and a DDR module in a purple DIMM2.  You enable a single-channel memory operation when you install a DDR module in a green DIMM1 and a DDR module in a green DIMM3.  You should follow MSI’s combined memory configuration when you want a maximum memory speed of DDR-400.

References

1. MSI Computer Corporation – K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI
   http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Neo4_Platinum/SLI&class=mb
2. What is Dual Channel Memory & How do I use it Correctly?
   http://www.legendmemory.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=317

DDR Memory for MSI K8N NEO4

1. Corsair VS2GBKIT400C3 Value Select 2GB 2 x 1GB PC3200 400MHz 184-Pin DDR CL3 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit – From CORSAIR VALUE SELECT
2. Crucial 2 GB Kit (2 x 1GB) DDR PC3200 UNBUFFERED NON-ECC 184-PIN DIMM – From CRUCIAL TECHNOLOGY
3. Kingston Technologies 1GB DDR SDRAM Desktop Memory (KVR400/1GR) – From Kingston H. Corporation
4. OCZ OCZP4001G DDR 400 PC-3200 Platinum 1GB Module – From OCZ Technology
5. OCZ Technology 2 GB DDR PC-3200 Kit (OCZ4002048ELDCPE-K) – From OCZ Technology

How to make a local Group Policy not apply to Administrators

Local Group Policy settings apply to all user accounts who log on to the computers and who have READ permission to %SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy folder. However, policies are not applied to users who do not have READ permission. Therefore, by denying READ permission to Administrators or other users whom you don’t want to restrict, you free those users from control by group policies.

To use this method, follow the steps:

1. Make the Group Policy setting changes that you want.
2. In Windows Explorer, right-click the %SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy folder and choose Properties. (GroupPolicy is a hidden folder; if you can’t find it in System32, choose Tools > Folder Options > View > Show Hidden Files and Folders.)
3. On the Security tab of the GroupPolicy Properties dialog, select the Administrators group and select DENY check box for READ permission.

Note: After you give DENY access to Administrators and if you want to change or modify the policy setting, you will not be able to run MMC or Group Policy Editor when you log in to the computer as Administrator unless you give back Administrators full rights to the GroupPolicy folder. To give Administrators FULL ACCESS, in Windows Explorer, right-click %SystemRoot%\System32\GroupPolicy folder > choose Properties > choose Security tab > select FULL CONTROL check box.

Recommended Books:

• Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and Troubleshooting (Paperback) by Jeremy Moskowitz (Author)
• Windows® Group Policy Administrator’s Pocket Consultant (Paperback) by William R. Stanek (Author)
• Group Policy: Management, Troubleshooting, and Security: For Windows Vista , Windows 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 (Mark Minasi Windows Administrator Library) (Paperback) by Jeremy Moskowitz (Author)

How to move DHCP database from one server to another server

You use netsh dhcp server command to move DHCP database from one server to another server – for example moving DHCP database from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008.

Please note that you must install DHCP server service on a target server before moving the database.

On a source DHCP server (Windows Server 2003):

1. Open a command prompt
2. Type netsh dhcp server export drive:\dhcp.txt all
3. Copy the file to a network share folder a thumb drive.

On a target DHCP server (Windows Server 2008):

1. Open a command prompt
2. Type netsh dhcp server import drive:\dhcp.txt all
3. Activate the scope if necessary.

That’s it!

Book

• Mastering Windows Server 2003 by Mark Minasi
• Windows Server 2008 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant by William Stanek

The windows installer service cannot update one or more protected windows files

When installing Microsoft Office 2007 on Windows XP Professional SP3, I get an error – the windows installer service cannot update one or more protected windows files. 

It looks like the windows installer service looks for a dynamic link library file named fp4autl.dll in the folder “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extension\Bin\40.”  The error occurs when the file is missing from the folder, and when the windows installer service attempts to update web services that associates with the Microsoft Office 2007.

The solution to this error is to place fp4autl.dll file back into “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extension\Bin\40.”  There are two ways to get fp4autl.dll file – extract it from Windows XP setup CD or copy it from another Windows XP machine.

Extracting Fp4autl.dll from Windows XP setup CD-ROM:

1. Open I386 folder on the Windows XP setup CD-ROM.
2. Locate FP40EXT.CAB and double click it to open.
3. Locate Fp4autl.dll and copy it to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extension\Bin\40.
4. Restart Microsoft Office 2007 installation.

Copy Fp4autl.dll from another Windows XP machine:

1. Open C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Services Extension\Bin\40.
2. Locate and copy Fp4autl.dll and save it to a network share or a USB drive.
3. Copy and paste Fp4autl.dll to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extension\Bin\40 on the computer that is missing the file.
4. Restart Microsoft Office 2007 installation.

Fp4autl.dll is a Microsoft FrontPage Utility Dynamic Link Library file.  During the installation of Microsoft Office 2007, Windows installer service needs this fp4autl.dll file to update shared services that associates with Microsoft Office 2007.

Other Fp4autl.dll errors:

Microsoft Support:

• OFF2000: "Cannot load fp4Autl.dll" Error Starting FrontPage
• Error message: "Windows files must be installed for your installation to proceed"
• PRJ2000: "Error 1933" error message when you install Microsoft Office 2000

How to change the default TCP port for Remote Desktop connection

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) uses a default TCP port 3389. When you enable a remote desktop connection on your computer, you turn on this port automatically and allow a remote connection to your computer. Everyone in Administrators and Remote Desktop Users groups can connect to your computer remotely.

You can change the default port for Remote Desktop by editing the registry entry. Configuring and setting a new port for Remote Desktop provides a secure remote connection to your computer because only you and people with permission know the new port assignment.

Using Registry editor to change port for Remote Desktop

1. Open Registry editor by typing Regedit in the Run command line.
2. Expand these registry entries and subentries:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
3. Select RDP-Tcp and in the right window, scroll down and double-click PortNumber.

   

4. Choose Decimal, double-click to select 3389 in the Value Data: text box, enter a new port number, for example 3391, and then click OK.

    

You may need to restart the computer to effect the new change.

How to enable Remote Desktop connection

1. Open Control Panel and double-click System to open System Properties.
2. Choose Remote tab on the System Properties sheet.
3. In Remote Desktop section, check “Allow users to remotely connect to this computer” check box. 
4. Click “Select Remote Users” button to add users that you allow to remotely connect to your computer, and click OK.

How to configure Windows firewall to allow Remote Desktop

When Remote Desktop is enabled, the default port 3389 is added to the exception list of the Windows firewall. Since the new port is configured, a new exception must be created.

1. Open Control Panel and double-click Windows Firewall.
2. Choose Exceptions tab on the Windows Firewall dialog box.
3. Clear “Remote Desktop” check box as this is a default port for Remote Desktop.
4. Click “Add Port…” button and in Name: field, enter “Remote Desktop Connection” and in Port number: field; enter the new port that is previously configured in the registry editor, for example 3391. Make sure TCP is selected.
   
5. Click OK.

In the exception list of the Windows Firewall, you should have “Remote Desktop Connection” checked.

When you remotely connect to your computer with an assigned port, you must enter the new port along with the IP address or computer name. For example, if your computer IP is 192.168.12.3, and you configured a new port 3391 for your Remote Desktop; then you must enter 192.168.2.3:3391 in the Remote Desktop connection client.