FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) Where can I buy Strontium Products?
       For a complete list of our distributors and retailers, please click here.

2) Where can I get technical answers and support to my queries?
       For detailed technical support, please click here.

3) What are the various types of products offered by Strontium?

• Memory modules for desktops, notebooks, servers, gaming platforms, apple series
• Flash Cards (MicroSD, SD, MicroSDHC Class 2/6/10, SDHC class 10/6)
• Storage Devices (Solid State Drives , USB Flash Drives, External Hard Drives)

4) What is your Warranty and RMA policy?
       For our warranty policy, please click here.

5) Why am I getting a Server Error message when I use your Memory Configurator?
       This is an issue that has to do with the Cookie Setting in your Internet Explorer. To overcome this issue, Click "Change Country" button on the right hand side of the memory configurator tool and select "Singapore", before carrying out the search. Alternatively you can go to the Internet Explorer's privacy settings and change it Low to accept cookies. Other browsers dont have this problem

6) Where are your Warranty Locations in India?
       To find the list of Service Centers across India, please click here

1) What are the various types of memory products offered by Strontium?
       We offer the following categories of memory modules: All speeds: (SDRAM, DDR1, DDR2, DDR3) All capacity: 64MB - 8GB All applications: desktops, notebooks, servers, gaming platforms, apple series

2) What are the benefits of upgrading my computer's memory?
        Upgrading your memory is typically the easiest and least expensive way to upgrade your computer and significantly boost its performance. This is as the computer's RAM memory is its workspace, or where all of the instructions it needs to act on are stored temporarily. A computer with more RAM can work more efficiently as it does not need to retrieve information from the hard disk drive as often. A memory upgrade is particularly helpful for users who work with large files, have more than one program open at one time or use memory-intensive applications such as games or graphics and video editing software.

3) When do you know it's time for a memory upgrade?
       There are several signs to let you know when it may be time to upgrade your memory. If you see: Your mouse pointer display the hourglass or "wait" symbol for significant periods of time; or Your computer seems to work more slowly than you expect; or Applications taking very long to open up, The reason is probably insufficient memory. When physical memory is insufficient, the system uses Hard Disk Space as memory. This is called "Virtual Memory". Since the access time of physical memory is in tens of nanoseconds while that of hard disks is in milliseconds, the system slows down considerably.

4) Can I use a brand new memory module with my existing, used memory modules?
       Yes, you can - but only if that they are of the same type. When adding memory, there will usually be at least one empty memory slot in which to insert the new memory. Consult the documentation that came with the computer to verify how its memory slots should be filled. If all the memory slots are already filled, then you can take out an older memory module and fill it with the appropriate new module, to meet the desired memory level

5) Will additional memory speed up my computer?
       Effectively, yes. While additional memory will not directly increase the CPU's speed, it will reduce the time it spends waiting for information from the hard drive. RAM provides data to a CPU faster than a hard drive, so it will not take as long for programs to execute.

6) Why won't my system boot up after installing your memory?
       If you are getting an error message on the monitor like "a Non-System Disk error occurred", check to make sure that you do not have a non-bootable disk in the floppy drive or even the CD-ROM drive. If this is not the case, check that you did not accidentally bump into and dislodge any cables or power connectors within the case during the installation process. The last step before closing the case should always be to ensure that every cable and power plug is fully seated. If this also does not resolve the problem, make sure you have the correct memory for your computer. Try installing just the new module in the system to determine if it is compatible with your system. If the system boots with the new module, try shutting down and adding the other modules one by one to determine if there is a chipset incompatibility.

7) What is ECC and how do I know if I should use it?
       ECC stands for Error Correction Code. It is similar to Parity, only more advanced. It is able to detect multiple errors in data returned from memory and actually correct a 1-bit error. ECC memory has 8 extra bits in order to support the ECC. The system board to be used must also support ECC and all of the memory in the system must be ECC for it to be actively supported. Check your system board specifications to see if you can use ECC.

8) What are the differences between unbuffered, buffered and registered memory?
       Unbuffered memory modules that do not have a register. That's good because this type of memory is faster and less expensive and is ideal for use on home computers. Buffered modules contain a buffer to help the chipset deal with the type of electrical load required when the system has a large amount of memory. Registered modules are unbuffered modules that contain a register, which helps ensure data is handled properly. Buffered and registered modules are typically used only in mission-critical systems such as servers.

9) What is the difference between CL2 and CL3?
       CL stands for CAS (Column Access Strobe) Latency, which is the time taken to retrieve data from the module. CL2 and CL3 refer to the amount of clock cycles that it takes before the initial stream of data is sent. CL2 modules wait two clock cycles before sending data, while CL3 modules wait three clock cycles. Since they only wait for two clock cycles, CL2 modules are faster and thus usually more expensive. Some systems may require either CL2 or CL3 memory.

10) Do all memory modules need to be loaded in matched pairs?
       Not necessarily. Most high-end mainboards support dual channel memory. While it is recommended that you populate memory in matched pairs for optimum performance and compatibility, your mainboard should still work with mismatched memory.

11) How is Strontium memory tested and validated?
       Our modules are tested intensively for compatibility and reliability, first in our test labs by our qualified engineers, then by an independent third party testing agency in their compatibility labs. These tests ensure that customers will only receive properly tested and validated high quality products.

12) How can I find the best memory module for my mainboard?
       You can use our Online Memory Configurator Tool, to find the right memory for your mainboard. You can also check the manual or specifications for your mainboard and select the right module from the product page in our website.

13) What DRAM chip brands Strontium products use?
        Strontium uses major brand chipsets from Hynix and Micron in all their products. Our relations with top chip producers ensure that our modules will have the best performance, quality, price and availability. Every Strontium memory module is 100% tested at its rated specification and is backed with a lifetime warranty.

14) I have just brought Strontium 2 GB DDR 2 667 Mhz.. If I install 2 GB DDR 2 667 Mhz and 2 GB DDR 2 800 Mhz, in 2 RAM slots then, will my PC run smoothly?
       Yes you can install one 2GB PC667 and One 2GB PC800, but total effective operating speed of RAM will only PC667. However, it is always beneficial to install the same product grade if you are going to perform an upgrade to your current system.

1) What are the different types of Flash and Storage products that Strontium offers?
       We offer the below range of products Flash Cards (MicroSD, SD, MicroSDHC Class 2/6/10, SDHC class 10/6) Storage Devices (Solid State Drives, USB Flash Drives, External Hard Drives)

2) Why can't I access the full capacity of my USB Flash drive?
       This is mainly due to the Flash memory design, testing and formatting.

3) Will my USB flash drive work with all versions of the Windows operating system?
       Your USB flash drive will work with most Windows operating systems without the need to install additional drivers. However, USB Flash Drives will not work with the Windows NT operating system as it does not support USB.

4) Why are Solid State Drives (SSDs) Faster?
       A SSD is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. SSDs are different from traditional hard disk drives, which are electromechanical devices containing spinning disks and movable read/write heads. SSDs, in contrast, use microchips, and contain no moving parts. Compared to traditional HDDs, SSDs are typically less susceptible to physical shock, quieter and have lower access time as well as latency. Rotational latency in an SSD is zero, while seek latency is close to it. It can also maximize I/O data transfer performance immediately after I/O is requested. SSDs use the same interface as hard disk drives and are thus an easy alternative in most applications.

5) Is Strontium SSD drives compatible with SATA I?
       Our SSD drives support 1.5/3.0Gbps SATA I/II interface.

6) Why does my computer display a message "High-Speed USB Device Plugged into Non-High Speed USB Hub" when I plug in an external portable hard disk?
       This is because your USB drive is a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 compliant device, which works best when plugged into a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. When you plug it into a Non-High Speed USB port, Windows will show this alert message. While you will still be able to use the disk, it will run at a reduced speed. In this instance, the transmission speed is unable to reach that of USB2.0.

7) Why doesn't a PC-formatted card work with a digital camera?
       This is as there are several types of formatting. For example, when Windows formats a card as FAT32, that file system is chosen as a default - which might not be supported by some digital cameras. It is thus recommended to format a card with the digital camera before use. Check the user's manual or ask the manufacturer for instructions on how to format the card with the camera.

8) My card doesn't work with a certain digital camera. Why?
       Our cards are compliant with a specification issued by each card association such as the SD card Association or CompactFlash Association. Therefore, they should work with the various types of electronic equipment which meet the specification. Though, you may still experience some problems due to the format issue. We recommend formatting the card with the camera before using the card.

9) Can I use any card reader for SDHC cards?
       Your card reader has to specifically support the SDHC card format, as the various card formats are different in nature.

10) My MicroSD card is not working. How can I format my MicroSD card ?
       For formatting the MSD Card Pls follow the below steps

• Download the MSD card formatter (version 2.9.0.5) from this website >> https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/formatter_3/
• Execute and install the apps and plug-in the affected MSD card to your computer system
• Select Format with the following option.
• Proceed format with the following option; Format type -> FULL (Erase ON), Format Size Adjustment -> ON Once complete, try it again

11) I have purchased a Strontium 8GB USB Drive. Why is it showing 7.2GB on my PC?
       Generally saying, is because 10% of 8GB were reserved for ECC purpose, so as to enhace the reliablity of our products. That is why you see a difference. Actually no amount of space is lost. Generally, the capacity that is advertised (e.g. 8GB) is a decimal number. What the user see in the PC is a binary number - it differs in such that 1000 bytes in decimal equals 1024 bytes in binary. So the binary GB's are only about 95% of the real world decimal

       In Windows words, 1GB=1024MB, while an HDD counts it as 1GB=1000MB, so windows always reads less space then the manufacturer says. Plus if the user has a large amount of small files and very large file system clusters then he will expect massive space loss. Also depends on the user file system type (FAT, FAT32, NTFS etc), some of them can't read space larger then a certain amount. To fully and efficiently use all space, format into NTFS file system this will has the smallest cluster size, though this it will slow down the performance.

12) How to make sure that my SD Card is functioning well
       With the SD card inserted to your computer system, Go to: Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management to initialize the drive. Upon initialization, format the card under the Disk Management environment. If everything goes well, then there is no problem with the SD card and it is functioning well

13) How to disable the LOCKV234 function in Strontium SPIN USB series
       To disable, you may consider to re- initialize the unit with the follow steps;

• Insert the drive to the host system, relocate the data to a new location.
• Disabling the password and uninstall the LOCK234 apps from the host system.
• Remove the USB drive from system and pause for at least 5sec before reinserting the unit back.
• Ensure the system can access there data drive without any password required, if not, repeat the above steps.
• Format the data drive and copy back the required data.

14) Should I need to take any precaution before shifting the MicroSD card between devices?
       Before you shift your MicroSD card between devices, it is advisable to take backup of the data inside the card to your Computer, to ensure that data wont be compromised during the transfer

15) How to remove the Write-Protection error message coming in 32GB Strontium Bold USB Drives?
       Download the software 32GB USB Recovery.exe from our download section or click here.
Backup all the data in your usb to a secure folder in your computer, before executing the tools with the drive inserted to the system. This tool will re-initialise the unit to it original working condition. The tool should be Run as Administrator and the user should select the 'Super Recovery' option to retrieve the unit, if normal option wont help
Please note that this tool will work for 32GB Bold USB Drives with BAH Solution only. This can be verified by checking on the marking on the USB connector. For issues with other models, please contact us at techsupport@strontium.biz

16) Can Windows XP support exFAT format??
       Default XP system can only support NTFS for capacity larger than 32GB.
In order for XP to make full use of the flash drive larger than 32GB, the XP system needs to be patched with a patch file, so that before format, user can select this 'exFAT' table to format the drive.
Install the Windows XP update from this link to add support for the exFAT file system format. After you install this item a system restart is require. Oncd restart complete, user can proceed to select exFAT to format the flash media.