RAM problem

[robs]

I recently installed some new RAM on my laptop and everything went fine and it's running very well. I also needed to upgrade my RAM on an older (4 years old) desktop. It said it only had 196 on it but the chip said it had 258. So I bought 2 1GB sticks. I put the new RAM in correctly and nothing. I tried putting the old one back in, and nothing. When I plug it in and hit the power button. My DVD-RW drive light lights up and that it. The top fan runs, but not the lower fan. I can't get a picture to come up or anything. Did I just fry this thing or what? It said that I could do up to to 2 GB of RAM so I thought I was good to go. Any help?

 

[momoman]

You really need to watch what RAM you install to a system that is relatively old (i.e. your 4 year old one) because the chipsets that control the RAM may not be able to recognize DDR2 (industry standard, double channel) Memory, best bet is to find DDR1 (333MhZ or 400MhZ) Memory, but it seems that the slot may have been damaged by the higher speeds, so yes, technically you have fried it, but there may be a way to recover it by just leaving the old RAM inside until you can reach the BIOS.

Peace.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

Rob we are probably going to need some more info. What kind of computer do you have. it would be best to know make and model. Also what kind of 1 gig ram sticks did you try to put in?

could you have josseled some stuff around while you were putting the ram in? may be knocked the video card lose? i would ground yourself and then try checking all the connections to your hard drive, video card, etc. and see if anything is lose. some times folks don't get the ram setted back in real well so you might try taking out your old ram and resetting it as well. check the connections that go to the motherboard also to make sure nothing pulled lose.

 

[robs]

I have a Compaq Presario 1403W desktop. The gig sticks say D400/1GHY DDR40 PC3200 The only wire that I noticed was maybe once connected but not anymore is on from my DVDRW drive. It's a small grey cord with a female end with holes for 4 prongs. Everything else is tight. If installing the new RAM is not possible, please let me know how I can at least get the old one back up and running again. I've tried a couple times, but nothing happens when I try to boot it up. I don't get any picture. thanks for all your help! This one might need to get taken somewhere to get fixed.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

The gray cord from you DVD drive is the audio cable. it should be connected to your motherboard so that when you play a dvd or something you have sound. unless you've never had sound when playing dvds then it came loose when you were changing out ram. my guess is still that you have knocked something loose. are you sure the ram is in the slot in the correct direction and the video card is seated all the way in?

the ram sticks sound like the right type so i don't think you got the wrong kind.

 

[robs]

I had a friend look at it today and he said he doesn't know either. He said the cords is fine. He thinks my processor went bad. I have power, but it won't power up at all. He's puzzled and told me to save the hard drive and just buy a new computer. I dunno.

 

[nsguy2]

I had a friend look at it today and he said he doesn't know either. He said the cords is fine. He thinks my processor went bad. I have power, but it won't power up at all. He's puzzled and told me to save the hard drive and just buy a new computer. I dunno.

Before giving up on it, make sure any cards that installed are securely snapped into their slots as it very easy to bump them when doing repairs.

When you first start it up, listen closely for any beeps. If there are any long or multiple ones, that would indicate a problem and the length/number of them points to where.

 

[robs]

Before giving up on it, make sure any cards that installed are securely snapped into their slots as it very easy to bump them when doing repairs.

When you first start it up, listen closely for any beeps. If there are any long or multiple ones, that would indicate a problem and the length/number of them points to where.

There aren't any beeps. I push the power button and the light on the front of the DVDRW drive turns on, but nothing else happens. It won't start up, beep or anything.

 

[sheep]

Make sure the memory module is inserted properly. It should snap in when pressed down. Ground yourself before touching memory or it will be toast. Unplug the computer and all usb devices and monitor before doing it.

 

[omminc]

There aren't any beeps. I push the power button and the light on the front of the DVDRW drive turns on, but nothing else happens. It won't start up, beep or anything.

What I think happened is that your power supply went bad. I've had one go bad on me and some things in my computer still turned on.

or the cosmos needs clearing/resetting. Have you tried re-setting the small battery that sits on the mobo?

I tried looking for you model, but I can't find much about it if anything online.

 

[robs]

What I think happened is that your power supply went bad. I've had one go bad on me and some things in my computer still turned on.

or the cosmos needs clearing/resetting. Have you tried re-setting the small battery that sits on the mobo?

I tried looking for you model, but I can't find much about it if anything online.

How do you reset the battery??

 

[mike_n_herrin]

you just take it out and wait a few seconds and then put it back. it should be a round battery like a watch battery about the diameter of a quarter.