Major Problems - Computer won't even turn on...

Jman13

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
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So, I'm trying to stretch the legs of my A64 system, and I bought another 1GB of RAM to bring me to 2GB. The system is the one in my sig (though I have been running it at stock speed for several months). The machine has been working without problems.

I pop open the case, pop the sticks of RAM in (filling the bays) and start up....
And it hangs at POST, before the RAM is recognized. I reboot, and it sees the 2GB of RAM, but stops. Another reboot, check the BIOS, and it gets to the Windows screen...but no further. I tried again, and again at the Windows screen. So I reopen the case, remove the new RAM and boot....and it goes straight to Windows. So, I shut down again, put the RAM back in, and I get the same problem as the first time (no past post). So I remove one of the sticks, and try it in each slot...the first time, it didn't even see it, and the second time, it registered as 512MB, not even seeing the original RAM. So I take that stick out, and substitute the next stick....and I get beeping, so I pull it out, and try to boot with just the original RAM...and.....

Nothing. Fans don't spin up, just pure silence. So I check the power cord, check the PSU switch (even trying both)....try shutting off the PSU for several minutes, then try leaving it on for several minutes....nothing. I check the switch connection to the motherboard...no problems there. I check every connection in the computer...all secure. I check the power cord, the UPS, everything. I even check to see if the voltage switch somehow got switched. And....still absolutely nothing. Dead silence.

What the heck? I've built three systems, done countless upgrades, and I've never experienced that. What the heck happened, and what can I do about it?
 

vanvock

Senior member
Jan 1, 2005
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I fried a cpu once adding a coast module. Turns out there was a tiny sliver either in the slot or on the stick. Ever since I always wipe off any new sticks & eyeball the slots closely before inserting. Also make sure there are no bent pins.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Tangentially, your system may inherently be unable to deal with 3 sticks of RAM at a time. With four sticks at once, it may need you to boost memory voltage (especially if the new RAM is built for elevated voltages) and/or relax the timings. But at this point it sounds like something worse, since you're back to the original configuration and it's dead in the water.

You might try unplugging the system, removing the CMOS battery and clearing the CMOS, then put the battery back in and plug the computer in again. Any good? :confused:
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
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Sounds like you had a bad stick of ram and it ended up taking out your motherboard.
 

Jman13

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
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Any ideas to try so I can make sure it's fried before shelling out the cash for a new, well, almost everything?
 

dbailey

Senior member
Nov 30, 2000
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I would try to pull the cpu, and pop it back in.. I recovered from a similar situation by doing that once.. all other things failed.. If that doesn't work, have you got another power supply to try? I think it's more likely a dead PS than motherboard. May also be a dead power switch.., to rule out the power switch, you can try and jump the 2 pins on the motherboard together briefly to turn on the computer.(the wire running to the power button is usually the blue and white one.. just pull it off the 2 jumpers and touch/bridge the two pins with a screwdriver). If it's just a dead switch(unlikely) it will turn on.
 

Jman13

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
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Yeah, I might have a spare PSU (though I don't think it has the 4 pin extra plug, which would negate that ability. I'll try pulling the CPU, and disconnecting pretty much everything. I have been researching a new system, though....if I'm going to replace the MOBO, I might as well get a new machine, so it'll be mobo, cpu, ram, video card (I'm still running AGP), and I'll get a new case, since my current one is harder to work in than I'd like.
 

Jman13

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
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I'd prefer not to....my current machine, while not the speediest thing on earth any more, does just fine for 95% of what I use it for. It even does most games just fine, though since I got a new 22" widescreen monitor, some games aren't as fluid at 1680x1050 as they were at 1280x960. :) Plus, the $650 the new machine would cost is not exactly appetizing to me right now.
 

Jman13

Senior member
Apr 9, 2001
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Originally posted by: dbailey
I would try to pull the cpu, and pop it back in.. I recovered from a similar situation by doing that once.. all other things failed..

THANK YOU!

Popping the CPU out and reseating worked! My windows installation was corrupted once I booted again (I'm sure it had to do with the RAM issues), but a quick reinstall, and I'm up and running once again.

I did nearly make it for naught, though...I haven't removed a heatsink in about 3 years (since I built this), and I forgot how much pressure they were under...so stupid me pops off the tabs on one side, and the pressure on the other side literally PRIED the CPU out of the socket, bending the final two rows of pins. I thought all was lost then, but figured what the heck...bent them gently back, shoehorned in the CPU (in the opposite direction of the way it came out), popped on some AS3 (I did clean the old crap off), slapped the HS on (very sloppily, I might add...I bent about 6 fins, but at this point I thought the whole thing was toast anyway), hooked up the power, and sure enough, it came breathing back to life.

Now I need to reinstall everything, but it's better than losing the better part of my system.

Thanks again!

 

ScrapSilicon

Lifer
Apr 14, 2001
13,625
0
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I would setup the xp install on a smaller drive and once updated/drivers/software/etc. ..ghost it to a bigger drive ..plug bigger drive up(stash the original as a backup) then do ram testing ;)