This is for a friend, actually, who I can only instruct over the phone. He removed a stick of ram to find out what type it was, and when he put it back in, the system refused to post. He just gets a long repeating beep. He admits that he might have tried to put the stick in backwards at first. So i'm thinking that either the ram was damaged, or that he had a static charge on his hands and damaged the ram. Either way, I think the ram is bad, since it is replaced and the system still wont start. So..... what do you guys think?
System won't POST
- Thread starter chrome0011
- Start date
That I don't know... i do know its 184-pin ram, so it couldn't be -that- old. I know that its an HP Pavillion that his family bought back in 2001. So if that helps any...
Some possibilities:
- If he was careless he may have installed the memory in the wrong socket. If it's a mobo with onboard video then it usually won't post unless there's a memory stick in the first socket.
- As you mentioned, static discharge, although that would be unlikely to damage the mobo - more likely to damage the memory.
- If your friend has never done this before, he may not be fully seating the ram stick. Some mobos have very tight sockets and to the casual eye the stick may be seated and locked when it isn't. Seen it often enough.
- Some mobos are poorly supported under the ram sockets. If you press too hard you can crack the mobo. This especially common with tight sockets (been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!).
- Your friend may have loosened something else while poking around in there. Tell him to check to make sure all the cards are fully seated - especially the video card.
- It's impossible to insert a ram stick in backwards although if you're very careless you can partially insert it backwards so it's only making contact on a few pins (you'd have to be blind not to notice it's not seated and locked though). If it was turned on while inserted like that something may have shorted out the mobo or PSU.
Hope this helps...
- If he was careless he may have installed the memory in the wrong socket. If it's a mobo with onboard video then it usually won't post unless there's a memory stick in the first socket.
- As you mentioned, static discharge, although that would be unlikely to damage the mobo - more likely to damage the memory.
- If your friend has never done this before, he may not be fully seating the ram stick. Some mobos have very tight sockets and to the casual eye the stick may be seated and locked when it isn't. Seen it often enough.
- Some mobos are poorly supported under the ram sockets. If you press too hard you can crack the mobo. This especially common with tight sockets (been there, done that, bought the T-shirt!).
- Your friend may have loosened something else while poking around in there. Tell him to check to make sure all the cards are fully seated - especially the video card.
- It's impossible to insert a ram stick in backwards although if you're very careless you can partially insert it backwards so it's only making contact on a few pins (you'd have to be blind not to notice it's not seated and locked though). If it was turned on while inserted like that something may have shorted out the mobo or PSU.
Hope this helps...
I can't get ahold of him right now, but as I remember it was a 700 series. I know its got a pentium 4. He's got an FX5200 for video. I would think that its an issue with either the mobo or ram, since it doesn't boot at all. (he's probably having a beer with his girl while i fret over this...
)
)Ok, I found the model of the mainboard, its an ASUS P4S-LA, using an Award BIOS. I'm looking for the beep codes for that one, not coming up with much. Meanwhile, the friend is calling HP Support...
One other question: The mainboard specs say that memory speed is PC2100. I don't have a lot of experience with older computers, but his new PC3200 would be fine, right?
One other question: The mainboard specs say that memory speed is PC2100. I don't have a lot of experience with older computers, but his new PC3200 would be fine, right?
Ok, long beep for most Award BIOS means Memory problem. Doesn't rule out mainboard--one site made sure to note that it might mean mainboard can't access memory for whatever reason. Friend's going to swap out new memory for PC2100 stick.
HP support was kind of clueless he said... they basically told him to take it in... I think if the new stick doesn't work, then i'll advise the same, rather than try to talk him through installing a new motherboard.
Thanks MechB, Penguin... and by all means if you have any more insight, let me know!!! I need all the help i can get! :laugh:
HP support was kind of clueless he said... they basically told him to take it in... I think if the new stick doesn't work, then i'll advise the same, rather than try to talk him through installing a new motherboard.
Thanks MechB, Penguin... and by all means if you have any more insight, let me know!!! I need all the help i can get! :laugh:
You need to get some known good memory in there. Most OEM systems (not just HP) are VERY fussy about memory - you can't just pop anything in there. I'd order some ram from Crucial.com and look up the EXACT memory that's a match for his system in their database.
Before spending some money on new RAM, though, I'd try his old RAM in another computer that takes PC2100 and run MEMTEST86+ on it.
Memory's not real expensive though so it might be worth his while to order some from Crucial. They're fast - they Fedex 2 day for free usually.
PS: I would tell him NOT to mention the fact that he pulled the stick out to tech support. That'll give them an excuse to blame it on him and deny any support.
Before spending some money on new RAM, though, I'd try his old RAM in another computer that takes PC2100 and run MEMTEST86+ on it.
Memory's not real expensive though so it might be worth his while to order some from Crucial. They're fast - they Fedex 2 day for free usually.
PS: I would tell him NOT to mention the fact that he pulled the stick out to tech support. That'll give them an excuse to blame it on him and deny any support.
He actually returned the 3200 and picked up a stick of 2100. Slapped it in (i think he's got the hang of it now) and nada. Same results. I did ask him if it was possible that he powered on with the ram in upside down and not locked in... he said it might have happened. Long story short, I'm convinced the mobo is jacked somehow. Having tried 2 different sticks of ram I really don't see how it could be anything else. He ordered a new Foxconn board, almost identical to his old, but this one takes DDR400. So... we'll tackle installation when the board arrives. He's a smart fella, so I think it'll work out... unless of course the cpu is bad...ahhhhhhh!!!!! :Q
He should disconnect everything but the bare essentials (CPU, vid, RAM) and make sure none of that was causing the problem.
That was the last thing we tried before resorting to a new mobo. I feel that between a new mobo and ram, things should go well. I really doubt the cpu got fried. Anyone know about the Windows question?
rise
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- Dec 13, 2004
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