Tried swapping RAM, now XP won't let me in no matter which RAM

[ktm407]

I've been having a lot of computer problems lately, which I determined were mostly due to a failing hard drive. But I was unable to get a copy of my OS right away to replace the drive, so I thought I would just double check and make sure it is not my RAM.

So I pulled out my two 2GB sticks of Corsair RAM and put in a 1GB stick of the G.Skill RAM I was using before I upgraded. When I turned my computer back on, I first got a warning message that listed my computer components and the RAM as installed:

***** WARNING: System BOOT Fail *****
Your last boot fail or POST interrupted. Please enter setup to load default and reboot again.

So I did that, I went into BIOS setup and changed it back to defaults. The computer boots, I type in my Windows XP name and password and then... nothing. The screen goes black and stays black. Totally unresponsive.

So I tried my 2GB Corsair sticks of RAM, first individually each and then together and it's the same exact thing everytime. Just a black screen. I can't use my computer at all now. I am no computer wiz or anything, but all I did was stick the RAM into the motherboard slots, which I have done before and doesn't seem that complicated.

Can anyone make some sense of what's gone wrong?

 

[Blain]

Sounds like you got yourself a case of data corruption.

 

[Rubycon]

Try testing each stick independently with Memtest86. Once you've gotten memory issues out of the way you need to focus on your drive itself. Download the manufacturer's diagnostic program and run that. These usually run outside of Windows. If the drive is the problem and repairable THEN you can start on fixing your OS issue. Running a CHKDSK on the boot volume may do it. If not you will probably have to boot from the XP disc and (hopefully) it will see your present installation and you can select the repair option.

 

[Paperdoc]

If I read your post right, you strongly suspect the trouble is a near;y-failed hard drive, but were just checking in case the source was the RAM, instead. Several attempts with different RAM modules failed, all ending up freezing when trying to log into Win XP. That does seem like you were right the first time - the trouble is in the hard drive, not the RAM.

Just to be sure of the RAM you could download Memtest86+, load it onto a floppy and run it from there. But assuming the trouble in in the HDD, you should be downloading the drive makers' test utilities, burning them to a disk (floppy or CDR) and running them, as Rubycon suggests. If that indicates no fundamental disk problem, or actually says it found and fixed a problem, boot into Windows Safe Mode and see if it will clean itself up. It just might find and fix a minor problem that way, allowing you to reboot normally and log into Win XP. By the way, have you checked for loose cable connections to the hard drive, at the power connector and at both ends of its data cable?

 

[Paperdoc]

If I read your post right, you strongly suspect the trouble is a nearly-failed hard drive, but were just checking in case the source was the RAM, instead. Several attempts with different RAM modules failed, all ending up freezing when trying to log into Win XP. That does seem like you were right the first time - the trouble is in the hard drive, not the RAM.

Just to be sure of the RAM you could download Memtest86+, load it onto a floppy and run it from there. But assuming the trouble in in the HDD, you should be downloading the drive makers' test utilities, burning them to a disk (floppy or CDR) and running them, as Rubycon suggests. If that indicates no fundamental disk problem, or actually says it found and fixed a problem, boot into Windows Safe Mode and see if it will clean itself up. It just might find and fix a minor problem that way, allowing you to reboot normally and log into Win XP. By the way, have you checked for loose cable connections to the hard drive, at the power connector and at both ends of its data cable?