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Halp, I destroyed my computer!
Gork
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I was installing some new RAM in my computer and having some problems.
I put the new chips in and when I turned the comp back on, it was only registering one. I reopened it, checked it out and saw I hadn't fully inserted one of the chips. I closed everything back up and turned on the computer to be presented with a black screen, some loud beeps, and the computer fan going into overdrive.
Is it dead?
I put the new chips in and when I turned the comp back on, it was only registering one. I reopened it, checked it out and saw I hadn't fully inserted one of the chips. I closed everything back up and turned on the computer to be presented with a black screen, some loud beeps, and the computer fan going into overdrive.
Is it dead?
Gork on
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Or sometimes, some motherboards won't even work that way, and they require you select from a list of matching types.
I guess it would help to know your motherboard/pc model.
It's a Dell Dimension 8200.
Yes, it's old.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/codes.htm#1101734
Do you have diagnostic lights on the back of your computer? If so see if they light up:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim8200/codes.htm#1101590
I would try taking the RAM out and reseating it, MAKE SURE that there is nothing in the way of the contacts, that the memory is fully pressed in and seated, etc.
Reseated, with the new ones, and it is starting up again. It's only registering memory in one slot, though.
I was upgrading from two 512mb sticks to two 1GB sticks. I'm kinda freaked out to go back in there. Should I just call it a wash?
If they are NOT a matched pair, and you have 4 slots, try them in slots 1 and 3 or 2 and 4. If they are a matched pair try 1&2 or 3&4.
Motherboards can (and will automatically) run identical sticks of ram in parallel if possible. Sometimes, particularly with fast ram and old motherboards, running them in parallel will be litereally too fast for the machine to use. It's stupid, but I've had this happen to me twice. If you've got 4 slots, try putting the ram in such that they aren't running in parallel (check the manual). Otherwise, boot the machnie with one stick, lower the ram speed, and try the second one again. If it works, there's you're culprit.
Technical addendum:
Also, if this is indeed the case and you lower the ram speed, you can tighten the timings on the ram to mitigate the slowdown.
Apogee, how do I lower the RAM speeds and then tighten the timings if that is the case?
I cannot consistently seat the RAM. What the hell am I doing wrong?
Is it in backwards? I've done that before. :P
There's also a group of people who just give it a good push straight down, but that tends to flex the board.
Next time I work inside a computer, I'm using a hammer.
Yeah, I usually put it straight in, then do one side and then the other.
Seems to be the standard.
I remember back in the day PCI and ISA slots were really really unforgiving in terms of size and sometimes you had to give it a really good push to get them in.