Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up

starrdomtravel · 12-02-2007, 10:26 AM

I am total newbie here and a bit of a novice, so please bear with me!

My system was built for me a while back, so I don't really know much on specs, or even what type of motherboard is in it. The amount of RAM I had was very low (1 stick of 128MB, PC100, chips only on 1 side) and I bought and installed 2-256MB PC133 sticks from ebay a while back. I have 3 slots on my motherboard, and it only read the 128 plus 1 of the 256. So I shut it down last night and swapped the slots around...moving the 128 to the 3rd slot and the 256 to the 1st. It hasn't booted since, can't get the monitor to come out of power-save mode. The computer will turn on, I just don't think it's booting up.

I took the battery out for about 15min. I reset the CMOS pins (from 1-2 to 2-3, then back). I even changed the clock settings on the motherboard to adjust for PC133 instead of PC100....nada.

I do have a laptop, thank goodness, but I use my desktop for work at home stuff too. HELP!

**BCCOMP** · 12-02-2007, 10:43 AM

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
With out knowing the specs of your MoBo. It is possible the MoBo can only handle a certain amount of RAM. Try install just the 1 stick of PC100 (128) into slot 1 and see if it boots up. If it does run Everest under my sig and post the results (this will help in finding the mobo specs). The mobo may only handle upto 512 MB of Ram
Let us know,
Thanks,
Bill

**speedster123** · 12-02-2007, 10:53 AM

also
double check you didn't inadvertently loosen a power lead to the board, while you were working in the case.
i have seen power supplies dieing , that were marginal at best, going south on a ram upgrade.
what supply is installed?
and as Bill requested, please list the specs and age of the system.

starrdomtravel · 12-02-2007, 10:58 AM

Tried it with just the 128MB stick and still no luck, even tried reset a couple of times. I hear the hard drive start up, but I get nothing on display.

starrdomtravel · 12-02-2007, 11:19 AM

Okay...didn't even know what the PSU was until just now, I thought it was the actual power cord!

So, my PSU is apparently pretty minor league. This is what I got off of it:
A-Open (brand?), Model ATX-250N, 250W DC Output.

Now that I look up PSU on wikipedia, my fan was exceptionally loud! When my CPU sat on my desk and someone would call me on the phone, one of their first questions was "What is that noise?!"

Last night, when I first changed the RAM, I smelled a slight burning smell, though I see no eveidence of damage on the board anywhere (I've checked and rechecked). Perhaps that was my PSU dieing out??

**BCCOMP** · 12-02-2007, 11:33 AM

I think Speedster is right. The PSU should be replaced ("burning smell"). I am just hoping that the PSU did not take out the Mobo. You may not see any damage to the Mobo.
Thanks,
Bill

starrdomtravel · 12-02-2007, 11:46 AM

So, even though the computer will power on, that has nothing to do with the PSU being damaged/fried? Like it has enough to "power on" the system, but not actually "run" it?

**BCCOMP** · 12-02-2007, 12:16 PM

Yes,
You may have enough power to light up the LEDs, but the Mobo may not have enough power to boot.

starrdomtravel · 12-02-2007, 12:20 PM

Thank you so much for your help in this. At least I now know where to start!

**BCCOMP** · 12-02-2007, 04:38 PM

Let us know how you make out.
Thanks,
Bill

12-02-2007, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
starrdomtravel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP Pro, SP2	Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up I am total newbie here and a bit of a novice, so please bear with me! My system was built for me a while back, so I don't really know much on specs, or even what type of motherboard is in it. The amount of RAM I had was very low (1 stick of 128MB, PC100, chips only on 1 side) and I bought and installed 2-256MB PC133 sticks from ebay a while back. I have 3 slots on my motherboard, and it only read the 128 plus 1 of the 256. So I shut it down last night and swapped the slots around...moving the 128 to the 3rd slot and the 256 to the 1st. It hasn't booted since, can't get the monitor to come out of power-save mode. The computer will turn on, I just don't think it's booting up. I took the battery out for about 15min. I reset the CMOS pins (from 1-2 to 2-3, then back). I even changed the clock settings on the motherboard to adjust for PC133 instead of PC100....nada. I do have a laptop, thank goodness, but I use my desktop for work at home stuff too. HELP!

12-02-2007, 10:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,043 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Hi, Welcome to the forum. With out knowing the specs of your MoBo. It is possible the MoBo can only handle a certain amount of RAM. Try install just the 1 stick of PC100 (128) into slot 1 and see if it boots up. If it does run Everest under my sig and post the results (this will help in finding the mobo specs). The mobo may only handle upto 512 MB of Ram Let us know, Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

12-02-2007, 10:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,219 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up also double check you didn't inadvertently loosen a power lead to the board, while you were working in the case. i have seen power supplies dieing , that were marginal at best, going south on a ram upgrade. what supply is installed? and as Bill requested, please list the specs and age of the system. __________________

12-02-2007, 10:58 AM	#4 (permalink)
starrdomtravel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP Pro, SP2	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Tried it with just the 128MB stick and still no luck, even tried reset a couple of times. I hear the hard drive start up, but I get nothing on display.

12-02-2007, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
starrdomtravel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP Pro, SP2	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Okay...didn't even know what the PSU was until just now, I thought it was the actual power cord! So, my PSU is apparently pretty minor league. This is what I got off of it: A-Open (brand?), Model ATX-250N, 250W DC Output. Now that I look up PSU on wikipedia, my fan was exceptionally loud! When my CPU sat on my desk and someone would call me on the phone, one of their first questions was "What is that noise?!" Last night, when I first changed the RAM, I smelled a slight burning smell, though I see no eveidence of damage on the board anywhere (I've checked and rechecked). Perhaps that was my PSU dieing out??

12-02-2007, 11:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,043 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up I think Speedster is right. The PSU should be replaced ("burning smell"). I am just hoping that the PSU did not take out the Mobo. You may not see any damage to the Mobo. Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

12-02-2007, 11:46 AM	#7 (permalink)
starrdomtravel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP Pro, SP2	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up So, even though the computer will power on, that has nothing to do with the PSU being damaged/fried? Like it has enough to "power on" the system, but not actually "run" it?

12-02-2007, 12:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,043 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Yes, You may have enough power to light up the LEDs, but the Mobo may not have enough power to boot. __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan

12-02-2007, 12:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
starrdomtravel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP Pro, SP2	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Thank you so much for your help in this. At least I now know where to start!

12-02-2007, 04:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
BCCOMP Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New York Posts: 7,043 OS: Win XP SP3 / Windows 7 Beta / Open Suse My System	Re: Upgraded RAM, now computer won't boot up Let us know how you make out. Thanks, Bill __________________ PC Wizard \| Everest \| Power supply info \| Memtest86+ PC Running Slow Speedfan