Computer Won't Boot after Ram Upgrade

[dave computer]

I installed some ram last night to my moms computer. I made sure that the computer could take 256 sdram p133. Now when it starts up the computer will go the windows xp loading screen with the bar. Once is done with that the monitor will turn yellow from green and do nothing. The computer will still be on but no display. I need some help quck. Thanks

I also have taken the ram out and just used the normal 128 but it still will do the same things. I'v resetted the video card and the memory but it still won't go.

[SiliconJon]

I hate when that happens. You did ground yourself first, right? Nothing more frustrating than a zinged board. Did you also turn the power supply off before swapping the RAM and let the board "settle" for a minute before swapping DIMMs? Some boards hold a charge for a minute after being unplugged (not just turned off) which may cause damage if some components are changed while the charge is still there.

Other than those precautions, I would just make sure everything is tight, as perhaps something came a little loose while you were in there. Also perhaps a setting in the BIOS needs changed to work better with your new RAM? Unlikely since it now does it with the old RAM, but you may want to look around in there.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by SiliconJon
I hate when that happens. You did ground yourself first, right? Nothing more frustrating than a zinged board. Did you also turn the power supply off before swapping the RAM and let the board "settle" for a minute before swapping DIMMs? Some boards hold a charge for a minute after being unplugged (not just turned off) which may cause damage if some components are changed while the charge is still there.

Other than those precautions, I would just make sure everything is tight, as perhaps something came a little loose while you were in there. Also perhaps a setting in the BIOS needs changed to work better with your new RAM? Unlikely since it now does it with the old RAM, but you may want to look around in there.

Is there a way to safely discharge the MOBO or to make sure its not holding a charge. I haven't heard this before and would like to put this in my notebook.

[SiliconJon]

A lot of the new boards have an LED on them that will turn off once this charge has dissipated. As for testing, waiting two minutes is a good rule of thumb (the average is about 10 seconds, but two minutes will give you plenty of safeway, and time to get a drink).

I'm sure there are circuits you could test on the board with a meter, but it would take you about two minutes to pull out the multimeter and test the circuit, so you could just wait (and I don't know which circuits you could test). The charge should dissipate with just the unplugging of or switching off the power supply. I switch it off to keep the ground connected.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally posted by SiliconJon
A lot of the new boards have an LED on them that will turn off once this charge has dissipated. As for testing, waiting two minutes is a good rule of thumb (the average is about 10 seconds, but two minutes will give you plenty of safeway, and time to get a drink).

I'm sure there are circuits you could test on the board with a meter, but it would take you about two minutes to pull out the multimeter and test the circuit, so you could just wait (and I don't know which circuits you could test). The charge should dissipate with just the unplugging of or switching off the power supply. I switch it off to keep the ground connected.

TY

[SiliconJon]

YW!