Thread: RAM advice

  1. #1
    Grade
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    RAM advice

    Hi,

    I bought a PC100 RAM and put it in the appropriate slot. I got PC100 because the existing chip was already a PC100 one. When I start the PC it hangs while loading windows ! However, I can start the pc in safe mode. In the safe mode, the memory is properly shown as 256 MB RAM (I'm trying to upgrade from a 128MB to 256MB). Somehow, it just refuses to load windows in teh normal mode. Can anybody help ?

    Thanks

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  3. #3
    ! |-| /-\ +3 1337 Yawgmoth's Avatar
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    Shouldn't this be on the tech board?
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  4. #4
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    ok... first things first...

    what brand of computer?
    where did you get the RAM from?
    does it still boot normally if you remove the new chip?

    secondly..

    what is the brand of the ram you purchased?
    have you tried switching the old chip to the second slot and the new chip to the first?

  5. #5
    Registered User Xei's Avatar
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    ober is correct. But changing the slots probably will not help, since the new ram will still have to match clock cycles with the slower ram. Also, you may have purchased RAM which was too fast for your MCC(Memory Controller Chip) / FSB. You also may have purchased RAM which is defective. Usually you would receive a Parity Bit error or messages from windows saying "ERROR blah blah, disable shadows and caches... if the RAM went bad. One thing to never listen to is Disable Caches, if you do then you've just turned your PC into about 1/10th the speed(although speed remains, it just 'sits' while the RAM is refreshing) it could've been because the computer uses the caches to store codes to, then when a wait-state stops the CPU from accessing the FSB then it can continue to execute code rather than waiting 10 clock cycles. So your problem may simply be faulty RAM, or in some odd circumstances, the problem could be the RAM Interface (common term used to describe the RAM slots).

  6. #6
    Grade
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    Hi all,

    >> what brand of computer? <<
    It's a HP Pavilion 8676C.

    >> where did you get the RAM from? <<
    I went to comp-usa and they suggested this chip for me. It costed me about $28 !

    >> does it still boot normally if you remove the new chip? <<
    nope.

    >> what is the brand of the ram you purchased? <<
    I really threw off the packing, so I have no way to tell the brand name. However, i can post the part number when I get back home today.
    Do note that in the safe mode it does start windows properly.

    >> have you tried switching the old chip to the second slot and the new chip to the first? <<
    I'll try that and post the results today ... what I did try was to remove the new chip and start the machine again with the old chip just like old times, it still refuses to load windows !

    I just can't figure out what went wrong Do I need to install Windows again ?

  7. #7
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    If it still won't boot with the old chip out, it's not a memory problem, although I'd be suspicious that the memory possibly caused your problem.

    My guess is that it won't matter how you configure the RAM right now, you're screwed. IF you can get into safe mode again, it's probably a driver problem. Once you boot into safe mood go into msconfig and shutdown all the startup items and reboot. Keep turning them back on until it works. If you have to, remove some devices as it may be a hardware conflict.

    Once you get to the point that you can get back into windows normally, boot it up with just the new chip to see if it works.

    To Xei, while I'll agree that changing the slots won't matter if the ram is two different clock speeds, it does matter if the access times are different. If the newer chip has faster access times, and undoubtedly will since the stuff manufacturers put in is garbage, and the clock times are the same, it should work better and faster to put the newer chip in the first slot.

  8. #8
    Registered User Xei's Avatar
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    Thats odd. Sounds like windows is having Hardware Configuration issues. Next time don't buy $28 ram, I would never trust any that cheap. You should always be able to just put RAM in and it should work. Does POST enumerate the proper amount of ram which is installed? Perhaps you have forgotten some sort of BIOS setup, just incase if your PC is weird. Anyways, if that doesnt work try a repair install of windows. If that doesn't work, toss away the RAM and buy some new stuff; you may have damaged your RAM or MB with ESD during the installation, but hopefully not.

  9. #9
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    thanks for your persistence, ober.
    But you lost me here ...Once you boot into safe mood go into msconfig and shutdown all the startup items and reboot. Keep turning them back on until it works.... Can you please elaborate ?

  10. #10
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    There's nothing wrong with $28 RAM. I just bought a chip of PC100 for $21 and put it in an old Compaq (which are notorious for being picky about their RAM) and it worked fine.

  11. #11
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    hmm
    you never told us, is it desktop ram, or notebook ram? Cause notebook wouldn't work in a desktop and vice versa
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  12. #12
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    Waldo, it is a desktop RAM ... Unless the comp-usa guys are that dumb !

  13. #13
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    once you get into safe mode:

    Start->Run->type "msconfig" and hit enter.

    Go to the Startup tab and uncheck everything.

    Reboot.

    If it still fails to start normally, you have device issues. Start removing hardware until you get down to the basics.

    Also, Settings->Control Panel->System->Device Manager

    Check to see if any hardware has been "yellow-flagged" meaning it has problems with it's drivers.

  14. #14
    PC Fixer-Upper Waldo2k2's Avatar
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    start, run, type msconfig, enter, startup tab, uncheck everything, ok, reboot

    edit: damn ober, this place needs a quick reply, me and my speedy dialup weren't fast enough to catch ya
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  15. #15
    5|-|1+|-|34|) ober's Avatar
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    Originally posted by Grade
    Waldo, it is a desktop RAM ... Unless the comp-usa guys are that dumb !
    You would notice. Notebook RAM is a different size and would not fit properly in your Desktop.

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