RAM problem?
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Posted by hermit50 on July 7, 2008, 2:45 pm
Please log in for more thread options MOTHERBOARD: ECS, model M848A CPU: AMD (1.5GHz) SEMPRON, SOCKET A (socket 462) RAM: 256MB DDR PC2700 (1 stick) Two IDE hard disks I use win98se as my main operating system but also have windows xp pro installed on the 2nd drive to dual boot. The problem is that i booted up to use win98se & was using it for about 30 minutes with no problems then i decided to shut down & boot up in windows xp. The computer shut down ok, then i switched it on again & the menu with the two o/s's came up with no problems but when i selected to start the win xp o/s the computer froze. Nothing will work, the POST check wont run so i cant even boot using a floppy disk. There is power going to the mobo & the hard disks, & the CMOS battery is ok. The light that shows hard disk activity is on continuously but doesn't flicker. I was wondering if the RAM stick might cause this problem if it has failed. I haven't got another stick of RAM to swap so i can test it & before i buy more RAM i thought i'd ask in the newsgroup for some advice. Any advice will be appreciated. TIA. hermit50 | |||||||||||||
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Posted by Paul on July 7, 2008, 3:26 pm
Please log in for more thread options > on the 2nd drive to dual boot.
The
> > The problem is that i booted up to use win98se & was using it for about 30 > minutes with no problems then i decided to shut down & boot up in windows xp. > The computer shut down ok, then i switched it on again & the menu with the two > o/s's came up with no problems but when i selected to start the win xp o/s the > computer froze. > Nothing will work, the POST check wont run so i cant even boot using a floppy > disk. > There is power going to the mobo & the hard disks, & the CMOS battery is ok. > light that shows hard disk activity is on continuously but doesn't flicker.
> I was wondering if the RAM stick might cause this problem if it has failed. I > haven't got another stick of RAM to swap so i can test it & before i buy more > RAM i thought i'd ask in the newsgroup for some advice. > > Any advice will be appreciated. > TIA. > > hermit50 > Try to simplify the setup. Disconnect the hard drive ribbon cable, and see if the BIOS will start that way. If some removable hardware is holding things up, disconnecting it may allow the computer to start. And if you are going to manipulate the RAM, don't forget to remove all power from the computer first. The RAM socket is powered, as long as +5VSB is present. Also, have a look for bulging capacitors on the motherboard. http://www.badcaps.net/images/caps/kt7/image004.png Paul | |||||||||||||
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Posted by kony on July 7, 2008, 5:33 pm
Please log in for more thread options On Mon, 7 Jul 2008 19:45:45 +0100, "hermit50"
>The computer setup is as follows:
installed
> >MOTHERBOARD: ECS, model M848A >CPU: AMD (1.5GHz) SEMPRON, SOCKET A (socket 462) >RAM: 256MB DDR PC2700 (1 stick) >Two IDE hard disks > >I use win98se as my main operating system but also have windows xp pro >on the 2nd drive to dual boot.
The
> >The problem is that i booted up to use win98se & was using it for about 30 >minutes with no problems then i decided to shut down & boot up in windows xp. >The computer shut down ok, then i switched it on again & the menu with the two >o/s's came up with no problems but when i selected to start the win xp o/s the >computer froze. >Nothing will work, the POST check wont run so i cant even boot using a floppy >disk. >There is power going to the mobo & the hard disks, & the CMOS battery is ok. >light that shows hard disk activity is on continuously but doesn't flicker.
>I was wondering if the RAM stick might cause this problem if it has failed. I >haven't got another stick of RAM to swap so i can test it & before i buy more >RAM i thought i'd ask in the newsgroup for some advice. > >Any advice will be appreciated. >TIA. > >hermit50 > How many hours of use are on that board? Is the case cooling good? Had it worked for a fair amount of time in the present configuration without any changes? By time I mean days/weeks/years/etc, not the session of use that day. I'd suspect a PSU failure. What brand, model, capacity is it? If not PSU, motherboard. Unplug everything nonessential towards getting it to POST, leaving only 1 memory module, video, CPU and heatsink/fan. Unplug both drives and while you still have power disconnected, clear CMOS. If disconnecting the drive allows system to post, try with only one drive at a time as one may have failed. I can't say that memory failure is impossible but without manually changing something in the timings or clockspeeds just prior to the onset of the problem, and going only on the evidence presented, it does not seem very likely to be memory related. If it won't post in the above described minimal configuration, check that all cards and cables are in place, fully seated, and examine for failed capacitors. Lastly unplug PSU, let it sit disconnected from AC for a few minutes then open and inspect it as well if all else fails. | |||||||||||||
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Posted by anon on July 8, 2008, 12:27 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> The computer setup is as follows:
installed
> > MOTHERBOARD: ECS, model M848A > CPU: AMD (1.5GHz) SEMPRON, SOCKET A (socket 462) > RAM: 256MB DDR PC2700 (1 stick) > Two IDE hard disks > > I use win98se as my main operating system but also have windows xp pro > on the 2nd drive to dual boot.
The
> > The problem is that i booted up to use win98se & was using it for about 30 > minutes with no problems then i decided to shut down & boot up in windows xp. > The computer shut down ok, then i switched it on again & the menu with the two > o/s's came up with no problems but when i selected to start the win xp o/s the > computer froze. > Nothing will work, the POST check wont run so i cant even boot using a floppy > disk. > There is power going to the mobo & the hard disks, & the CMOS battery is ok. > light that shows hard disk activity is on continuously but doesn't flicker.
> I was wondering if the RAM stick might cause this problem if it has failed. I > haven't got another stick of RAM to swap so i can test it & before i buy more > RAM i thought i'd ask in the newsgroup for some advice. > > Any advice will be appreciated. > TIA. > > hermit50 > > Thanks a lot guys for the advice. It turned out to be the PSU that i was using, it was a (X-Power, ATX-400TD) & was only about 12 months old. I swapped it for a PSU which is lower in power & about 10 years old. Now i know the answer to the problem i'll buy a new PSU (of a different make). Thanks again for your help. hermit50 | |||||||||||||
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>
> MOTHERBOARD: ECS, model M848A
> CPU: AMD (1.5GHz) SEMPRON, SOCKET A (socket 462)
> RAM: 256MB DDR PC2700 (1 stick)
> Two IDE hard disks
>
> I use win98se as my main operating system but also have windows xp pro