OK, here's the deal. I tried installing an additional 256MB SDRAM in my machine (I already have one). My video card blocks the bottom clips on my DIMM slots, so I figured since my card was out of the way I'd clean up the old chip as well. After I installed both chips though...I hit the power and the first DIMM slot started smoking (the one with the old chip). I shut that off and tried to reinstall them, swap them between slots, etc., but couldn't get my computer to boot up again. Even if I remove the new chip, leaving just the old chip in the way it was before I dove in, my PC still won't boot up--it only makes a harsh beeping sound now.

OK, so I'm guessing my problem stems from the installation itself. The DIMM slot, well, it looks OK except both it and the old memory chip now have a blackened section from where the smoke came from. Is this fixable? Or will I have to get new memory/DIMM slots/both?

Hello Makershot,

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Sorry to be the bearer of potential bad tidings...but, it sounds like your MotherBoard may need to be replaced. Smoke and charred memory slots don't sound good. :( The memory itself might also be fried! :(

Hang on for some other observations...

Hi Makershot -
Unfortunately, there isn't a whole lot more to observe.

I must agree with Whyzman...A smoking, charred circuit board of any kind is never a good sign.
Looks like it's time to go motherboard shopping.

When you said you "cleaned up" the old memory card, what exactly did you do to "clean" it?
Personally, I would be a bit leary of sticking the Ram you have in a new motherboard too-(At least the charred stick-If not both).....Sorry. :(

Think everything has been covered...

Ahhh, not good. I do, however think all is not lost. I still have one 'uncharred' DIMM slot left, and tried both memory chips. It makes the same beeping niose, so I suspect that they (the slots) might be OK. The memory is toast, though. Anyway, thanks for the help!

Makershot
When you say the "same beeping noise" what exactly does it do? How many beeps?
Do your fans power up? Any activity from drives? Any video at all? Or, does it just sit there dead?

This "Harsh beep" you hear is part of your POST (Power on self test), and I fear you may still have more wrong than a bad couple of sticks of Ram.

Some more precise info would help, but I would be very surprised (and you would be one lucky guy), if the only thing wrong with your machine are the Ram sticks. :rolleyes:

Smoke = major damage

Electronics are really run by smoke, when you let the smoke out they break. :D

In all likelyhood, like the others said, you will need a new motherboard.

Many boards require that the first DIMM slot be populated, well in your case that slot is now dead. Even if that slot is not required by your board, you have damaged the memory bus, so it is likely none of the slots will work......

He's dead, Jim Dr. L McCoy

You still haven't said how you cleaned that old RAM stick, but if you want to try to rescue your board, you could try taking the board out and very carefully cleaning the charred RAM slot and the RAM stick. You would do this with a cleaner that you buy for that purpose at a place like Radio Shack or with the strongest and purest alcohol you can find. Be sure to power everything down and stay grounded while you touch any components. Also post back with the Beep pattern you are getting since this may help to diagnose the problem. Keep in mind that this is a long shot and the best use of your time may be to look for ideas about the best motherboard to get to replace this one.

The problem is, as I see it, that the board is waaaay too young to smoke. As a parent you should know bettter! :D :D :D :D

Sorry, I couldn't resist. I just killed some of my components and I really do feel for you. :( :( :( :(

Got to go with everyone else here - the Motherboard is in a bad state, whether it seems so or not. Gradual changes due to oxidation caused by the heat will damage things in time, if nothing else.
Replace the MOBO, and while you're at it. get some more memory - I wouldn't put any that you had in this one back. Gradual problems with memory are likely to show up in the future if you do, and can affect any other memory you put in there.
Memory is reasonably cheap, so it's not really worth taking a chance on.