no post

[chrisb306]

OK, here's whats up.
I was trying to install more EDO SIMMS on my old mainboard VX Pro motherboard
(see here: http://www.zarniwoop.force9.co.uk/page4.htm#mPage%201). One bank of SIMMS (first two slots) was already full with 2 16MB chips. I was trying to install another in the 3rd slot (I know you usually have to install them in pairs on some motherboards, but it seemed impossilbe to get the 4th one seated correctly, the case it's in is a real *****) anyways, I put an 8MB SIMM in the 3rd slot and then turned on the power. Nothing. no post, no beeps, just usual startup noises, fans running, LED lights are on, CD rom led is on, not accessing anything, FD is never accessed, LED never comes on, no video.Video Card is verified to work on another puter, monitor also works. Took out the SIMM I had install earlier, so we're now back to my normal setup where it was working....still nothing. Took out everything except vid card, ram and processor...still no post, no beep.

So my question is where do I go from here? I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to fiddling around in the comp, so I'm wondering did I fry something? The only thing I was touching was the ram when I was installing it.I was properly grounded at the time. Did I somehow confuse this puter by not install the ram in pairs?

Looking through these forums I've noticed a lot of people saying I should reset the CMOS. Can someone give me a quick step by step tutorial on how to do so. Do I leave the comp plugged in when I do so? how long should I switch the jumpers? etc. Manual is online here: http://www.zarniwoop.force9.co.uk/page4.htm#mPage%201

any other ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Chris

[Budfred]

Resetting the BIOS is unlikely to be helpful since you are not even getting POST, but it you want to try:

You move the jumper for a minute or so, not long at all. If you don't have a jumper, remove your battery for at least half an hour and it will have the same effect.

I would check all connections and particularly reseat the RAM that you do have on the board. It seems most likely that you have a loose connection rather than a fried board. If you are going to use the extra RAM, you may need to take something out so that you can install the other half of the pair, I wouldn't even try it otherwise. Again, make sure all connections are good if you do this and before you reboot.

And:

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

[chrisb306]

tried no ram, got beeps...that's good, at least it's recognizing stuff....went and reseated it...nothing. no post etc etc. I'll try resetting the CMOS now cuz nothing else seems to have worked. I'll keep ya posted if anything comes up.

[Budfred]

Ok, if you got some action without the RAM, that would make the RAM a prime suspect. I would make sure the RAM slots are clean; blow them out with canned air and even wipe off the contact with alcohol if necessary. Be care to turn all power off and uplug before messing with this. If the old RAM still doesn't boot it, try the new RAM and see if it will boot.

[chrisb306]

Ok, here's an update for ya. Went and tried clearing the CMOS (no idea if I've done it right..do you keep the puter plugged in when you set jumpers...do you change jumper turn on the puter and then turn off and put jumper back to original setting?) that didn't do anything. Took out ram, made sure slots where clean, made sure ram was clean. Put ram back in, nothing. Tried other known working ram, nothing. With no ram I get no ram beep codes.

Anyways, I've got a few questions.

1. If the video card isn't seated properly, or not even in the comp, will the pc still attempt to boot? The vid card in this thing does work (verified on another pc), but these are PCI slots from hell, and you really have to force the card in HARD to get it all the way in, I've still no idea if it's in all the way, but the connectors don't appear to be showing, so I think it's in.

2. The only beeps I've got from this thing are no ram beeps...so my question is, can a mobo still be screwed and be able to give these beeps?

3. I'm begining to suspect the processor (gonna test w/ a different one when I get the chance), thought I can't see why seeing as how I was nowhere near it when this whole thing started when I was installing the new ram....anyways if the processor is bad/not seated correctly would I get any kind of beep? Is a working processor required to get those no ram beeps?

Thanks in advance!

Chris

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Plugged in? No
Turn it on with jumper in clear position? No

You seem a man that shoots first and asks questions later. I'm afraid that chances are you've http://www.gamers-forums.com/smilies/contrib/ruinkai/lightingzapA.gif your board.

But hopefully it's just your RAM. I'd try 2 sticks you know work not any of the ones that you've had in this pc. Go to a pc shop and ask for a couple 4 or 8 meg sticks just to try. You'd probly get them for free.

[Budfred]

Generally if you are getting any beeps it means that your motherboard and CPU are working well enough to start running the BIOS POST and this suggests that it is the RAM or some other problem. If the video card isn't seated properly, it would probably attempt to boot, but give you error codes. I would work on making sure it is well seated. I would also again check all connections (basically everytime you do anything in the case). I think your RAM may have failed, but it still seems unlikely that your board/CPU has failed...

[chrisb306]

if you have bad ram that is physically in their slots, will the mobo not make the no ram beeps? Because the only time I'm gettin beeps of any kind is when I have no ram in. When I have ram, everything starts except POST. fans all start, hard drive LED goes on CD rom LED goes on, no video outputed etc etc. Just nothing after that, doesn't check FD like usual, just sits there after that.

[Budfred]

Bad RAM can cause all sorts of erratic responses, so I suspect that this accounts for the problems you are having. I am not sure why your RAM that was ok is now not working, but it is possible you hit it with a little ESD (electrostatic discharge) when you were putting in or taking out the new RAM sticks. I have seen one of my own systems refuse to do anything with bad RAM in there, so that is the most likely suspect from what I can see.

Edit:

Actually I just had another thought. I remember when I was having some trouble with some EDO RAM and thought I had some bad sticks, but eventually figured out that they just weren't seated properly. EDO RAM is a lot more tricky to get seated properly, so you may want to try again, making sure the little latches on the ends are really locked into place and the RAM is sitting up straight.

[mjc]

Also make sure you are not mixing tin and gold leads/slots.

Make sure that none of it is ECC.