Computer Stopped Working After Memory Swap

[EnjoyIncubus]

Okay, I wanted to give my gal some more memory in her computer. so... I took a 512 stick out of mine and put it in hers.. Works GREAT, I'm using it right now. Only problem is now mine will NOT work.. Heres the symptoms, Hard Drive will NOT spin, (its not the HDs fault, been tested, it DOES work).
Memory Works, both sticks have been tested in this computer.

Everything else is functioning, Main CD bay, (other one isn't for some reason, yes, this just occured today).
Fans are working, Can't test the sound and video as nothing will even show up on my monitor, monitor does work... Just seems for some reason after switching the memory notta would work...

I'm dealing with an AMD 3200+ Processor an ASUS motherboard, GeForce 4 128mg Graphics card, SoundBlaster Live! Sound card.. 40gig 7200rpm Western Digital HD. An Allied Powersource, and.... hmmm and some type of NIC.

PLEASE Help.

I have tried returning both memory sticks to their original home and still no luck. please help.

[EnjoyIncubus]

Okay, I'm starting to narrow some things down, its not the powersource, because I can start my HD with just the power plugged in, but once I put in the HD Cable which connects to my motherboard, it no longer starts on startup, also, my RAM isn't functioning proporly either, seeing as I can't get ANYTHING to show up on my monitor, not even a black screen. and yes I have swapped out video cards to see if that was the problem.

[pangea33]

Is the bad CD drive on the IDE channel with the good CD drive, or the hard drive? Can you see the bios screen and memory test when the hard drive isn't connected to the IDE cable? I was having problems, and all signs pointed to a bad power supply. 2 hard drives on the primary IDE channel, and a DVD-Rom on the secondary channel.

The system wouldn't boot on a totally cold start, but would fire up once I pressed the reset button. While troubleshooting, I completely disconnected the optical drive, and everything worked just fine. Later I was able to replace the drive, and haven't had problems since. Is the faulty CD drive still connected to the motherboard?

Another time, my problem WAS a faulty PSU, but my machine was behaving like yours. When the hard drives weren't connected to the motherboard, they would spin up fine. Once the IDE cables were reconnected, they wouldn't spin up anymore. I don't have enough knowledge to tell you why this was happening, but maybe you can get some use out of it.

[saphalline]

Disconnect all drives, remove the vid card, take out the RAM. Do you get the correct beep code from the mobo? Now try adding the RAM. What's the beep code? Then add the vid card. What's the beep code?

Just try different combinations and check the beep codes to find the errant component. Also, take a look at Sylvander's diagnostic flowcharts. Check the sticky.

[EnjoyIncubus]

Okay, for some reason I don't get the beep code with my computer... *shrugs*, anyways I disconnected All drives, ram, and just tried to start it with just a video card to get SOMETHING, but theres absolutely nothing, my screen stays black(non lit up black). Did I totally mess my motherboard by just changing memory? makes no sense imo.

[Whyzman]

Were you under the hood without proper grounding? If you're in the northern hemisphere where we are having to heat our homes right now, static electricity runs rampant...

200 volts can fry a component...it takes approx. 2000 volts for us to feel the discharge...

As mentioned, head for Sylvander's flow charts for troubleshooting measures...

[EnjoyIncubus]

good call, seems like everything works on the motherboard aside from the ram and the HD... but those two things are close together. you think I fried part of motherboard? or would the whole thing go dead?

Sadly enough.. We just got a new video card for my gal last night and I made sure she was grounded before installing.. guess this makes me a hipocrit.

[Pharoah]

i had the same problem when i changed ram i went to a faster ram,from ddr333 to ddr400 my fix was simple.all i did was used jumper 1 to clear the cmos and it fired right up with the new ram in it

[EnjoyIncubus]

Yeah... I think I fried mine.. seeing as the HD does't work and all. I just bought a new motherboard, I'm gonna ground myself once it comes on Friday. wish me luck! :) and I bought the gal some new memory too so I can have my gig back.

[saphalline]

I'm not convinced yet. It could be fried, but there's no conclusive evidence until we exhaust all possibilities.

Unplug the computer. Then take out the mobo battery. Leave it out. Strip the system down to barebones - remove the vid card, all RAM, and disconnect all drives. Double-check the cables where the case leads plug into the mobo. Plug the computer back in, try turning it on. Do you get any beep codes now?

[Whyzman]

I'm with saph, go back to the basics and clear the CMOS...the fact that you could have fried something doesn't mean you did...;)

[EnjoyIncubus]

I'm going to still get no beeps, because I don't have those connected.. and I also lost the manuel to the Mobo so..... I'm having a really hard time linking that up.. not to mention I think the little system speaker may be broken, just like the front LED lights are broken... but at least the power button works. reset does not unfortunatly. I will try taking the battery out and removing EVERYTHING. after that I need to plug it back in and put in just the Memory and Video card?

[saphalline]

Oh, well without the case speaker, diagnosing any further is pretty pointless. Those beep codes can tell you exactly what's wrong with your system. No speaker, no beep codes, no fixey. Try to get a new case speaker sometime.

[hockey man]

You could always go buy a "temporary" MOBO. Plug everything into it and see if it will power up. If not, run through Sylvanders diagnostic chart. If so, your MOBO is fried. When your done experimenting return it.

[EnjoyIncubus]

Oh, well without the case speaker, diagnosing any further is pretty pointless. Those beep codes can tell you exactly what's wrong with your system. No speaker, no beep codes, no fixey. Try to get a new case speaker sometime.


I would, but its so annoying.. I did get a great deal on a new motherboard. $60.50, not bad? hehe, alright, thanks for the help guys. I'll be back if the new motherboard doesn't fix my problem.

[EnjoyIncubus]

Everything Hardware wise is now working awesome, even the startup beeps... now to make the new motherboard work with my old hard drive... UGH. not booting.. heh.

[hockey man]

Well a new MOBO will mean that you need to re-install Windows. Unless the 2 MOBOs are exactly the same, you will want to do this.

[Whyzman]

A quick check back through the thread and I didn't see if you told us which operating system you are running...

However, as hockey man points out, an operating system, although originally "generic" on the install disk, adapts itself to the particular motherboard and hardware you have on the original computer it was installed on...it extracts what it needs...

There are ways you can "try" to force the old to accept the new, but it would be easier to slave the old drive and install a new harddrive and fresh install the operating system...