only one memory slot works after changing heatsink/fan

[muff1nt0p]

I recently changed the heatsink/fan on my athlon 64 3000(msi k8t neo), now my memory only works in slot one when i previously had a 512 stick in slots 1 and 3. I tried each stick in slot one and they both work, now when i try to put one in either slots 2 or 3, windows will not even start. anyone have any ideas? I sure hope I didn't damage the slots when i replaced the heatsink... :confused:

[saphalline]

What does the BIOS say? Have you changed the mobo battery lately?

[muff1nt0p]

what should i check for in BIOS? I have not changed the mobo battery...is this one of the symptoms of a dying battery?
thanks for the reply

[saphalline]

Will the computer POST with both sticks of RAM installed? If so, how much RAM does the BIOS report?

Replacing the mobo battery is a precautionary measure right now. There's no direct reason to suggest it might be bad, but experience has taught me to simply replace them as soon as I get a new mobo.

[muff1nt0p]

i checked and BIOS reports 524 mb nvram. Also, I noticed something weird...i can get into the bios menu, but when i choose "save and exit" i get no display and have to restart. I think I'll try changing that battery.

[muff1nt0p]

After changing the battery, windows still will not start with anything but a single memory stick in slot 1. any other ideas? I'm thinking it might be something in BIOS but I don't know what. If I had damaged any of the slots while changing the heatsink/fan, i would think that slot one would be damaged since it is the closest to the cpu. I would really appreciate any suggestions...thanks

[saphalline]

Disconnect the hard drive - take Windows out of it right now. Will the system POST with both sticks installed? If not, it's a hardware problem, not a Windows problem. If it does, then running MemTest86 would be the next step.

[muff1nt0p]

the system does post with the 2 sticks installed, but it only shows the 524mb. thanks, i'll go try that memtest86 now.

[muff1nt0p]

I tried memtest86 but it was taking a loooong time and i didn't know what to look for....could this be a problem with the cpu?

[muff1nt0p]

i guess i forgot to mention that some of the cpu pins bent when i took out the heatsink (the cpu was stuck to the bottom) and I had to bend them back using a stiff card, but i assumed that since the computer was able to boot up that the cpu was not the problem.

[saphalline]

the system does post with the 2 sticks installed, but it only shows the 524mb. thanks, i'll go try that memtest86 now.It shows 524MB?? :confused: As in, five hundred twenty-four?

If that's correct, then there's something wrong with the RAM detection of your mobo. It doesn't have onboard video, so it should either show 512MB or 1024MB. Nothing in between. It might be related to the bent pins on your CPU, although I still tend to think the problem lies in your mobo. If your system boots and is stable in the BIOS, then the chances of your CPU being bad are very slim.

[muff1nt0p]

I tried reseating the cpu and now what happens when i turn on the power is all the fans turn on but i get no display and no beeps... I fear my computer may already be dead :( I guess I got my money's worth in the two years that I had it. I figure for the cost of getting a new cpu and motherboard, I might as well get a whole new computer. Thanks for the help Saphalline.

R.I.P. first-build...R.I.P. :(

[mjc]

Actually, before you give up on it, reset the BIOS, again. I was having heat reated problems today, so I switched out heatsinks and was having all sorts of problems...especially the fans, but nothing else, until I reset the BIOS...

[muff1nt0p]

I reset the BIOS again...still no display or even beeps. thanks though