computer won't load after attemting to replace RAM

[sitandwait]

Hi,

i recently decided to purchase RAM in order to upgrade my pc from 256mb to 2gb. I went onto Crucial.com and used their scanner to determine which type of RAM was needed. The result was DDR PC3200 400 MHZ. I ordered 2 sticks of 1gb from an American supplier on Ebay.

when it came this morning i removed all the cables from the computer and after opening it up removed the 256mb stick and seated both 1gb sticks.
On powering the computer back up again there was no signal to the monitor, only the test screen displayed. After checking everything was where it should be i removed the 2 new sticks and re-inserted the old 256mb stick. Still nothing.

It seems that the computer isn't loading when turned on (fails to go past the post stage?) The green light comes on but stays static and there is a single beep as normal. It then tries to boot from the dvd drive.

I am certain that the memory stick is seated correctly and have checked all my conections.

any help greatly appreciated!!

[artp209]

Have you verified all connections associated with the monitor? If you have a video card, it is not uncommon unseat it slightly when installing memory.

[Sylvander]

1. "there is a single beep as normal"
That suggests the POST has reached a very advanced stage [completed?]
At what point do you normally hear the beep?
Right before the BIOS attempts to load an OS off a disk?
Is the monitor normally displaying an image [as generated by the BIOS] at this point?

2. "It then tries to boot from the dvd drive"
Which means the POST has completed and the BIOS is now attempting [in the order/sequence specified by the BIOS drive boot menu settings] to load an OS off a disk.
All the hardware portion of Startup has completed.

3. "i removed all the cables from the computer...there was no signal to the monitor, only the test screen displayed"
Is the signal cable properly connecting?
Did you re-connect it?
If it is, because you did...
And yet there is still no video display...
That would suggest the video [card or onboard?] is being successfully initialized, and yet not giving any signal output. :( :confused:
...And Startup is continuing successfully, but unseen.

[Heartborne]

If you're getting a beep that's a good sign, it means you've finished POST... an unseated video card isn't out of the question, I would definitely open up the case and make sure all components are properly seated. It's possible something unrelated got knocked loose.

Check your signal cable on both ends - the pc end and the monitor end. What kind of monitor is this? LCD? CRT? do you use a DVI to VGA adapter?

I once had a similar issue - I tore my hair out over it for hours - then I didn't so much as touch my pc for over a week until someone suggested I reseat the RAM. I did just that and the computer worked just fine.

Failing all that, did you touch anything else inside the pc? Did you unplug any interface cables between the hardware and the motherboard? Are you getting a single short beep or is it a long beep?

[sitandwait]

hey, thanks for all your help.
From what you guys have said i would like to explore the possibility that i have a video card problem. I don't really know my way around inside the pc too much though and and am not sure if my video card is onboard or otherwise.how do i identify it? i have a tv card in there...would it be attached to that??

artp209:The crt monitor has been tested elsewhere and is fine.I'm not sure which connections i need to check on the motherboard though.as far as i can determine everything looks fine.
When i first unplugged the monitor i do remember that it seemed slightly difficult to remove the vga cable.perhaps this has damaged the connection...though on inspection it doesn't seem so.

sylvander:i normally hear the beep very quickly when i turn on the pc, as is still the case and haven't removed any cables from inside the pc.

heartborne: i have reseated the ram about a dozen times to no effect...it seems to click into place fine.The monitor is an old CRT with a vga cable

Thanks again guys.

[artp209]

hey, thanks for all your help.
am not sure if my video card is onboard or otherwise.how do i identify it? i have a tv card in there...would it be attached to that??

Your VGA cable connection will identify the video card location. If the connection on the back of the computer is to a plug-in card, that is the video card. If the connection is to plug on the motherboard, then you have onboard graphics and no video card. If you have a video card, you can try reseating it in the slot. Often the video card is adjacent to the memory modules and can be bumped when installing the modules. Make sure you are grounded by touching the computer case before touching anything inside. Turn off the power supply switch on the back.

[Heartborne]

follow the cable that goes from your monitor to your computer. The blue port on the back of your computer is physically connected to your video card. If it is on board, the blue port will be attached to the motherboard otherwise it will be attached to an expansion card.