Frustrated with RAM!

[Gypsy Rose]

Okay, I decided to post this here where people could actually see it, lol!

Okay, I don't know what I did this time, lol!

I purchased some RAM sticks off of eBay- supposed to be brand new.

I double and triple checked the specs. There are two voltage types of SDRAM that I saw.

I matched up the RAM sticks with the voltage my computer's supposed to take. I had to get on the internet to find the specs.

Darn things won't work! The power light comes on, and the one next to it, which is supposed to go out when the far light starts flickering, letting me know the computer is booting up. No far light, and the middle light stays on. I get nothing but blank on my monitor. What gives, and what do I do next?

Computer specs in next post.

[Gypsy Rose]

This is what I've got, only it's been upgraded to Windows Xp SP3.
This article summarizes the system component matrix for the HP Vectra VL400.
System Matrix
CPU Range: Celeron® 566-850 Pentium® III 667 – 1 GHz
Frontside Bus Speed: 66/100/133 MHz (depends on CPU)
CPU Interface: Socket 370
CPU Slots/Sockets: One (1) Single Only
Max CPU Supported: 1 GHz
Cache Type/Speed: 128 k (cel), 256 k (PIII)
Chipset: Intel 815
IDE Channels/Speed: Two (2) channel, Ultra-ATA DMA 100 MHz
USB: 1.0 Compliant
AGP: 815 integrated AGP
Audio Options: Cirrus 16 Bit AC97; CS4299
Audio Bus Type (ISA/PCI): Integrated PCI
Graphics Options: - Integrated 815 Graphics – 4 MB (AIMM) AGP expansion module accessory. Fits into AGP slot
- Nvidia GEForce2 GTS (32 MB)
- Nvidia GEForce2 MX (32 MB) dualhead
HDD Options: 10, 15, 30 GB
Max IDE HDD Supported: 40 GB UATA/66 7200 rpm
Max SCSI HDD Supported: N/A
RAID Options: N/A
RAM Specifications: SDRAM Non-ECC
RAM PC-Class: PC-133
MAX RAM Supported: 512 MB
RAM Slots: Two (2)
I/O Bus/Ports: - MT: One (1) LPT, two (2) Serial, two (2) USB
- DT: one (1) LPT, two (2) Serial, two (2) USB
Expansion Slots: Three (3) PCI, one (1) AGP
Power Supply (DT): 120
Power Supply (MT): 200
BTU Output: 409.2 (DT) 682 (MT)
LAN - Networking Options: Integrated 3Com 3C920
PXE Support: N/A
LCD Panel (MaxiLife): No
Preboot Diags: Yes
Diag Version Family: 3.02f
BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix
Supported Operating System’s: Microsoft® Windows 2000 Professional, Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows 98, Windows 95, Linux
Chassis Intrusion Switch: Yes
Key Lock: Yes
Chassis Speaker: No, but accy. available (for DT: mounts UNDER the CD-ROM, magnet up. Twist-ties hold cable in place.
Regulatory ID: DTPC-22 (DT)

[rocknK]

Best to always stick with the four-legged rams. At least you can eat them if they give you trouble.

[Gypsy Rose]

:hysterical:

[WashingtonBoy]

Well, I don't know. Although I've installed RAM and hard drives before, hardware isn't exactly my area of expertise. You might need to get the Geek Squad or someone like that to take a look at it.

[Arrow]

Best to always stick with the four-legged rams. At least you can eat them if they give you trouble.
:D

[Gypsy Rose]

Thanks, everyone. I did talk to a few differnet people, and I was told that I may have to remove the battery for a bit, and reinstall it again- something about getting the computer to read the new RAM- who knows? I have someone who can give me a hand with that, it just may be a while.

At least it's still working on the old RAM- just drives me nuts sometimes if something happens to be running in the background.

Doesn't help when you only have a 20 GB hard drive in the first place, lol!

[FatSpottedAppy]

I will have to ask my boyfriend when he gets home from school, he might know.

[FatSpottedAppy]

Hey GR, my boyfriend didn't know the answer, but here is what one of our friends had to say..

Tony.. says:
Not only do computers have a max ram they support

Tony.. says:
but so does each slot

Tony.. says:
512 MB max, dual slots

Tony.. says:
most likely needs 2 256MB chips

Tony.. says:
If when the power button is hit on the computer, if it makes any kind of loud beeping, the ram is no good. otherwise, it just can't read the ram

Tony.. says:
which then it could also be a bios problem

Tony.. says:
maybe the older bios only reads so much ram, now there is an updated bios that supports a touch more ram.

Tony.. says:
She needs to supply more information about her RAM that she purchased and is trying to install

Tony.. says:
before any further trouble shooting can be made.

Tony.. says:
Also

Tony.. says:
there is a program that should tell about it as well

Tony.. says:
ehh

Tony.. says:
but still

Tony.. says:
she needs to provide information on the ram that she is installing

Tony.. says:
then the answer can be given to her

[rocknK]

All I know is that old rams is tough to chew!:p

[Remali]

I wish I knew more about that kind of thing.....unfortunately I am clueless......I hope you get it all straightened out soon tho, computers can be so frustrating.

[Gypsy Rose]

Bought 2 256 MB SDRAM. Max supported on this computer is 512 RAM- 2 slot configured.

3.3v matches specs I found online for this computer.

Someone told me taking out the battery for an hour then reinstalling it with the new RAM might work?

Old RAM still works fine, or I wouldn't be on here right now, lol!

These match:
RAM Specifications: SDRAM Non-ECC
RAM PC-Class: PC-133

In fact, everything matches up exactly on the specs.