Computer will only work when laying on it's side? LOL

[lmsweb]

OK, I am in the process of buying new "memory sticks" for my computer. So, with original receipt in hand I go off the Best Buy to get 2x256MB SDRAM sticks. WELL! I get them home, pry open my puter, pretend to look like I know what I am doing, and find the "sticks". Problem is - they are NOT what was on my receipt list when I bought the puter 3 years ago. I am supposed to have 128MB of SDRAM. I have 128MB of RDRAM - in other words, the ones I just bought don't fit (rant!)
So, back to the store I go, get my refund (they don't sell the RDRAM, neither does Future Shop so tomorrow I get to make a dozen phone calls to find out if anybody here carries them).

OK I bet you are all thinking that is the problem, right?

Nope.

After putting the old memory sticks back in and putting the casing back on my computer, I stood it back up, hooked all the wires back in and nothing. Computer would power up fine - I would even get the Windows screen flying across the monitor - but then after about 10 seconds it would go dead. BUT if I leave my tower laying on it's side, it all works fine Try to stand it up (even tried stadning it up THEN rehooking the wires) and it does the ten second dance then glares that red eye at me that means it's not happy

Any suggestions? And is it ok to leave it on it's side for now until I at least get the new memory chips in?

*please don't laugh at me too hard, it's been a longgggggg #$@@#$% night with this thing....*

 

[Goatie]

Pure speculation:

Did you push in the memory all the way?

 

[NittanyLAncer]

128MB or RD? You might try flipping the order of the sticks. One of 'em's probably a spacer. Also, try pulling all the power cords and re-placing them. You r problem may be a shorted wire or a loose connection to a viatl compontnet (HD and/or loose CPU fan).

Good luck, and you CAN just leaving it on it's side.