NEED HELP INSTALLING DDR DIMMS!

[jbrigden]

I just purchased 2x 256MB DDR SDRAM for my P4. I'm running an ECS P4S5A mobo. I pulled out the old 256MB SDRAM, then popped in the two new DIMMs, put everything back together, and when I turned on my PC I was greeted by a series of beeps and a black screen. Nothing happened.

I pulled out the new RAM, put in the old stuff, and even that didn't work. I hadn't disconnected anything, I'm sure of that. Still nothing works.

Did I miss something? Do I need to change some jumpers? If so, which ones?

Please advise. Cheers.

 

[waitman]

Did you make sure that the dimms were seated properly? Sometimes they can be difficult to get seated correctly, all the way in, where the little tabs close over the top. Try one of the new dimms and see what happens. the series of beeps may be a clue, post exactly what beeps you got, in what order, someone will be able to help you

 

[TheWart]

Just make sure the little ridges line up and then push firmly on both sides at the same time....when it is seated properly, both of the little retention clips will automatically clip into place.

 

[jbrigden]

Well, I pulled out the mobo, and it turns out one of the DIMMs wasn't pushed in completely as the mobo bent while I pressed down. Anyway, they're in, but now I'm facing another problem: the PC won't turn on at all. I moved a jumper over to clear CMOS, and pulled out the main power cable, but when I put everything back I got no power at all! What gives?

 

[jbrigden]

It beeped 3 times fairly quickly at first, then a pause, and then around 5 slower beeps. Then after a long pause beeped twice or three times.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

usually the major causes of beeps are components not seated right. the components being the video card and the memory.

Did you have to remove the video card to install the memory? If so you may need to reseat the video card, make sure its down there good.
Also with the memory, try pushing on the top center while holding the motherboard stable with your other hand if you can get to it so it won't bend when you try to seat it.

Last thing. So you have both sticks of memory in? If you just have 1 make sure that it is in the first slot for the memory. Usually, just trying to reseat the memory will get the job done though.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: jbrigden
Well, I pulled out the mobo, and it turns out one of the DIMMs wasn't pushed in completely as the mobo bent while I pressed down. Anyway, they're in, but now I'm facing another problem: the PC won't turn on at all. I moved a jumper over to clear CMOS, and pulled out the main power cable, but when I put everything back I got no power at all! What gives?

Did you put the CMOS clear jumper back to its original position?

 

[OptimusRhyme]

Ok, now the Ram is working fine. But ive got a larger problem.

Now after taking out my ram, and taking out everything with it, it appears something is messed up. I'm getting spots all over my screen.

I thought it would be something to do with my video card, but it cant be. It pauses every once in a while and the screen flashes.
Norton antivirus keeps coming up and giving an error saying cannot subscribe or something. Which it never did before.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

Originally posted by: OptimusRhyme
Now after taking out my ram, and taking out everything with it, it appears something is messed up. I'm getting spots all over my screen.

going to need some clarification on what you are talking about. what did you do?

 

[OptimusRhyme]

I took out everything out of my pc. Disconnected everything.
so it was just the motherboard sitting there with nothing on it, other than the CPU, the Heatsink and the Memory.
Plugged everything back in, and now im having the odd graphic glitches. And pauses.

When i reset my CMOS, i get these two errors

"CMOS memory size wrong"
"CMOS Battery Low"

Hopefully someone can help fp me from that.

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

you'll get those two errors sometimes whenever you reset the cmose.

as for the spots...still no idea.