Computer not booting

[tech_guy]

Could be it's 1GB max - with a 512MB in each slot if there's two slots. There's your answer I'm afraid.

[f4rn4th]

Well yes, but you said you tried it on it's own too? :P



Steve

Oh yes so i did... sorry haha! Not with it... blame it on being Friday. One problem is i can't actually run MEMtest on it at the moment, because i can't access the boot menu to change the boot sequence because i can't access the BIOS? F2 and or Del doesn't work. Nor does F8 or any of the other silly or weird commands some boards like to use?

[glennda]

But i'm guessing, if the motherboard can only deal with 1GB if i'm trying to input 1 GB stick along with the 512 stick in there already it's going to have a whine isn't it?

try see if there is a bios update - its most likely to be the bios thats restricting the max ram.

[Steve21]

Oh yes so i did... sorry haha! Not with it... blame it on being Friday. One problem is i can't actually run MEMtest on it at the moment, because i can't access the boot menu to change the boot sequence because i can't access the BIOS? F2 and or Del doesn't work. Nor does F8 or any of the other silly or weird commands some boards like to use?

Isn't it F10 on some compaqs? Or none working?
(Know some stupid compaqs use alt-ctl-esc too, not sure wtf they're smoking when making these)

Steve

[glennda]

Try escape it was that on dome old machines. Or take the hdd out as it will then go down the list.

[CESIL]

I have had trouble in the past with RAM with a different chip layout from original.

Does the new memory stick have a different number of chips on it?

I know some older computers would only accept RAM in specific layouts

[f4rn4th]

Isn't it F10 on some compaqs? Or none working?
(Know some stupid compaqs use alt-ctl-esc too, not sure wtf they're smoking when making these)

Steve

To access the bios, i had to press ESC. Then ctrl + f1...? What a bloody weird combination.

[chazzy2501]

Try running Memtest it might be that you have been given a dodgy stick of ram.

I second this, run it for a couple of hours.

[f4rn4th]

I have had trouble in the past with RAM with a different chip layout from original.

Does the new memory stick have a different number of chips on it?

I know some older computers would only accept RAM in specific layouts

Well actually the stick i have in there originally has 16 chip's on it, and the new module has 18 chips on it. It's got one extra in the middle on both sides.

I have ran MEM check and it is still running but all i can see it RED. The Sticks appear to have errors all over them.

Even the old RAM appears to be a little messed up. I'll run the mem check on the old stick of RAM on it's own and the new stick of RAM on it's own to check but it appears as i've got a duff memory module! GRRRRRRR

[LosOjos]

According to the spec (here: Motherboard Specifications, A7N8X-LA (Focus) Compaq Presario S5500UK Desktop PC - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)) it supports up to 2GB of RAM with 1GB in each slot.

Two 184-pin DDR DIMM
Maximum memory size is up to 2GB, 1GB per slot (the PC manufacturer's recommended maximum memory may differ)
Supports PC2700/PC2100

Add to that the fact it still crashes when you use only that RAM module, and I'd say it's almost certainly faulty RAM: get it replaced.

[yugo]

Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Presario S5500UK Desktop/PC from Crucial.com

Max 512mb allowed in each slot is your problem