My NEC Powermate VL4 will not start

[rlkleijn54]

I inserted some new DDR2 ram modules, but since then my computer will not start. Even when I put the old memory modules back. The light comes on, the CDROM floppy drive and hard drive start up but then stop even when putting a CD in with a boot record. It keeps repeating this cycle and only stops when I unplug the power cable. I am hoping to sort it out without having to take it to a repair shop, though I will if nothing else is possible. I just bought a white NEC keyboard for it and planning a matching mouse and monitor.

I intend to use this computer for classic games as my Windows 10 computer sadly isn't backwards compatible. Also when working again would someone know where I can get the recovery disks for this computer if existing.

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 16, 2019 by rlkleijn54

[3s-gtech]

Did you put DDR2 modules in it somehow? If so, it’s probably toast. These use DDR modules, which have a different pin configuration, voltage etc. The key positions differ - did you force them in?

[rlkleijn54]

I checked on a few RAM sites and they do come up being DDR2. However, if it is toast I will just get another motherboard inside the case. Edited February 16, 2019 by rlkleijn54

[3s-gtech]

It’s a socket 478 P4, they only ever had SD RAM or DDR. Googling this machine shows it had support for DDR333. It was later Prescott and onwards CPUs that supported DDR2.

 

https://www.cnet.com/products/nec-powermate-vl4-p4-2-8-ghz-256-mb-40-gb/