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HELP! Parents computer just crapped out!

E

erkan

Gawd
Joined
Aug 31, 2002
Messages
941
OKay this is what happened,
about 2 hours i go I swithced out a stick of 512 pc 3200 ram out of their computer for 2 sticks of 256mb pc3200. Just now, it froze upm and after rebooting it wont load up. The computer powers on fine, all fans are moving, but it wont post. I tried put back the old 512 mb stick, but no, its still dead! What should I do guys? BTW, its a EPOX Nforce 2 mobo, and the code on board says "FF"( i think thats wut it always says ). My mom is pissed.
 
erkan said:
OKay this is what happened,
about 2 hours i go I swithced out a stick of 512 pc 3200 ram out of their computer for 2 sticks of 256mb pc3200. Just now, it froze upm and after rebooting it wont load up. The computer powers on fine, all fans are moving, but it wont post. I tried put back the old 512 mb stick, but no, its still dead! What should I do guys? BTW, its a EPOX Nforce 2 mobo, and the code on board says "FF"( i think thats wut it always says ). My mom is pissed.
Click to expand...

PS their system is a Barton 2500+ @ 3200+
512 mb ram
Geforce FX 5200
Seagate 160 GB
 
First thing I would try is to clear the cmos, if this doesn't work, try putting the ram in different slots.....after that check for lose cables
 
okay thnx, but i have done all of that, w/ still no luck! damn.
Anyother idea sir?
 
Memtest86 the sticks of 256 separately. It's likely that one or both sticks are bad.

Also, use the 512 MB instead. What's the point of 2 x 256?
 
First off, those two sticks worked perfect in my system right before I put them in theirs. REason why, I just got new system w/ 1 stick of 512, so I snatched their old 512 stick, and replaced theirs w/ my old 2 sticks of 256. 2 sticks run in duel channel mode which is fast I thought n e ways.
Back to main topic, anyother ideas? I got to get theri system back up fast, its for their work and im freaking out.


p.s. like i said in topic, I tried puting back their old stick and still nothing happened.

IS it possible that its not memory related? you would think so.
 
For clarification: dual channel is useless for Athlon XPs - they only use a 64-bit memory controller, so the 128-bit in dual channel is pretty much worthless.

Now, for suggestions: if the RAM works fine in your comp and not in theirs, your DIMM slots could be fried.

edit edit: by the way, is the screen blank if you turn on the comp? No messages or anything?
 
Thanx for the clarification on the duel channel, I didnt know that. The computer sounds normal, everything is on, but the screen in blank. No messages.

"if the RAM works fine in your comp and not in theirs, your DIMM slots could be fried."
- Wouldnt it be their dimm slots are fried?
 
maybe, if anything, its just dust... take a canned air and blow out the dimm slots and see if that works... i had this problem before, i think on the AGP slot so i blew at it and flattened a cotton swab and slide it in the slot and sorta wiped it a lil on the contacts.. i guess that brushed out dust/dirt/debris/rocks and it worked

i dont know about yours though, dust interfering the connection is slim to none but feel free to try it

For clarification: dual channel is useless for Athlon XPs - they only use a 64-bit memory controller, so the 128-bit in dual channel is pretty much worthless.
Click to expand...
are you saying that dual channels for athlons are really useless?... whaa?? are you sure??

then why do motherboards for athlon xp come with dual channel capabilities?... i m a lil confused.... are you sure about it though?
 
ouch, I know the feeling you have :X I've changed parts in my moms computer many times and it stops turning on... you just feel your stomach sinking... :(

anyway, do ANY sticks of ram work at all in any slots? Also you said the monitor didn't turn on, did you loosen a graphics card while you were in there? (far shot, but worth checking)

=\ my mind draws a blank... i'd suggest tracing your steps backwards, thats what I always did...
 
I think some motherboards need the RAM running in certain dimm slots if you want it to work properly. Either in slot 1+3, 1+2, or 2+3. Try that :)
 
Check with the mobo manual, but normally the boot code FF means (my translation) Functioning Fine/Good/Working.

Also agree that usually, 1+3, 2+4, 1+4 is the way to go, not 1+2.
 
I would check for blown caps, also resetting the cmos (and while you do it, disconnect the ATX psu connecter from the M/B)

If that doesnt work, I would start with the video. And check to make sure nothing is lose or disloged.
 
To make sure I'm understanding correctly, after starting up you get a blank screen so you turn off the PC, and your trying to figure out what is wrong?, When turning it off does it go off right away or do you have to hold down the power button for 5 seconds?, if you don't have to hold the power button down, try reseating the video card, make sure the video cable is securely attached at both ends, and if these both fail try a different video card...I'm fairly confident one of these will solve your problems :)
 
Some really good suggestions about possible fixes to your problem erkan. If the monitor doesn't show anything, it could be that the video card was jostled and isn't fully connected now.

And for clarification, @wayne: yes, dual channel in Athlon XPs is almost nearly completely useless. The Athlon XP's FSB limits the maximum memory bandwidth. A 266 Mhz FSB Athlon XP has a limit of 2.1 GB/s (same as PC2100 memory's bandwidth). Athlons with a 333 Mhz FSB (PC2700 RAM) have a bandwidth limit of 2.6 GB/s or something close to that. Athlon XPs with a 400 Mhz FSB (PC3200) have a theoretical max of 3.2 GB/s. In dual channel, where the theoretical max with dual channel PC3200 is 6.4 GB/s, you'll see that the Athlon XP really has no way of taking advantage of the extra bandwidth.

Contrast this to the quad pumped Pentium 4, which was designed to be bandwidth hungry (and why RDRAM was probably the RAM of choice early on when SDRAM was still prevalent and couldn't provide the bandwidth the P4 needs).

I have an issue of Maximum PC magazine where they did a comparison of a Via KT400A motherboard and an nForce2 motherboard. The KT400A, which is a single channel only chipset, was basically equivalent in performance with the nForce2, which was run in dual channel mode. The difference in memory performance was maybe 2% tops.

Now, the Athlon FX, the socket 939 Athlon 64s, and the Opterons all support dual channel.

But, I'm straying too far off topic. erkan, keep us updated. A broken computer is a sad computer, so if you still have problems, post back. :)
 
you guys are the best, im going to try all of these suggestions! Thnx soo much, ill keep you all posted.
 
Okay, im back to using just 1 stick of 512 memory in their system for just trying to get it to work again. I put the memory in slot 1,2, 3 and nothing. I have reseated the video card, and still nothing. When I turn if off, I have to push the power button for 5 seconds or so for it to shut down, its not instant.
1. Tried different memory configs
2. Tried reseating videocard.
3. Everything looks connected correctly, unless im missing somehting big, i dont htink so.
4. I have reset the cmos multiple times.
5. Have to hold power buton down for 5 secs for it to turn off.

What are blown caps? By the way, the memory does work, its not fried becasue it works fine in my system, just not theris.
Anyother ideaS? my parents are waiting for their computer to come back alive. shit

Whats next?
 
erkan said:
Okay, im back to using just 1 stick of 512 memory in their system for just trying to get it to work again. I put the memory in slot 1 and 3, and nothing is working. I have reseated the video card, and still nothing. When I turn if off, I have to push the power button for 5 seconds or so for it to shut down, its not instant.
1. Tried different memory configs
2. Tried reseating videocard.
3. Everything looks connected correctly, unless im missing somehting big, i dont htink so.
4. I have reset the cmos multiple times.
5. Have to hold power buton down for 5 secs for it to turn off.

What are blown caps? By the way, the memory does work, its not fried becasue it works fine in my system, just not theris.
Anyother ideaS? my parents are waiting for their computer to come back alive. shit

Whats next?
Click to expand...
blown caps will probably look like (assuming it really exploded in a fiery explosion) a scorch mark somewhere on the board

have you tried my nearly-useless solution of blowing out the dust?.. is it an old system?

if you really need more time but your parents need the computer, maybe trade your computer with theirs for a day or two to allow you more time to figure it out?
 
no scorch marks, and the system is very new w/ little dust.
Could the mobo have died? even though it says FF and everything is on?
I tired my videocard in their system and same shit happend.
now what? i feel like ive tried everything. I have my old baord laying around(Nforce 2) maybee switch it out?
 
To rule out motherboard problems, I think you should try switching their mobo out with the other mobo you talked about. It's a pain, but sometimes you have to do these things.
 
you are to the point where you need to put the mobo on a table... put only ram, cpu (with hsf of course), and video on it... and the psu... basically the bare minimum for it to post.. then figure out what died... it sounds like you have enough parts lying aroudn to figure it out... when my mom's comptuer died, i had to guess what was wrong, and we wound up going to a local store and buying a mobo, psu, and cpu... and then returned the cpu... anyways.. use the process of elimination... you have an old mobo laying around... they all their shit and that mobo, if it doesn't boot, check into the psu..
 
I'd check to make sure the cpu was properly seated and the heatsink was securely (with enough thermal paste) in there.

But anyways... you shouldn't have messed with teh RAM in the first place. If it ain't broke, don't fix it ;)
 
HOLY FUCKING SHIT, finally getting somewhere...

Replaced her Nforce 2 Epox Ultra 400 mobo with my old Nforce 2 Epox board, at the same time swtiching out her Barton 2500+ with my old Barton 2500+( yes almost identicle system, the cpu was already seated on the board) and WALA! it booted up. Everything should be backwards compatable between the two systems since the chipset is almost the same, IM just reinstalling MOBO drivers, and this ordeal should be put to rest. IM going to RMA the other board and then sell it on ebay. Theres no fucking reason why the other board should of quit working becasue of memory. ALso, im using the 2 sticks of 256mb on the new setup like i intended to on the old computer, works perfect. god dman, that was fucking bull shit.
 
The computer runs now, but something is not right...

When I try to open internet explorer, it takes like 30 secs for it to open, then all the other programs I try to pen after that take like 30 secs to open. Not only that, the internet isnt working correctly. IT says teh have a wireless connection, but after IE finaly opens, the conncetion instaly goes away. Fuck, are they going to have to reformat?
Also, it just turned off randomly for no reason. Windows is fucked up now, all I changed with the mobo and cpu, which both are alsmot identicle.
 
well, i just wanted to say im going through almost the same thing with my uncles computer i just bought parts for and built myself. Good luck with yours, all i can reccomend is what im about to do, take everything out and put it all back in very carefully. Good luck
 
One last thing you might want to check is to make sure no jumpers got knocked out of place...I can't think of anything else (this is for the old mobo)
 
almost identical does not cut it. Whenever you change out a hard drive with an OS loaded, you need to re-install the OS. Backup your data, and bite the bullet. I sincerely hope you had seperate OS/data partitions.
 
Im doing a XP Repair instead of reinstalling everything, ill see if it works... :confused: :D
 
IT worked fine, the repair that is, the only thing now is that Outlook Express seems to be lagging,but everything else is running perfect( IE is fast again ). I dont understand! lol that makes no sence.
 
It's a slim chance... but what kind of PSU do they have? It could be possible 2 sticks of ram required more power and messed up your powersupply and fried your motherboard. I'd be wary of that PSU. Last time my mobo fried my PSU was to blame.
 
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