HP Support Forum

[Chuckf]

I have a Compaq Presario SR2177CL Desktop PC.  I checked the product specifications on the HP website and this is what it says for memory:

Memory

Attributes Memory Installed 1 GB Maximum allowed 4 GB* (4 x 1 GB)
*Actual available memory may be less

Speed supported PC2-4200 MB/sec Type 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM

So i went to newegg and bought: 

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Me...

When i put the pair of Dimms in the pc, it won't post anymore.  The screen stays asleep and I never see the bios screen, I can't get into the bios setup or anything.  As soon as I remove the pair it works again.  The PC came with 2 512mb dimms in slot 1 and 2, so i tried removing those and replacing them with the pair i bought and got the same results.  Did I buy the wrong memory?  As far as I can see it should work.

Thanks in advance for any help and ideas.

Chuck

[Chandu]

Hi, 

     Ttry flashing the BIOS  and then install the RAM.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?softwareitem=pv-54579-1&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&...

[Chuckf]

I already have Bios version 5.07 installed.

To really confuse me more, I decided to check crucial.com and see what they recommend for this pc, and they recommend:

DDR2 PC2-5300

not pc2-4200 like the compaq website says.

Help

[Chuckf]

Ok, further investigation.  I went to corsair.com and plugged in the pc type to see what kind of memory they recomend.  They recomend part # VS1GB533D2 which happens to be the exact part number of the ram I have been trying to install.  So according to Corsair, this is the right ram.  The pc still won't start when it's installed.

[Chuckf]

Fell free to chime in with any advice, I've run out of ideas on my end

[Chuckf · Accepted solution]

Finally!  I decided to try the memory crucial.com suggested, so I went to town and found it at the local computer shop.  Plugged it in and it works like a charm.  NewEgg gave me a credit on the other memory when I called them, so everything worked out.