Upgrading Memory

[fantastic-on-hp]

I bought the RAM online based on the provided specs. It did not come with a part number, or even a brand name printed on the package. It has a blue anodized aluminum heat shrink with a sticker on the front with the same specs '2GB PC2 5300/5400 AM2 667MHZ DDR2 DIMM WARRANTY VOID IF REMOVED'. I assume these were system pulls.

[Big_Dave]

Try clearing the CMOS. What bios level is installed in your PC?

[baffinisland]

Hi! I'm posting this for a friend whose computer is no longer working after an attempt at upgrading the RAM.

The computer is a model m7160n and came with 2x512MB installed - so 2 of the 4 DIMM slots were occupied and the specs said that it can be upgraded to 4GB. She wanted to double the memory and she was told that it was okay to get one 1GB (400) and install it. So she printed up the specs from HP and took them off to the store and she bought one that was supposedly correct, according to the staff. After taking it home and trying to install it, it became quite apparent that the one slot was just slightly off in one orientation and totally off when flipped over...so definitely not correct. We pulled one of the existing RAM cards and took it along for comparison. Closer inspection of the tag claimed it was a 333 (I think) but the slot still did not match up to other 333s. It did however match to a 1GB 533 DDR2 card. So we took that one and it fit fine into one of the open DIMM slots.

However, after plugging everything in again, the computer hung at the splash screen with the HP logo and the 'hit esc for boot menu, F1 for setup and F10 for system restore' bits. It just sat there and sat there and sat there. So I turned it off to try and get into the setup menu - then it just hung with 'opening setup' and it just sat there and sat there and sat there. Well, I then took out the new memory (so technically everything is exactly the way it was before) and it still just hangs on that splash screen.

So...do we have to wait for the computer to figure out the RAM configuration? Are we just being impatient? Or have we done something drastically wrong? I've added RAM to computers (albeit non-HP branded) before and I never had this happen. They just boot up with a lot more RAM.... I think at this point we'd be happy just to get it working with the original RAM....

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated...thank you in advance!

Hunter

[RasterBlaster]

Hunter,

All DIMMs are slotted so that they can be installed in one orientation - that is, you cannot get them upside down in the slot (unless you try really really hard).

Try putting both of the original 2 DIMMs back into the their original slots. Turn off the PC, unplug the power cord, removed the side panel and reinsert the DIMMs - only handle the DIMMs by their edges. The components on the DIMMs are static sensitive. It is relatively easy to blow them up with static shock - especially if you work over a carpeted area or when the air is dry.

If you think one might have blown, you can install only 1 DIMM to see if it powers up. Then swap with the other to see whcih one is bad.

To be on the safe side, only install match pairs of DIMMs. In your case, I would have went for 2 more 512s or 2 x 1GB and installed them in the remaining pair of slots.

Here are your stats:

Four 240-pin DDR2 DIMM sockets

Non-ECC memory only

Supports PC2 3200 (400 MHz) and PC2 4200 (533 MHz) and PC2 5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 DIMMs

Supports 1.8v DDR2 SDRAM

Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 4 GB*

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00379422

[baffinisland]

Hi Raster,

Thanks for getting back to me!

I'm guessing then that we must have done something to one or both of the original 512s since they are currently in their original slots - say 1 and 3 for reference's sake. I had only pulled the one out of slot 3 to take with us for reference and it went back into it's original spot. We had put the 1GB in between in slot 2 and that's when the computer wouldn't boot up. After taking it out (and leaving the 512s in slots 1 and 3), the computer still won't boot up as described earlier. Sigh.

So I'll pass along the information to try just one at a time and see if it'll boot up correctly. I'm pessimistic and hoping we didn't fry the motherboard...

Hunter

[Big_Dave]

baffinisland,

This is your motherboard.  Your original dimms came out of the blue slots, right?  If you don't hear any beeps then boot into the bios and see if both dimms are recognized. If yes, then try some bios diagnostics.  You could also try clearing the CMOS.

[baffinisland]

Hi Big_Dave,

Yup, that looks like the board and yes, the original 512s were in the blue slots...which is where they are now. And I don't remember hearing any beeps when we turned the computer on.

I've tried booting into the boot menu (via esc) and the setup (via F1) and the computer just hangs with the note that it is trying to open either one but it never does.,,,this is the part that concerns me. I'm not sure how to get into the BIOS if 'esc'  or 'F1' don't work. Is there another key that might be correct? I'll have to google how to clear the CMOS as that is something new to me. And if you need to know, the keyboard is plugged into a PS2 port, not USB.

I really wonder if the one RAM that I pulled out either got damaged by me or various store clerks manhandling it. Or it may just be that I didn't get it seated properly back in its DIMM slot or that the contacts got dusty.

Thanks for the help and I'll let you know how it goes...

Hunter

[baffinisland]

Well, bad news. Firstly, never was able to get into the bios or the setup to check anything. Secondly, swapped out the RAM with no change. Thirdly, it looked like the CMOS pins were already in the 2-3 position and when switched to 1-2, the computer wouldn't even turn on, dead dead dead. So off to a professional to troubleshoot.... Sigh.

And a note that I'd found another post elsewhere that the problem with not getting into the bios was related to futzed up card reader firmware that seemed to plague the HP Pavilions and that the fix offered was pretty much guaranteed to work. Not in this case. Double sigh.

But I really do appreciate the advice and thank you Raster and Big_Dave for trying to sort out my problem. All the best!

Hunter

[twrenwick]

Ok, I've decided to upgrade my memory on my Compaq SR1950nx.  I went to the HP web site and it says my

system can handle up to 4 gb, 1 gb per slot, type PC3200 400MHz DDR.  I purchased 2 1gb cards and when

I replaced the existing (512 mb), the machine just beeps, but won't boot.  The current cards have the listing

PC3200U-30330 512 mb DDR 400Mhz CL3.  I've tried booting with just on card to see if one of the cards came

bad, but neither work.  I don't see any jumpers on the motherboard.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[RasterBlaster]

You've got me scratching my head on this one. According to allthe data I've read on this product and the Nagami2 mobo, you should be able to install those DDR1 Dimms.

To break down the cryptic code on you new sticks of RAM:

PC3200U-30330 512 mb DDR 400Mhz CL3

PC3200 = is the module name and represents the peak transfer rate

U = Unbuffered (not registered)

-30330 = cycle information related to CAS and RAS values (how fast the little registers inside the substrate change their charge or chemistry).

512 mb = How many total memory bits are available on the stick 512 MBs (or 536, 870, 912 bits).

DDR = Ram Type (Double Data Rate synchronous random access memory)

400MHz = Speed rating in transfers per second. This is pretty much synonomous with Megatransfers per second. Your clock speed for your motherboard's I/O bus should be 200MHz with the memory chip running at twice that (400). Your PC should already be set.

CL3 = Cas latency value (column Address Strobe). This is an overall score that represents how fast the memory is able be accessed on the chip and sent out the door to the motherboard... see -30330.

So... if this information was on the original sticks, this matches to what the Nagami 2 motherboard requires. What do the new sticks say on them??? (or am I screwed up in thinking "current" means "original" and not the new stuff).

You cannot adjust the I/O clock speeds on this motherboard...no jumpers for that - you have to use DDR memory with transfer rates of 400 or 333MHz.

It may be possible that HP used another motherboard. Look at the picture on the motherboard specs to see if it matches what is in your PC?

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00683208