RAM upgrade non-POSTing with beep code

[ggordon1]

HI all,

My neighbour asked me to upgrade his systems RAM. I picked up 2 x 2gb sticks to add to his system. When installed and power on I recieved a beep code of 1 Short and 1 Long, repeating, no such code is listed on AMI support info. Turns out that the BIOS has been modded by HP and the code refers to bad RAM.

I bought the 2 upgrade sticks from 2 different vendors, so the odds of both failing is very slim. So I tried every permutaion of the 4 sticks to no avail. Took all sticks out still same code. Returned to 2x1 gb no problems booting.

Old setup:

Slots 1 and 3 contain 2 x 1gb PC3-10600U-9-10-A0 (Matched)

Slots 2 and 4 empty.

Upgrade setup:

Slots 1 and 3 contain 2 x 2gb PC3-10600U-9-11-A1 (Matched)

Slots 2 and 4 contain 2 x 1gb PC3-10600U-9-10-A0 (Matched)

Any ideas as to what is going on, would be greatly appreciated?

With thanks

[erico]

Hi @ggordon1 ,

Unfortunately it appears that you may have upgraded by matching the memory specifications and installed them in a pair of  unpopulated DIMM slots.

Frequently that does not work if adding memory to a PC that already has memory modules installed in a pair of DIMM slots. The result is the upgrade fail that you experienced. 

A best practice is to upgrade with memory modules that are identical, in all respects, with the memory modules that are already installed. 

Another practice that does not fail is to purchase guaranteed compatible memory modules from a memory manufacturer, remove the prreviously installed modules and install the new modules. 

What is the complete product name and product number of your desktop PC?

[ggordon1]

Hi Erico,

His system info is:

HP PRO 3010 MT

Product No. VW315EA#ABV

Serial No. [edited]

The only difference in the upgrade is PC3-10600U-9-11-A1 instead of PC3-10600U-9-10-A0.

[erico]

Thanks for identifying the PC completely.

Unfortunately, as I stated in my last post, that is enough for them to not operate in your PC.

The only 2GB memory module that is guaranteed to be compatible with your desktop PC is the following unit.

HP p/n 629026-001

2GB, 1333MHz, PC3-10600, CL9 128M x 8, DDR3-1333 Dual In-Line Memory Module (DIMM)

Use the HP p/n  when searching for a source.  The modules are quite inexpensive. see the source I found at the link below

https://www.datamemorysystems.com/parts/hewlett-packard/629026-001/

[ggordon1]

Hi Erico, thanks for your time and effort.

Bought identical (speed, latency, timing etc} still nothing but beep codes. It will now be stripped and chucked. Never met a system so picky, never again anything HP (Horrible Products).

Thanks again