...ME, arggghhhh doesn't begin to describe my feelings. Ok so I feel good that I replaced my power supply and the pc is running again. But now comes the toys I talked about. #1 was a stik of DDR PC2700 512MB 333MHz that was supposedly compatible with PC2100 266MHz bus speed systems, so I figure since the old ram is 2100 266 MHz I'll just trade up, didn't try combining them figured safer just to replace. Yeah right. It does the initial start up but then it just hangs on a dark screen. When it should be saying 'Welcome'. I've tried it a couple of times. Its not a seating issue, because I manage to seat the old ram just fine and everything runs on it. the other toy I got was a 4 Usb port/hub. Specifcally to be able to plug in my Wacom table because its cord is annoyingly short and is a problem everytime I have to pull the tower out of its cubby. Well for some reason the thing won't fit in the port, other Usb things fit, like the camera cord. I suppose I can try setting up my last toy, the webcam. Maybe that'll work and heck I don't even know why I'd need one of them, bought it on a whim. But I want more ram!!! Sorry for the long rant. Does anyone know what might be the issue with the ram? Maybe its because it 333Mhz the gig I've got sitting on my desk is also 333 and it also won't run right in my pc. I bought middle to top of the line stuff, I can't understand why it doesn't work. unhappy face Thanks for listening. At least I'm connected to the unreal world lol.

At least that is "solid state"!

Ang, i'm not 100% on it but when i upgraded the motherboard + chip(CPU) + ram i had to make sure the ram was ddr 400mhz because no other would have worked. My computer is an AMD ATHLON 3000 XP with 512 mb ddr 400mhz ram. Other than that i can't tell you what might be the problem why yours isn't working for you.

"a stik of DDR PC2700 512MB 333MHz that was supposedly compatible with PC2100 266MHz bus speed systems" Er, it depends on the motherboard, but no motherboard is forward compatible. So, if your motherboard supports 2700, it will probably accept 2100, but not vice versa. What is your motherboard? Then, I'm not certain if that's the case with your stick, but some sticks are supposed to go in pairs and cannot be used singly. Finally, did you accidentally bump any cables, like the hard disk cable? BTW, it's usually not good idea to mix RAM types because the system will run at the speed of the slowest module, plus the possible limit on the module pairs. If the jack for tablet won't fit, it possibly has the squarish jack instead of the usual elongated one. In my experience - and I'm not a hardware guru, but I know a couple - the squarish jack means input is supposed to go there. My monitor has such jacks, but that's where the cables from the computer are supposed to go. The solution is to go to the store with your tablet and ask for the conversion cable, square to oblong. OTOH, some USB jacks are simply hard to connect. Just be patient. And turn it around at least twice. Web camera, yeah, it should work, just follow the instructions.

Just occured to me: when you say "starts normally", does it mean that you see the RAM check and other BIOS info? Or that the LEDs turn on and the power supply fan turns? If it's the latter case, check whether you bumped up your video card and reseat it.

save your receipt..;) yeah..the ones that go on in pairs are called 'interleaved ' memory..I'd check with whomever sold you the system to begin with..they should know (well, they should..;). Memory changes so fast, it's hard to keep up (actually, I came up with a unit of time measurement/technology level, called the Comdec..or the interval between 2 Comdex (computer shows in Vegas..;), the whole insides changes almost completely every 3 months, though..good luck.

Erlik, I don't have all the specs on my motherboard but this is what the receipt says 'Abit NF7-S nForce2 Athlon XP /Duron SktA DDR ATX Motherboard w/audio, LAN, Serial ATA retail' I'm gonna go look for the box. also, if I bumped a cable then I unbumped it everytime I put the old ram back in. Yep, I get the start up stuff. it just doesn't go forward to where my windows loads.

Abit NF7-S nForce2 Athlon(XP)/Duron SktA DDR with Audio, LAN, Serial ATA - Retail 400FSB, ATA/133, AGP 8X, 3DDR DIMM, 5PCI, IEEE 1394, Audio, LAN, SATA Pulled this off the internet, but it still doesn't say anything "to me" about what level of ram it uses :( Whats the 400FSB? My processor has 333FSB on it. Yeah I'm not the total computer geek yet. Oh well. Thanks for anymore help you can give me.

just get the exact ram the motherboard manual says if you dont have a manual u can probably download it it also might contain a checklist about errors. nice picture i asume the cam works lol

well I just checked the website and it should support 333MHz ram, just don't know why its not. sigh.
I did get the wacom tablet problem fixed. Seems it pulled out part of the usb plug with it. Gave it a couple of taps and the excess thingy fell out. Now it fits in the port/hub :-D

Message edited on: 01/08/2005 15:01

The 400FSB tells you that it will support RAM up to DDR-400 (PC3200). My guess is that the jumper settings are wrong, Ang. I would check to see that it's not forcing DDR-2100. Also, I would not take that motherboard back, it's a great one. What you want is to change the FSB to 333...

FSB -> Front Side Bus. As lsd obliquely says, it's the speed at which the processor communicates with memory chips. Can't download the manual (site sucks) but their FAQ suggests you put memory modules in from DIMM 3 to DIMM 1. I think the 3 is the one farthest from the processor. Maybe the other way around... Anyway, try changing the slot into which you put the module. That's all I can think of.

I wish I could be of any help with the ram thing, but I don't know anything more then the peeps in here already suggested.

Hey, easy with that thang Mrs. Goodwrench. Do as LSD and Erlik are saying and like Pakled says, save the receipt. Worst comes to worst, call the people you bought it from and tell them about the problem, more often than not, if they know what theyre doing, they would rather be helpful and solve the problem than have to take back the merchandise. Remember, stay grounded and avoid static charge buildup when handling memory chips. Good luck!

Ang I have this same motherboard, and went through the same exact things you went through with the power supply, and upgrading the memory. What worked for me was just switching the slots. It took a few times of re-seating them in the correct slots for them to start working. Are you getting any weird beeps when you start up from your computer? The Bios will give you different beeps on start up for different problems. If there's a problem with the memory being incompatible, or not seated right you will get something like 3 short beeps.

Noy familiar with that brand of motherboard. I have a Soyo from last year that you still have to set the jumpers. to set bus speed. Your memory could be incompatable or you could just have a bad stick. To plug in the memory sually you have to start with the lowest number slot and work up. I asume you just put the new stick in the same slot the old came out of so that shouldn't be a problem. There are several types of USB plugs. The type A are the long ones you see on the computer case. Lot's of cameras use a square one called type B. Internal connections just go to four or five square pins You can recognise these because there is plastic between each hole. If the plug thingy is sticking out it's called a male plug. If it's a hole that a plug sticks into it's called female. You may just need to get a cable to go from one plug to the other.

I'll go with what was said in #12. On some motherboards there are jumpers or DIP switches that work with setting chips and FSB speed. (It may go from 133 to 400MHz, but is it set right?) On others it will be in the BIOS settings. (And on some it's automatic even, but I doubt yours is. Otherwise you wouldn't have this problem.) You'll have to find the manual for your motherboard or contact the manufacturer.

Ok that sounds like the most logical thing. Because yes I am using the same slot, so it shouldn't be an issue and my mb supports the 333MHz, and it works fine with 266MHz. Ok I don't know if I ever got a manual so I may have to contact the company. Thanks for all your help. I hope I get this cleared up. Hey sometimes I'm a dip, I should be able to work dip switches lol.