computer help thread

[bdc]

Thought this could come in handy?

I've got a problem btw,got some new ram today and although it's the same specs (at a first glance,both are ddr1 333 mhz cl 2,5 pc2700 200 pin) as my old ram that was already installed,the laptop refuses to boot.
Even when the new ram is installed on it's own.

Boots fine with my old ram...

Anyone knows why this could be?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

A great thread idea Bdc.

Sorry i'm unable to help you here though.

[bdc]

No problem Dem,I think this may be complicated...
I'm usually good at solving computer problems but not this time...

[SharonLynette]

I can't help either from here but I'm sure I could fix it if it was in front of me, soz!

[bdc]

Are you a computer wiz then?
Because I certainly could use assistance from time to time.

Think I'm going to send the ram back,since it was "fullfilled by Amazon" this should be no problem I guess (even when the little package was opened?)...since it doesn't work when it really should...

Already ordered exactly the same ram as it had originally installed in slot 1 (same manufacturer and everything) to go in slot 2...of course it's old used ram but I hope this works...

[platostotal]

I'll take a shot, if you mean you have 2 ram slots, and your p.c. Boots o.k. with old ram chipset, after removing the battery try swapping the ram around, also before touching a new chipset ground yourself by touching something metal(damn static), My old toshiba had ram problems due to malware(only read half), needless to say make sure it's solidly connected and the cover is screwed back on before reboot, good luck B, you probably know that already but what the hey.

[SharonLynette]

Originally Posted by bdc

Are you a computer wiz then?
Because I certainly could use assistance from time to time.

Think I'm going to send the ram back,since it was "fullfilled by Amazon" this should be no problem I guess (even when the little package was opened?)...since it doesn't work when it really should...

Already ordered exactly the same ram as it had originally installed in slot 1 (same manufacturer and everything) to go in slot 2...of course it's old used ram but I hope this works...

An unqualified one yes, well a bit of one. I'm a fixer and I like opening things up. Did some bedside repairs on my Dads laptop yesterday, mousepad had stopped working - well it had been disconnected when he had his screen repaired I didn't replace this.

I have a keen interest in computers and the insides of them plus I have just moved from working in libraries to working with computers, well when I finally go back to work I'll be at it full time.

[bdc]

Originally Posted by platostotal

I'll take a shot, if you mean you have 2 ram slots, and your p.c. Boots o.k. with old ram chipset, after removing the battery try swapping the ram around, also before touching a new chipset ground yourself by touching something metal(damn static), My old toshiba had ram problems due to malware(only read half), needless to say make sure it's solidly connected and the cover is screwed back on before reboot, good luck B, you probably know that already but what the hey.

Thanks for the tip but I tried all different combinationa of new and old ram and just new and old ram.
Only the old ram with nothing in slot 2 boots the laptop.
The other combinations make the laptop start with a flashing light and it just shuts down again (doesn't boot bios).

Maybe there are small differences between both rams that go beyond the ddr1 333 mhz pc2700 200 pin specs?

Btw my new ram is 1 Gb,my old one 512 Mb but the specs of the laptop say max ram is 2 Gb (2 x 1Gb).

[bdc]

Originally Posted by SharonLynette

An unqualified one yes, well a bit of one. I'm a fixer and I like opening things up. Did some bedside repairs on my Dads laptop yesterday, mousepad had stopped working - well it had been disconnected when he had his screen repaired I didn't replace this.

I have a keen interest in computers and the insides of them plus I have just moved from working in libraries to working with computers, well when I finally go back to work I'll be at it full time.

I also like exploring the inside of my computer.
I just recently got a laptop,always had a desktop (13 years old!) but the power supply seems to have failed and I didn't have one handy...so switched to a back up laptop.
It's been an upgrade from windows 2000 to xp (sp3 fully updated),usb 1 to usb 2 and a more powerful processor.
So I'm actually quite pleased with it.
I'd just like some more ram as it only had 512 Mb installed...

The ram problem still puzzles me,I mailed the seller's tech support with all details of the problem and they just send a pdf return form...

Btw my laptop is a Dell Latitude D600 (don't remember if I mentioned this before).
Bios came updated to the latest version I think (A16)

[bdc]

I was just thinking,maybe the new ram was dead on arrival or badly (cheaply) made?
This could explain a lot...