Memory count problems

When a Power Supply is plugged into power, there is a constant 5 Volts present. The 5 Volt Standby Power.

You press the Power On button.
This in turn presses against the Power On switch, located inside it's plastic assembly.

The Power On switch is a Momentary Contact Switch.
Temporary closing it activates the Soft Power On circuit.
A 5 Volt circuit that utilizes the 5 Volt Standby Power.

The Soft Power On circuit 'excites' the Power Supply, and turns it on.
(Sounds like a seedy novel)

The first chipset (Integrated Circuit) to receive power is the BIOS chipset.
The Basic Input/Output System program is initialized.

BIOS looks to see what devices are connected, does a Ram Memory count, turns the Processor on, and hands the computer over to the Operating System.

A checksum is computed as an error-detecting code, to protect the BIOS settings stored in CMOS.
Each time the computer is turned on, this number is re-computed; and checked against stored values.

If they do not match an error message is generated, to tell you the CMOS memory contents may have been corrupted; and therefore some settings may be wrong.
Your BIOS assumed the settings were incorrect, and loaded BIOS default settings; stored in BIOS.

(Default = factory settings)

CMOS Checksum Error Defaults - Loaded

New battery? Nope didn't help.
Clear CMOS, and password reset? Nope didn't help.

Leaves Virus as the problem, or hardware component/s on motherboard; are bad.

My thoughts?
Bad motherboard.

("BAD motherboard. NO,...........you know you have been bad,....don't give me that look. You're a bad motherboard."

Lol!)

That's my diagnosis.


(Unless you put the CMOS battery in upside down.
+ goes UP)

Regards,
joecoolvette

One, if I may; clean the gold plated contact pins with a pencil eraser, use air to remove the eraser dust. THEN try again before buying new Ram Memory.

(You are Following Anti-Static Precautions, right?)

Unplug the computer from power. Press the Power On button in, and hold for a count of 10 seconds. Let go.
Do this procedure two more times.

Plug the computer back into power.

What this does is clear CMOS Error Codes, and resets BIOS Setup back to the factory default settings.
We are just trying to clear CMOS Error Codes.

WAIT 1 minute, turn the computer on.

Still no?
'Slap' BIOS around a little bit.
Hold the Power On button in for a count of 10 seconds, or until computer turns off.
WAIT 1 minute, turn the computer back on.

I had to do this 3 times, one time, in order to get BIOS to recognize the new Ram Memory.

A) Ram Memory HAS to be in Slot 1. (DIMM 1)
That is the ram memory slot the Processor reads first.

Don't care about the other Ram Memory modules at the minute.
Just want to make sure a module is in Slot 1.

B) Are you SURE you have the correct Ram Memory?
There is a TOTAL amount for the motherboard, and EACH ram memory slot has a Maximum amount also.

Install in Slot 1 first. Try computer. If it works, then install ram memory in other ram memory slots.

No didn't work?
Then install in Slot 2.

You may find one of the ram memory slots is bad.

Regards,
joecoolvette

Try this. Please make sure that when you installed your CMOS battery, that you did it correctly.

Here are instructions: http://www.smartcomputing.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2004/w1510/32w10/32w10.asp

Now, if all was correct then go into the BIOS and configure your hard drive because it sounds like your hard disk isn't configured.

Most BIOS's will auto recognize the hard drive but you have to go into the BIOS and tell it to search for it and then save it by pressing F10 and save before you exit out of your BIOS.

If all else fails, replace your hard disk.

Don't forget to rate me and vote for me, thanks. Also let me know how it goes.

Hello, First thing I would try is to just install one of the new modules in the DDR1 slot and see if it boots. If it does, go into your BIOS (Use the key I believe.) and set the ?Max Memclock (Mhz)? field (Advanced Chipset Features submenu) of the BIOS to 200. Save & Exit and allow it to boot. Shut down the computer and install the second one. Again go into the BIOS and verify it is detecting both. A second thing to try if that does not work is to install the new modules, and before powering up, reset your CMOS using the jumper between the battery and the AGP slot. If the jumper is on the 1st and 2nd pin, put it on the 2nd and 3rd pin for 15 seconds. Then replace it to the original position. NOTE: Make sure the power is OFF and the power cord unplugged when you do this. You should also press and hold the Power button for 5 to 10 seconds to discharge the capacitors in the system. If this still fails to get you going, you may have high density modules which do not work in all motherboards. Did you get the modules from MS Memory Suppliers? When I did a search for your motherboard it only gave me DDR266 PC-2100 DIMMS as compatible. No DDR400 were listed even though they should be backward compatible. Hope this helps. Thanks for using Fixya. Comment back and let me know your results.

try to reset cmos after putting 2 -1 gb rams(pulout power cord,and change clear cmos jumper to clear for 10 secs,or just remove motherboard battery for 30 secs,post mb info if no luck with cmos clear

I believe resetting the CMOS would fix this problem. To reset the CMOS, open up the computer and locate a battery similar to this one (it's on the motherboard):

Picture

Once you find it, pull it out. Leave it out for about 24 hours (one day) afterward placing the battery back into its slot on the motherboard. Now try booting up.

It should now successfully start up requesting that you make changes to the BIOS since the CMOS was just reset. Afterward you should be able to use the computer normally.

NOTE: Try resetting the CMOS with the original RAM inside the computer. The new RAM might be forcing the motherboard to send too much voltage or use an incompatible Mhz setting to support the new stick of RAM.

Let me know how it turns out and if I can do anything else to assist you.

Remove the original module, install just the new one and then start your computer. If it doesn't start, the memory you bought is bad. The system boards used in the Compaqs will auto-detect memory, and there are no jumpers or BIOS settings needed.

Sometimes, if the memory is a newer type, even though it matches the specifications laid out by the motherboard, there may be other factors like timing and voltage which cause a motherboard to not function with that memory. A lot of the time a motherboard manufacturer will be made aware of this problem and release a BIOS update to resolve it. Have you checked the motherboard manufacturer's website, ESC, to see if your particular motherboard is up-to-date with the most currently released BIOS version?

You can figure out what version of BIOS you're running if you go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Information. On that first page it will list the BIOS version information and the date of that BIOS. If ESC has a newer BIOS available, you might try updating the BIOS to see if that resolves the issue.

Often simply disconnecting the power cable, holding power button for 15 seconds, release power button, plug back in will work

Otherwise remove CMOS battery and perform above operation

Hope it works

Try RAM with a different speed. My 800 mhz RAM didn't work until I installed 533 mhz RAM and adjusted to 800 mhz in BIOS. Newly built PC, default must be set as 533 mhz because I reset the CMOS and still couldn't POST to BIOS. Only taking out all RAM gave me any sort of audible error code. Luckily I found some 533 RAM before I RMA'd the board.