Help! Ram Upgarde Help!

Baldur

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

and if i have fried the RAM slots I guess that would mean replacing the motherboard?

Yes, RAM modules don't work well if just Sellotaped to the motherboard.....

DatabaseError

Hi, Ruth.
google is failing me...I'm unable to find a manual for your motherboard.
On it...somewhere...there should be lots of jumpers...little black blocks covering 2 upright pins. One of these jumpers may be a different colour (possibly red) and will straddle 2 pins, with a 3rd pin visible..moving this jumper across 1 place, to cover pins 2+3 rather than 1+2, counting to ten and then returning it to its original position will reset the BIOS...just in case you're lucky enough to have corrupted that rather than breaking your board.
Did the hammer sustain much damage when you used it to force the ram in?

old_codger1

Baldur wrote: »

Yes, there's always 5 volts running through the motherboard if it's connected to the mains via an ATX power supply, whether it's switched on or not...

Just on a point of information, if the on/off switch on the back of the PSU, (assuming it has one), was switched off then it would still be OK. DO HP Pavilion have those? Many generic PC clones did up till a few years ago.

Having said that it might be irrelevant, though, if the pins on the slots have been bent.

old_codger1

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

and if i have fried the RAM slots I guess that would mean replacing the motherboard?

Is there a separate on/off switch on the back of your PSU? If there is and it was off at the time then the slots might be OK electrically. As for physical damage that's another matter.

old_codger1

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

DatabaseError (gosh I really feel like I'm one of those!!) Model number...would that be motherboard model number or pc model number...where do I look to find that.....not sure if I have any manuals for the pc but will have a hunt round later.

Does this look familiar?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07722#N1102

I can't really see from the pictures but it looks like it might be an FIC VG31, (tango), M/B. If so the cmos clear is JP3.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07722#N1155

Worth a try, anyway.

Chuzzle

Old Codger...yep I'd say thats the one....I can see on mine D33007 & VG31 .... and no unfortunately no seperate on off switch on the back of the pc either.

Wouldn't mind but it's our one and only pc that we all share...kids are going to be a nightmare! Oh well on the upside I can use this pc for practising my course on and finding out exactly how much I haven't learnt!!

Cheers for everyone's help on this I really really appreciate it.

old_codger1

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

Old Codger...yep I'd say thats the one....I can see on mine D33007 & VG31 .... and no unfortunately no seperate on off switch on the back of the pc either.

Wouldn't mind but it's our one and only pc that we all share...kids are going to be a nightmare! Oh well on the upside I can use this pc for practising my course on and finding out exactly how much I haven't learnt!!

Cheers for everyone's help on this I really really appreciate it.

Maybe you've already done it but it might be worth trying resetting the cmos with those jumpers anyway.

BTW, just a little tip about working on PC's, (although I don't know the HP particularly). You can move many of the internal bits out of the way by, for instance, taking the screws out of the back of the PSU and moving it to one side. You can often do the same with the drive cradles and other bits as well. As long as you make sure you know where and which way round the cables go so you can plug them back in again, it's not a problem.

Chuzzle

Hi Old Codger....I hadn't wanted to take any screws out in case I couldn't get them back in or remember where they should go...but I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and have a go this weekend. Hubby has already said we can go buy a replacement one, this one is rather old anyway and then I can have this one as my plaything!

old_codger1

Ruthibe73 wrote: »

Hi Old Codger....I hadn't wanted to take any screws out in case I couldn't get them back in or remember where they should go...but I think I am going to have to bite the bullet and have a go this weekend. Hubby has already said we can go buy a replacement one, this one is rather old anyway and then I can have this one as my plaything!

The usual routine is to sellotape the screws for that item to it whilst you fiddle around. Don't force anything and just move what you need to.

Depending on make/model of PC the motherboard is sometimes on a 'backplate'... a metal plate that simply screws into the computer case. If it is, as long as you're careful and don't yank the cables, it's often easier to simply undo the backplate screws and tilt it down slightly so you can get to the bits you need to, (jumpers or whatever).

Just take your time. It's not a race.

Chuzzle

Yeah I think ours is a backplate. It looks as though its screwed behind everything else. I will not let this beat me!!