HELP! HP PC won't boot after installing new RAM

DeaconBlue

I have tried to do my girlfriend's Dad a favour by installing a 256MB DDR SDRAM chip in his HP Pavilion a708. It already had an identical chip so I put the new one into the other spare slot and when booting it now has one repeated long beep (about 7 secs). Nothing appears on the screen.

According to one site, one long beep means "The memory refresh circuitry on the motherboard is faulty." However, after removing the new chip it still has the same problem. In other words I've put it back to how it was when it was working and it still won't boot!

I've tried re-seating memory and most connections but still no luck. I've disconnected the mouse and keyboard as well. The only other thing I did was to brush away the dust and cobwebs!

Any ideas what could be the problem? I didn't use an anti-static wrist strap but made sure I touched the chassis to earth myself.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

Zahc

The only thing I can think of is to try resetting the CMOS. Hopefully the PC will have a user guide to help you. It normally involves removing the battery and re positioning the CMOS jumper, but MB vary.

Zahc

DeaconBlue

According to the HP page about this motherboard...

"The JP1 jumper allows you to clear the Real Time Clock (RTC) in CMOS. It also allows clearing of date, time, and system setup parameter memories in CMOS, by erasing the RTC RAM data. The onboard button cell battery powers the RAM data in CMOS, including system setup information."

I've tried moving the jumper to pins 2 and 3 (as it says on the board itself to clear it) but this hasn't made any difference. I've also tried removing the CMOS battery and disconnecting HDD, DVD, Floppy, modem card and it's still beeping.

Any other ideas?

Mike

j_davies

Did you blow any dust out of the spare slot first? as you can get faulty mobo readings because the chip is sat on dust and not the connectors, just a thought.

Im pretty sure this is your mobo

If not check here

fox2319

I'm having exactly this problem with a friends PC. Same beep code (around 7 secs). The 2 pointers I've found online suggest it could be either a faulty PSU or a faulty/mis-seated CPU. Have not had a chance to look at this here yet (will see if I can borrow another PSU tomorrow)

Links are:

PSU
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-on_self-test
(Beep code table at the bottom of the page)
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

CPU
http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-47446-long-beep-short-deadline-.html

Let me know how you get on if you get it resolved. I'll try to do the same.

Cheers

Jeff

DeaconBlue

Right, I'm now thinking it's got to be the motherboard. I've tried a good memory chip (memory socket is clear of dust) and a good PSU. Also re-seated the CPU.

According to the HP site the motherboard is SF2/661FX. I can't find anyone selling that particular type so am I just searching for any motherboard with socket type 478??? Info about what and where best to get it would be much appreciated.

Mike

fox2319

DeaconBlue wrote:

Right, I'm now thinking it's got to be the motherboard. I've tried a good memory chip (memory socket is clear of dust) and a good PSU. Also re-seated the CPU.

According to the HP site the motherboard is SF2/661FX. I can't find anyone selling that particular type so am I just searching for any motherboard with socket type 478??? Info about what and where best to get it would be much appreciated.

Mike

What type of processor is it?

Cheers

Jeff

DeaconBlue

It's an Intel Celeron D 330.

fox2319

DeaconBlue wrote:

It's an Intel Celeron D 330.

This one seems to do the job

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119412

Costs £35ish incl delivery. (ebuyer's delivery bunch aren't usually brilliant though)

Hope that helps

Jeff

albertross_2

have you tried it with no memory?

DeaconBlue

Yes, it still beeps with no memory installed. Whether that's a standard thing I don't know.