Added RAM. problem, but no problem?

[Raify]

I recently added 1024Mb RAM to my XP PC and when booting up it says:

"Hardware manager detected a problem, F1 to continue, F2 to go to setup"

F2 takes you to the BIOS settings, in which I could find nothing wrong. But strangely, if you just ignore it and hit F1, it boots up fine and works perfectly?

Before: 256 RAM in slot 1 (of 3)
After: 256 in slot 1, 512 in slot 2, 512 in slot 3

This is all ok according to Crucial's scan. I have 1280RAM, but could have a max of 1500 something.

Any ideas?

[Munter]

Is the date and time correct? Mine does this occasionally and it's because it's a bit didgy and it forgets the date and time... Not to mention the bus speeds..... Must buy better computer...

[BliarOut]

Go into BIOS, acknowledge settings and save them. That should cure it.

[Raify]

cool, thanks. will try that tonight.

[ARH]

Munter said:

Is the date and time correct? Mine does this occasionally and it's because it's a bit didgy and it forgets the date and time... Not to mention the bus speeds..... Must buy better computer...

this is because the bios backup battery is dead, there will be a button type battery on the motherboard, change this and all will be fixed

[Frik]

ARH said:

Munter said: Is the date and time correct? Mine does this occasionally and it's because it's a bit didgy and it forgets the date and time... Not to mention the bus speeds..... Must buy better computer... this is because the bios backup battery is dead, there will be a button type battery on the motherboard, change this and all will be fixed

Or he's got a moody ECS motherboard like mine that does this even after you change the battery.

[xiphias]

I assume you checked they were all compatible? Same bus speed etc..

[annodomini2]

Personally I would try running it without the 256 dimm fitted, may not be compatible with the new ram, very common problem with ddr memory (Which I assume is what you are running).

[JamieBeeston]

It will most likely be the system simply detected a RAM amount change and wanted you to confirm this (typically its there to let you know if you've dropped a RAM Chip)

J

[Raify]

Yes, checked compatibility using the Crucial scanner

No, haven't tried it without the 256. May well, as the "problem" is still ocurring

Date + time are correct.

[Munter]

Frik said:

Or he's got a moody ECS motherboard like mine that does this even after you change the battery.

Nail. Head. Spot on. Basically avoid cheap motherboards fom ECS...

[Raify]

annodomini2 said:

Personally I would try running it without the 256 dimm fitted, may not be compatible with the new ram, very common problem with ddr memory (Which I assume is what you are running).

If I were to try this, would it be o.k. to remove the 256 from slot 1 and leave it empty, with the 2 512's in slot 2 & 3?

Something's still not right. I can't see anything in the BIOS menu to 'accept the new hardware'

Also, the fan seems much noisier.

[Munter]

Raify said:

annodomini2 said: Personally I would try running it without the 256 dimm fitted, may not be compatible with the new ram, very common problem with ddr memory (Which I assume is what you are running). If I were to try this, would it be o.k. to remove the 256 from slot 1 and leave it empty, with the 2 512's in slot 2 & 3? Something's still not right. I can't see anything in the BIOS menu to 'accept the new hardware'

If your just pulling the 256 you probably dont need to go into the BIOS and save. It just accepts whatever is there.

Raify said:

Also, the fan seems much noisier.

Thats because you've got the side off.

[annodomini2]

any luck?

[Raify]

No, haven't tried it yet. been way-layed with malfunctioning boilers and plumbers that cancel appointments

Will have a go tomorrow and let you know. thanks for the advice

[Raify]

Tried it after all. It made no difference booting up without the 256RAM.

What sort of information from the BIOS menu would be useful?

[pentoman]

Perhaps you have to 'accept the new hardware configuration' and then all will be fine?

The fan may well be noiser as they tend to power up on full-reheat (well, cool) at first, then slow down once you start windows.

Russell

[Raify]

how do you "accept new hardware configuration" ?

[danielson]

in your bios you should have a File option which usually lists Apply Changes and Exit, Ignore Changes and Exit etc etc..

[annodomini2]

pentoman said:

Perhaps you have to 'accept the new hardware configuration' and then all will be fine? The fan may well be noiser as they tend to power up on full-reheat (well, cool) at first, then slow down once you start windows. Russell

Usually press F10 on wanting to exit the BIOS.