Problems installing RAM

[Vaskez]

Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: I just re-installed windows after having to delete my harddisk - now on to the rest of my software I don't know if it was the 128 extra RAM I just installed or the EverQuest I was in the middle of installing - but the result was a total breakdown And I lost all my saved games [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] P.S. Luckily I still had my password to IW [img]smile.gif[/img]

Tsk Tsk, should always back up stuff on CD-RWs or zip disks or a 2d hard disk.

[Ar-Cunin]

Originally posted by Vaskez: quote: Originally posted by Ar-Cunin: I just re-installed windows after having to delete my harddisk - now on to the rest of my software I don't know if it was the 128 extra RAM I just installed or the EverQuest I was in the middle of installing - but the result was a total breakdown And I lost all my saved games [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crying.gif[/img] P.S. Luckily I still had my password to IW [img]smile.gif[/img]

Tsk Tsk, should always back up stuff on CD-RWs or zip disks or a 2d hard disk.[/QUOTE]I know, I know - but real men don't back up

Actually I have back-up everything important (relatively ) of floppy-discs [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Earthdog]

Compaq has set their systems up to where you can only use Compaq hardware in them. Going by experience, personal and that of friends, and things Ive read on the web, if you install new RAM it has to be Compaq RAM. Their BIOS will only find Compaq products. Supposedly anyway. There may be a few success stories out there but they are buried in the frustration stories.

If I were you Id look to getting a new motherboard and processor.

As its been stated a few times in this thread, PC133 is backward compatible. However, you CAN mix PC133 with PC100. Only thing is PC133 will only run at PC100 speeds if the two are mixed. If you have a mianboard that supports PC100 but not PC133, the PC133 becomes PC100 with a latency of 2.0 instead of (like a normal stick) of PC100 with a latnecy of 2.5.

Same thing with DDR DSRAM. If the mainboard only supports PC2100, using PC2700 changes the latency from 2.5 to 2.0.

I also dont care for Compaqs like Andrewas Most people whove tried to fix them feel the same way.

What it all comes down to is :either your Compaq will not support another companies products, OR its a bad stick of RAM.
A third possibility is that the Compaq BIOS will not support a 256meg stick which is also highly possible.

[homer]

Originally posted by Earthdog: If I were you Id look to getting a new motherboard and processor. I also dont care for Compaqs like Andrewas Most people whove tried to fix them feel the same way. What it all comes down to is :either your Compaq will not support another companies products, OR its a bad stick of RAM.

128MB 100MHz DIMM $102.00

That’s what Compaq want to charge me for RAM? Shame on them.

I might consider getting a new motherboard if I had any idea how to replace the one I have. As well, if I have a Compaq, and it has only Compaq parts, would not a new motherboard just give me more problems?

I do believe, in the future, I will no longer buy Compaq products. I hate to make such a general statement, but my experience with this machine has just been horrendous. [img]graemlins/finger2.gif[/img] Compaq

I took the RAM chip back to the store where I purchased it; they found that it worked just fine in their computer.

[Earthdog]

Homer, I have to say this, not buying another Compaq is probably the best idea youve had all day [img]smile.gif[/img]

You can get a great motherboard in the States for less than $75 www.newegg.com and youll find one. By all accounts this is probably the most reputable online retailer. If youre going to that route though, I'd like to know what type of processor you have and if you'd like to upgrade that as well. Ill get you some prices. Actually, I strongly recommend a new CPU to go with the new mainboard. You can get an AMD Duron 1.3 GHz for about $40 USD and an ECS K7S5A mainboard which supports SD RAM and DDR SDRAM (just not simultaniously) for only $57. Asus A7A266-E does the same for about the same cost (thats the board I have.) So youre able to upgrade your RAM at a later date without having to buy a new mainboard yet again.

Whatever board you buy, just make sure it doesnt have onboard video. You can always upgrade your video card if you have an AGP slot. Some boards have onboard video as well as an AGP slot but they can cause conflicts so its best to just skip the onboard crap.

You can always get an AMD XP2100+ for about $100 and its a much better CPU than the Duron. You can get a 1.6 GHZ for less than what a 500MHz cost 4 years ago.

Youll even be able to use the new RAM you bought in either one ofthe board mentioned above. then in a few months get you some DDR PC2100 and watch the scores climb on 3DMark2001SE.

[Sir Krustin]

Earthdog made some good points (I have the ECS K7S5A right now - kickass board)

I'd like to add, if you're planning on upgrading the mobo make sure it'll work with your p/s and case - I suspect it won't.

If not, you'll have to buy a case w/300w p/s. Your peripherals should still work, but I wouldn't bet on that either. Best bet is to take your whole case down to a local computer store and ask them if it's upgradable.

[andrewas]

The following components from a compaq machine are likely to work with a non-compaq machine (IME).

Monitor. Mouse. Keyboard.

As for the rest:

Cases from compaq are useless, all the ones I have are highly nonstandard. The 486 and the pentiums both have connector layouts and expansion slots that are radicaly different from the ATX motherboards in use today. Although the build quality on the case isnt that bad - Ive rarely cut myself in one. Except for last week. Sigh. *bleeds*

Also the motherboards from compaq have a different PSU connector to anything else Ive seen. Ever. Standard AT connector and then another one. Odd. Also the PSU in a compaq machine has less power connectors tham is usualy acceptable.

Expansion cards (sound, modem, etc) dont usualy seem to be nonstandard from what I can tell, but I woudnt lay money on them working.

In case you cant tell, compaq make good enough machines, but they are deliberately designed to be a pain to work with, in order to increase compaqs after-sales profits.

[Vaskez]

Originally posted by andrewas: The following components from a compaq machine are likely to work with a non-compaq machine (IME). Monitor. Mouse. Keyboard. As for the rest: Cases from compaq are useless, all the ones I have are highly nonstandard. The 486 and the pentiums both have connector layouts and expansion slots that are radicaly different from the ATX motherboards in use today. Although the build quality on the case isnt that bad - Ive rarely cut myself in one. Except for last week. Sigh. *bleeds* Also the motherboards from compaq have a different PSU connector to anything else Ive seen. Ever. Standard AT connector and then another one. Odd. Also the PSU in a compaq machine has less power connectors tham is usualy acceptable. Expansion cards (sound, modem, etc) dont usualy seem to be nonstandard from what I can tell, but I woudnt lay money on them working. In case you cant tell, compaq make good enough machines, but they are deliberately designed to be a pain to work with, in order to increase compaqs after-sales profits.

You cut yourself fiddling around inside your case? Bloody hell how did you manage that? THere's nothing remotely sharp in my case. Also I've never seen inside a Compaq but surely even they use the PCI standard in which case of course expansion cards will work on a new mobo.

[Animal]

Originally posted by andrewas: The following components from a compaq machine are likely to work with a non-compaq machine (IME). Monitor. Mouse. Keyboard. As for the rest: Cases from compaq are useless, all the ones I have are highly nonstandard. The 486 and the pentiums both have connector layouts and expansion slots that are radicaly different from the ATX motherboards in use today. Although the build quality on the case isnt that bad - Ive rarely cut myself in one. Except for last week. Sigh. *bleeds* Also the motherboards from compaq have a different PSU connector to anything else Ive seen. Ever. Standard AT connector and then another one. Odd. Also the PSU in a compaq machine has less power connectors tham is usualy acceptable. Expansion cards (sound, modem, etc) dont usualy seem to be nonstandard from what I can tell, but I woudnt lay money on them working. In case you cant tell, compaq make good enough machines, but they are deliberately designed to be a pain to work with, in order to increase compaqs after-sales profits.

The ATX connector from a Compaq PSU will physical fit into a standard ATX mobo, but the wiring is incorrect and you'll end up toasting both. If I remember correctly Compaq uses and additional 12V connector to the mobo. Their reasoning was that it adds extra stability to the system.
I've cut myself a few times on various different cases. I wish they'd round off the edges so they weren't so dang sharp. Blood doesn't mix well with circuit boards!

[andrewas]

Originally posted by Vaskez: You cut yourself fiddling around inside your case? Bloody hell how did you manage that? THere's nothing remotely sharp in my case. Also I've never seen inside a Compaq but surely even they use the PCI standard in which case of course expansion cards will work on a new mobo.

Not my case, a work one. Anyhow, way back in the dark ages cases were *very* cheaply manufactured. I once saw a guy cut his wrist (the skin, not the arteries) *all the way round* by putting his hand through the hole in the case where the PSU would normaly be. Most modern ones are better though, although the back panel can still have razor edges on it.

And compaq does appear to use PCI/ISA/AGP standard slots, but if the BIOS on the card requires a compaq motherboard, of course the expansion cards will not work on a new mobo.