Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (
More info?)
Thanks Anna.
After reading Anna's post it makes sense to hold off on a BIOS update. You
already have problems and if something goes wrong (possibly because of the
existing problem) you'll have a door stop. Thanks Anna!
Xrandom
"Anna" wrote:
> > "Jim Ludwig" wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all,
> >> I'm inquiring about a problem a friend of mine is having. He built his
> >> own
> >> system piece by piece. He bought all top rated peripherals: Asus
> >> motherboard, 1 gb Kingston Ram (2 X 512), AMD 64 processor, Nvidia
> >> graphics
> >> board, Soundblaster Audigy, etc. It was a rather ambitious undertaking
> >> for
> >> someone who has never done this before. Anyway, he completed the setup
> >> and
> >> turned the system on. He gets black screen, then "memory test failed"
> >> error
> >> message. That's it. No bios screens, nothing. He can't even get into
> >> the
> >> bios. He has tried rearranging the dimms in every possible combination
> >> with
> >> the 4 slots. He tried using just one dimm. Same error every time. My
> >> first thought was that he was shipped a bad memory chip, but even
> >> individually, it doesn't work. I find it unlikely that he got 2 bad
> >> memory
> >> dimms. My next thought is that the memory slots on the motherboard are
> >> bad
> >> or perhaps, the bus. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
> >>
> >> Jim
> >> jimlud@sbcglobal.net
>
>
> "Xrandom" <Xrandom@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:45460409-5802-46B4-B333-DEA4B5985569@microsoft.com...
> > Certaninly sounds like a hardware issue.
> >
> > 1) Update the BIOS via floopy
> >
> > 2) Get a hold of RAM that you know works and try it
> >
> > 3) Read the manual to see if your ram is support (in terms of CAS Latency
> > and size)
> >
> > 4) Read the manual to see if there are jumpers that need to be changed on
> > the motherboard itself.
> >
> > 5) Unplug everything except the power, mother board, and RAM (to check to
> > make sure its nothing else.) You should atleast get through the memory
> > check
> > before it beeps at you.
> >
> > 6) ....?
>
> > Xrandom
>
>
> Jim:
> The best advice you're going to get is the one from Xrandom. Unfortunately
> he reversed the steps to take in diagnosing your friend's problem and
> correcting it. And one of his recommendations is not appropriate in my
> estimation.
>
> The crucial thing is to start with step #5. In my experience the most
> significant mistake make by first-time or inexperienced builders is that
> they assemble and install all the computer's components before testing them
> step-by-step. Then when they turn on the power and get that black screen
> it's a much more tortuous & frustrating process to learn why this happened,
> and more importantly, to correct the situation.
>
> You start with the assumption that all the components to be installed are
> functional and without defect. In the cases that I've come across where the
> computer was built by an inexperienced builder and he or she is experiencing
> problems of one sort or another, in virtually every case the problem lay
> with builder error and *not* a defective component. Sure, we will encounter
> a defective component now & then, but in the main that's not the problem.
>
> Ideally, your friend should assemble his or her computer on a step-by-step
> basis, installing the minimal number of components necessary at any given
> time during the construction process. That means he or she first installs
> the power supply (should the case not come with one built-in), the
> processor, heat sink, RAM modules, and video card. Nothing else. Then
> connect the power lead, connect the monitor, and power up. You *must* get a
> screen display at this point. Please have your friend read that last
> sentence again. If you don't get a screen display at this point, you go no
> further. You must find the problem and correct it. Is the motherboard
> shorting out because it wasn't fastened to the case correctly? Are there any
> jumpers on the MB that need setting? Are all connections that have been made
> secure? Has the CPU been installed correctly as well as its heatsink? Is the
> CPU fan turning? Is the video card seated properly? Ditto the RAM modules.
>
> And so it goes. You install one component at a time and test each out to
> make sure it's functional and without defect. There's no magic to this
> process. You must approach it methodically and systematically.
>
> Neither I, nor anyone else can give you a definitive answer at this time as
> to the specific reason for your friend's problem and what corrective action
> to take. There are so many reasons for his or her dilemma that it's
> impossible to say at this juncture.
>
> One final point. "Xrandom" mentioned is his item #1 (shudder!) that your
> friend should install a BIOS update. Absolutely not. At this point don't
> even consider such an action. It's fraught with danger at this juncture and
> surely totally unnecessary to correct your friend's problem. If your friend
> is even considering such an action he should forthwith get in touch with
> ASUS and seek their advice and recommendations before attempting to update
> the BIOS.
> Anna
>
>
>