trouble installing RAM

[babazoo]

I went and purchased another 128mb of SDram at 100mhz for my system. It is a 500mhz PIII. After installing the memory, the computer would not boot. I took the memory out, still wouldn't boot. Eventually, I got it to start, and got
an error message saying "CMOS checksum bad" press F1 to enter setup, F2 to restore defaults and continue. After pressing F2, I got into windows, it installed some drivers for new components and seems to be working ok. I don't want to try rebooting just yet, in case I can't get it started again. What the hell is going on? How can I get my RAM to work, and most importantly, what happened to my system?

 

[Oracle]

I'll assume you're using a BX chipset with PC100 modules.
Make sure you fill the Memory Banks in the right order (starting with bank 0) with the biggest module first. If that's not the chipset and/or module you have, then provide us with some info. In the meantime, try the Bank thing.


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

it's an intel 440ZX 100mhz chipset.
There are only two available banks, and one of them already had a 128mb chip in it.

 

[Oracle]

Are your modules compatible? (you can't mix EDO with SDRAM).


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

Yeah they are both regular SDRAM chips.

 

[Oracle]

Try clearing CMOS and restoring BIOS default afterwards.



<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

yeah I did that, and it seems to be working ok, but it takes quite a while to load windows, and just hangs on the shutting down windows screen

 

[Oracle]

Did Windows detect your modules properly?
About the hang thing, a BIOS upgrade might resolve that. It worked for me a while back on my BX system.
Run WCPUID and check how much memory it detects.
You can download it there : <A HREF="http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html" target="_new">http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA002374/src/download.html</A>



<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

A bios upgrade..... I might try that next.
And I don't have the new module installed right now, cause I need the computer for a project, but after I backup everything, I'll try it again.

Thanks for the help by the way, I really appreciate it.

 

[Oracle]

Always glad to help!
Good luck!
;-)


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

hmmm just noticed something interesting........ my system clock reads April 8, 1999.

I'm about ready to throw this thing into the trash!

 

[Oracle]

Can't you just adjust the system clock?


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[babazoo]

yeah it's not a problem, it's just weird that it would spontaneously change date

 

[Oracle]

You've probably been struck by the CMOS Evil Spirit hovering over your PC or the Dark Leprechaun of Clock Disturbance!
Sorry, I'm just delirious here. I've been experiencing extended exposition to the Sun today!


<font color=red>A platform is not an oil rig.</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

The ZX is a less expensive version of the BX with the same performance. Intel reduced the ZX to 512MB capacity and 4 PCI bus mastering slots instead of 5. No effect on performance.

You shouldn't even bother with PC100, as PC133 is usually cheaper now and of higher quality. In fact, most of the PC100 on the market right now is either defective, or relabled, PC133.

OK, so you haven't passed the 512MB limit, the next question is, how many chips are on the module? Read the FAQ for density limits on the TX/LX/BX, they also apply to the ZX, 32MB per chip, so your 128MB module has to have at least 8 chips on it.

<font color=blue>By now you're probably wishing you had ask more questions first!</font color=blue>

 

[babazoo]

Yeah there's 8 chips.
But I don't think that this is a RAM related issue, because when I took the RAM module out, the computer still wouldn't boot, and I got the CMOS checksum bad error. The effects were the same regardless if the RAM was in or not. But the thing that confuses me, is why the CMOS would get messed up.

 

[Crashman]

I don't know. Did you unplug the computer before installing it? You know that the board remains "ON" when the rest of the system is "Off" right?

<font color=blue>By now you're probably wishing you had ask more questions first!</font color=blue>

 

[Dinski]

A question and an answer:
Have you checked your CMOS- battery? An exhausted battery is a verry possible reason for some of the problems you got.
The Windows might be starting slower because it takes a longer time to your PC to check and count the larger memory. In this case not windows, but the whole process of loading after starting the PC is longer.

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