Ram Problems

[grievingexistence]

Ok let me try and explain the whole story:

I have a T5026 emachines with the specs listed in my sig. It has 2 Dual Channel DDR400 sticks in it. I decided I wanted to move up to 1 gig of Ram so I went over to crucial, did the test to make sure I wasnt going to get anything incompatible, it arrived, I put my new 1x512 in a slot. This new 512 was single channel so therefore everything was put into single channel mode. Whenever I would start to access the last 512 stick I would get an error, the screen would be filled with colorful dots for a second and the machine would restart. After trying every configuration possible with the 4 DIMM slots in my machine I gave up and set it back.

Trying again I this time bought 2x256mg sticks of Samsung dual channel RAM with the same exact serial # of my existing 2x256 sticks of RAM. Once again this happens. I tested the new 2x256 by itself and with my existing RAM and as soon as windows started or sometimes before as it was going to the log on screen it would get an error and restart. Dissatisfied I sent it back.

Finally, last resort I pay the $111.00 + shipping for a stick of 512mb Dual Channel RAM from Emachines the maker of the computer since I heard possibly only RAM from my manufacturer would work. I slap that stick in today with every configuration possible and even just the one new 512mb stick by itself which i bought from my computers manufacturer and I still get the errors and the machine restarts on its own.

It can be nothing software related I just reformatted and did a fresh install of xp less than 2 days ago..

I'm completely confused and in awe. Why is absolutely no RAM on the earth compatible with my machine except the 2x256 sticks that were shipped with the machine? Any ideas?

[Cricket]

Maybe the motherboard is defective...or the memory slots are bad.

Cricket

[Digitalic]

If it were me I`d focus my troubleshooting on video problems. In my opinion you`ve eliminated RAM as the problem.

"the screen would be filled with colorful dots for a second and the machine would restart"

[Redfallon]

Are you grounding yourself before installing the RAM? Are you installing the RAM correctly? How many RAM slots are on your board?

[grievingexistence]

yes i'm grounded when working on my pc, the motherboard couldnt be defective or I wouldnt think the original 2 modules would continually work while rejecting everything else.. When I have my original 2 sticks and add more RAM the computer will boot up and work fine with the first 512mb of memory. As soon as I open enough applications or start a game and it begins to use the new RAM that is when it crashes and reboots.. I could turn off automatic restart and try to get an error code if that would be any help..

Theres a total of 4 slots on the board, I've tried lots of configuration, my original 2 being used first, switching it so the new ram gets used first and the other 2 on the end, no combinations work correctly and it crashes as soon as or soon after accessing the other ram modules..

Yes when It restarts and theres a flash of dots then the reboot that immediately makes me think "video?"

The computer is about 3 to 4 months old..

[glc]

Crucial only lists DDR333 ram as being compatible - are you sure you have DDR400?

I'd remove the factory ram and get one of these:

1GB kit (512MBx2)
CT443563
DDR PC2700 • CL=2.5 • UNBUFFERED • NON-ECC • DDR333 • 2.5V • 64Meg x 64
US $111.99

If that doesn't work, I'd say you have a warranty issue with eMachines.

[grievingexistence]

yes i was confused too as even on emachines site it says it has ddr333 but in my bios and when i take the chips out they are ddr400, but thanks its worth a shot and ive got nothing to lose.