[RESOLVED] Old HP desktop will not boot up

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http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...uct=59784#N399

Hopefully the link above will list the info you need to perhaps help me. This old HP computer is a family member's discarded PC. AFAIK, the only hardware that has been replaced is the hard drive. She did have win98SE as her OS and the PC had to be formatted because of all the junk;etc that was on it. It would boot but would hardly run. 2 nights ago I used DBAN and removed everything on the hard drive, added a stick of DDR 128MB RAM to hopefully compliment the 64MB that is still in the machine when she bought it new about 10 years ago. HP builders must have had baby hands to install the RAM. Everything is so very close inside the case and completely seeing how to install the RAM is next to impossible. (had to rely on hearing the stick of RAM click when it was pressed into place) I would have removed the RAM stick I installed if it were easy. May have to do it anyway to see if that is the problem. Yes, the stick is good, I think, but then how would I know if this is the problem or not unless I do remove it. Maybe I knocked some connection loose while blindly installing the RAM.
Now the only thing that happens when trying it boot it is the monitor screen shows the HP logo---nothing more. I tried using the win boot up floppy but nothing even happens. It is as though the floppy drive does not work---but it did because I used it before trying to "clean" the PC. Any ideas from anyone will be most welcomed. As usual, TIA.

[Train]

Sounds like the 2 sticks are not 100% compatable.

Remove the old stick and try booting up.


I agree, it can be tight in there.

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Tis the night before Thanksgiving and I was afraid I was going to read a message like yours. Maybe between burps tomorrow, I'll remove the stick I installed. May have to call on a munitions expert to "blow" that stick outta there

[Train]

When it is colder there. Good luck.

[104456]

added a stick of DDR 128MB RAM to hopefully compliment the 64MB that is still in the machine

Erm are you sure?

Type Supported SDRAM, 100 MHz, Intel PC SDRAM unbuffered DIMM

[lgbpop]

Buf, if that PC is a 64xx-66xx vintage Pavilion or similar you can remove the cover, then remove screws at the front, top and rear edges of the left side inner panel (the panel the motherboard's mounted to). Then, swing it out as if hinged at the rear and you'll have full access to the RAM slots. Be careful, as there's a 3-wire connection from the mobo to the OEM PSU that controls the PSU fan and it disconnects easily. Also, most of those old HP mobos are TriGem products that require the larger of two RAM sticks to be installed in Slot 0, and most have a 256MB limit on the RAM.

Our first computer was a Pavilion 6636 that is still in working condition (it's a Linux box now) and I remember trying to add RAM before I discovered the trick to it. Not a fun task!

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Thanks for correcting me 104456. I had misstated DDR. It is SDRAM as you correctly stated.

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logbook you were right on all counts. . Applying what you stated resulted in installing the RAM easily and correctly. Many Many thanks for passing on your tips. I did not have a 256 stick of SD RAM RAM so I installed a 128MB stick in in the O slot and moved the 64MB RAM HP had in it when my S-I-L bought it new. I'll post my results after seeing my "handiwork" and running FDISK and Partitioning the 30GB Maxtor HD. Words of caution to those who may go into the innards of their PC--this one especially--there some sharp edges of metal in there. One of them bit me when my work was nearly finished. A finger was slashed and my typing speed has disappeared because I am back to "hunt and peck" for now.
I think am going to be happy with this PC now.

[lgbpop]

Thanks for the update. I've got tons of SDRAM 128MB modules if you want to max that machine out, I believe there's PC100 in the mix. Crucial's website can confirm how much you can cram into it. If 256MB is the limit, you might consider putting Win2K on it. Microsoft stopped supporting 9x OSs in July 2006, whereas extended support for 2000 goes another two-three years.

You could probably coax XP onto that machine, but it'd be an exercise in frustration without at least ½GB of RAM.

Happy Turkey Day!

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Thanks for the additional info. 256MB is the max I believe. I did see at some site that 512MB was the max. And I had considered trying XP for the 30 days but I don't think I would like a crawling computer. I had also considered 2000but I don't access to that CD. This, BTW, may just be a trial and error PC for practice.
Happy turkey day back to you. We went out to eat our feast and now I won't have to deal with leftovers.

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&%^$**& Forgot to acknowledge Train's correct diagnosis of bootup problem. The two Ram sticks were not compatible

[Train]

Each memory slot can hold SDRAM, PC133 with a maximum of 128MB per slot.*
Maximum Memory: 256MB

Crucial says.
http://www.crucial.com/store/listpar...on%20XE736

Probably mixed the old pc100 with newer PC133 and they are not compatable.

Sounds like you enjoyed your day. Glad to hear you did.

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Thanks for verifying the 256MB is max for this HP. I have 192MB in it now and it shows 191MB FREE. I did a Custom install of Win98 (glad I still had my CD. I also have the 98SE CD but it was rejected each time I would try it; low memory, virus or some other reason. I can see a scratch on the CD and that may be the reason for a non-install)
Hind site now tells me that I should have burned a copy of the original CD.)

[Train]

Yard sale time maybe. Something to do you might say.
Hit the flea market at Daytona Beach might be good also. If you be close enough.

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Those are good suggestions Train. The flea market at Daytona is about 45 miles away. I might add that it is a very nice flea market and is along I95 and US92.
Being "stuck" in Win98, I don't believe I will find USB drivers; for if I remember correctly, this OS won't support USB. Heck, I'll search for 'em and if found, I'll burn to a CD and try to install from the CD Rom. All kinds of learning curves going on here----I think.