Compaq Presario 5BW284 Memory Upgrade

I have a Compaq Presario 5BW284 computer. It is pretty old, but I don't need to do any gaming or higher end computing. I purchased some high density memory to upgrade it with, and when I install it, I only get a black screen. I switch back to the original memory and it works just fine. The bios on the motherboard is from 2000. I can't find where I can upgrade it. The motherboard is Compaq 06COh. I have seen some mention that it needs low density memory. Is there any way to make it work with the high density memory?

Thanks,

Keyser

 

To get help, you need to tell us the details of the memory modules.
First find out what type of memory your old modules are (SDRAM, DDR or DDR2) then find out what the new ones are and post the info here. Also find out the speed of the memory.

In order to work together, the modules need to be the same type and preferably the same speed.

 

PC133 256MB 256 MB PC 133 SDRAM DIMM RAM MEMORY 168 PIN. The old was 128BM PC100.

 

Are you going to add the new memory or replace the old one with the new module?
Different manufacturer's modules and of different speeds might not always work together. However the new module alone should work unless your mainboard doesn't like it for some reason.

 

I will be replacing the original with two of the PC133. I also forgot to mention that when I installed them all the would have was that a black screen would come up. You can hear the system fire up and begin the process, but it won't seem to actually boot up.

Thanks

 

A couple of things before all:
You should make sure that the memory sticks are in the correct slots. If your mainboard has 4 DIMM slots, you need to make sure that you install them into correct slots. You can check this from the instruction manual of the mainboard. Also, make sure you have pushed the modules all the way in the slots, they need to be locked in place.

Can you get to BIOS? Can you see the memory listed there?

 

I have been having trouble getting into the BIOS. I only seem to be able to get into the windows start up menu. I was going to try a few more things to see if I can get at the BIOS, but would love some suggestions.

The board information is Compaq 06C0h, chipset name intel 810E-DC133.

I also did try to reseat the memory several times and make sure that it is locked in good. That did not seem to help. There are also only two slots and I have tried one in only one slot and filling them both up. That did not make any difference.

Thanks again for the help!

 

Wait, you are getting to Windows start up screen? If Windows starts loading, the memory should be working.

Try get to BIOS as well, by pressing DEL, ESC or some of the function keys repeatedly right after powering up.
In BIOS, find the memory set up and see if it recognizes the modules.

 

When you say "windows start up menu" what exactly do you mean by that? Can you get almost to desktop, but instead of your desktop it shows you a black screen? Do you get to a boot options menu? More importantly, can you get into your BIOS setup?

If you can, check if all memory is recognized there. Once we know the answer to these questions, then we can start troubleshooting your issue.

 

Ok I got into the BIOS. What I meant to say is that when the old memory is in, it comes up fine. When I put the new memory in by itself, it doesn't do anything. The system starts up, but I only get a black screen. It sounds like things are running, but nothing happens. When I put in an old stick with a new stick, it does not seem to recognize the new stick, only the old stick.

 

When I have the old 128MB stick in it says 128MB in the BIOS. In the BIOS, When I put the 128MB stick in with the new 256MB stick in, it still says I have 128 MB. The system does boot up when both are there.

However, when I only have one of the new ones in there (256MB), the computer screen does not even light up. The LED on the monitor stays orange. I get a power light on the front, the NIC card, the fan starts turning. Basically the same lights that come on when it works except for maybe the keyboard. Other than that I get nothing. I have not given it a long time to sit there when it does not appear to be coming up. I give it a few minutes maybe.

So in the BIOS, it does not appear to be recognizing the new memory.

 

How many components do you have on the 128 and on the 256...? You mentioned something about densities in your first post, and counting components is an easy way to find out.

If there are BIOS updates available for your motherboard, installing the latest one could make the new memory work.

Of course, there is also the possibility that the new memory simply is defective, and dead. Try to get it replaced if it's still under warranty, and see if that fixes it.

 

You have two problems to think about when buying more ram for a 'puter that old. First, it must be the same type, and in your case that's SDRAM.
Next it should be exactly the same speed.
PC100 is what you need, not PC133 and that is still available from many suppliers.
I saw some in a Comp USA store two days ago in Orlando.

Next you need to know what the maximum amount of ram that motherboard will take. You may even find that on the manufacturers web site.

To simplify matters and stop all the guessing, why don't you go right to the professional ram dealer and find out what you need?
If you'll just go to www.crucial.com and download their Scanner program and run it,,,,,, it will tell you exactly what you have and what you can upgrade to, if anything. You can even buy the recommended ram right there from their web site. I just went thru this yesterday with a customer of mine who has 512megs of ram in a PC running Windows XP-Pro. His "MSI" motherboard will take two gig's of DDR 266 ram so that's what he ordered from "Crucial".
Shipping was free and he'll have his ram in about a week.

It don't get much easier than that.

Happy Holidays!
The Shadow :cool

 

I just did the Googling for you and found this site with all the info on that PC and what ram it will take.
Take a look, or Google your Model # yourself.

http://www.upgradecomputermemory.co...ther-Compaq-Presario-Desktops/Presario-5BW284

Good Luck,
The Shadow :cool

 

on the 128 there are 16 chips and on the 256 there are 16 chips.


I also am having trouble finding a bios update for the motherboard. That is what I wondered could be the problem.

Thanks again for the help.

 

NO, it's not the problem and it's very doubtful if you'll ever find an bios update for a compaq that old.

Those older computers are just very fussy about what ram chips they will accept. Gateways used to be so fussy that you had to buy your ram directly from Gateway, or it wouldn't work at all.

Did you even look at that link I posted? I think I'd go with them.
If you buy the right ram for that motherboard, it will work!
You already found out that buying the WRONG ram will NOT work.:cry

good luck,
Shadow :cool

 

I did look at the link and try the crucial scanner. I did some of this legwork before i bought the RAM that i have, and want to be sure before I purchase more that might not work. The crucial scanner would not work.

One reason that I am not convinced that is the problem is that when I run ASTRA32 it sees the second stick of RAM complete with its specs. How could the system see it if it doesn't work. It seems to me that this has something more to do with the system needing some setting changed. Is this a faulty assumption?

Thanks for the help

 

Does anyone know why the ASTRA Program would see the RAM, but the system properties would not acknowledge it?