RAM upgrade trouble with HP desktop

I have an HP Pav a510n desktop. I happily went to microcenter and picked up two new 1GB ram sticks, followed all protocol to change it out (turned off everything, grounded myself...heh), and everything looked good - at first.

Upon trying to install a large program, the pc restarted. After that, it shut down again and I had to power down manually and restart to get any kind of signal. In the end, even a manual restart didn't work and I could hear a continuous "beep" coming from the tower. I powered off and reinstalled the old ram stick - working fine now, but I want more ram!

I have a feeling it may have something to do with the BIOs....? Or that I need to configure something else. BIOS is a little intimidating to me. Suggestions are MUCH appreciated.

I've attached my Everest report, and the RAM I installed is 1GB 184-pin DIMM DDR PC2700 x2 - brand name: Buffalo.

 

Did you visit this link to link prior to purchasing the RAM? Click on "scan my system" and you'll see what the recommended RAM type is for your laptop.

 

Which link?

 

This link.

 

Yes, I visited crucial, and I do have the correct RAM sticks. I think as this thing goes on I'm coming to the conclusion that one or the other of them is just bad. I'm heading to Microcenter to exchange them and see what happens.

 

Ok! I just got back from MC, and I've inserted the two 1GB RAM sticks. I'm wondering if there's a sure-fire way to test them....? I'm going to try to reinstall the Adobe Master Collection and see if I can get through that. I suppose that will be test enough....?

Thanks all for the help. =)

 

If you really want to test them, try this program. Very thorough and reliable.

 

I believe the max RAM is 1 GB total (512x2), needed to install a graphics card to max an emachine once. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00090221&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=&product=405460

 

Corsair and Kingston also say 2GB maximum. My guess is HP hasn't bothered updating their numbers since they printed them way back when, whereas the ones actually selling the upgrades have more current numbers.

 

Just curious, did you try and re-seat the RAM. Often (depending on BIOS) the BIOS error code with a continuous beep indicates a memory problem which can be resolved by re-seating the RAM. Mimsy has posted arguably the best RAM testing app.

 

I did not try to reseat the RAM before I took it back. We thought it might be BIOS related, but didn't think of reseating. Possibly could have saved me a trip across town!

 

Well this had happened to a friend recently (but the RAM had been working happily for several years) and I told him to just reseat the RAM and the problem was solved (PC was working again and the RAM module had just worked lose somehow). This may have been your problem but it also may have been a defective module, I always reseat first them try memtest then return it.

So you got a replacement?