Upgraded RAM, now no boot!

Hi there, not been round for a while.

A quick question regarding RAM upgrades.

I have just added 1Gb of RAM to my desktop PC, and now it won't boot up.

I also removed the heatsink from the CPU as it was clogged up with dust and replaced it.

I'm guessing I might have damaged the CPU in some way, although I was very careful about handling it.

I've tried removing the new RAM in case that was the problem but still no results.

Slightly worried as I can't really afford to replace it at the moment, and it has a lot of work on it, both mine and my parents.

Anyone have any suggestions about how to identify the problem and solve it?

Cheers.

Scoobs

 

A bit more info.

The motherboard is a Columbia VP (GA-8SIML-NF7) and the CPU is a Intel Celeron D model 325.

I've tried resetting the BIOS by removing the battery and this doesn't seem to have worked.

I was considering using the "reset CMOS" jumper, what's the result of doing this? I can reset all the BIOS settings but didn't know if there were other possible issues.

Hope someone can dig some sense out of all that.

Cheers

Scoobs

 

Check the CPU fan is properly connected after you removed the heatsink,unplug and and re connect it just to be sure,if you still have no joy a cmos jumper reset wont do any harm and is the logical course of action if you'v installed incompatible memory,the motherboard will autodetect your hardware and select the most compatible bios settings that will make the computer work

If your would like to tweak the bios for more performance at a later date there is usually an option in bios to select the settings for best performance,other than that you have go through each bios setting understand what it does for that I suggest this

http://www.techarp.com/show.aspx?fileID=18

Good luck

 

Ok, thanks for that.

So, I had a good look at the CPU and it seems I've snapped a pin off. So I have a new CPU. Fitted it, with new heatsink paste and everything and still no joy.

The CPU isn't exactly the same. It's the same type just a slightly faster clock speed. I checked on the motherboard manufacturers website and it should still be supported.

How do you use the CMOS reset jumper? Do you just change it over to the reset position and leave it for a while, or do you need to power up the system with it in the reset position. I've removed the new RAM and replaced the old block.

I think the problem stemmed from the CPU coming out of its fitting when I removed the fan and heatsink. However having replaced the CPU and still not got any results I'm beginning to wonder if I might have managed to fritz the mb as well!

 

Heres what I think to be the safest way to reset the cmos jumper,turn the computer off,turn the AC off at the wall but leave it the comp plugged in,if you dont have an earth band keep one hand on a bare metal part of the case while you move the cmos jumper,they can be fiddly and you may end up touching various other components this is to guard against static,put the cmos jumper in the reset position for 5-10secs then replace to the original position,dont try and boot the computer while the jumper is in the reset position

You can also remove the cmos jumper battery for 5-10secs then replace with the same end result

 

Ok, tried all that, absolutely no results!

I'm guessing the next step would be a replacement motherboard, much as I hate to spend the money.

Sooo does anyone in the UK know where I might source a motherboard similar to the one I listed above?

Thanks for all the help, I'm struggling to understand wtf happened, bearing in mind I didn't do anything that I've not done hundreds of times before over the years, and I made sure I was properly earthed and all. Aaaagh lol.

 

Is the broken pin still in the socket?

 

No, the pin was bent. It broke when I tried to straighten it.