problem with booting up

Question

Hi, Two weeks ago, my 2 month old computer decided not to boot up. The computer starts to boot up, but within a few seconds it shuts down, no lights, no sign of life. Sometimes it does not turn on at all, I can see the monitor light is on, but the tower is dead. I called tech support and after two hours of various testing, he had me remove and reinstall the memory cards. This took care of the problem. He told me some story about carbon deposits that occur with memory cards, especially when a computer is not used often (we use ours at least 12 hours per day), and that removing and reinstalling the cards loosens up the carbon deposits. What??? I've three other computers in my life and never once did I need to touch the memory cards. Well, that was fine with me until the same problem started happening every 2 to 3 days. All it takes to get the computer to run is to remove the memory cards and reinstall them. I don't even bother doing it anymore, my 14 year old son takes care of it (his computer). Before I call Dell Tech Support again, I thought maybe I could get some input from you knowledgeable users. Either one of both memory cards are malfunctioning. Either one or both slots are defective. Can anyone think of anything else which may be causing the problem? My system specs are: Pentium 4 Processor 530 (3.0GHz) w/HT Technology and 1MB Cache 1GB DDR 2 SDRAM at 400MHz 128MB PCI Express x16 ATI radeon X800 SE 400Gb Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200 RPM) Intel Pro 1000 Integrated PCI NIC Card 16X DVD-ROM and 12X DVD+RW Sound Blaster Audigy 2 THX Wireless Keyboard and Mouse 19 inch Monitor Klipsch Promedia Ultra 5.1 Speaker System Thanks

DELL-Donald K · Answer

Carbon deposits, that was a bunch of malarky. The biggest problems with memory modules is improper seating & heat expansion issues. When seating the RAM, ensure that you are pressing firmly on the RAM straight down in the slot until the lever SNAP up into place (NEVER, EVER, PULL the levers into position. Pulling on the levers may make contact well enough to boot for a while, but the heating & cooling of the MB/RAM during uses will eventally break contact.

If FIRMLY reseating the RAM doesn't definitively resolve the issue, then call Dell back for intermittant RAM connectivity, & have them replace the RAM & MOTHERBOARD

dfavrefelix · Answer

DaGeezerUS,

Thanks for helping me out. Problems get resolved so much faster when one knows what to ask for.
Called Dell tech rep who will be sending someone out shortly to replace the motherboard and ram.

My hat is off to you, thanks a bunch,

Danielle

Locked Topics – Desktops General

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