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Hi - this is kind of off-topic, but I know you guys really know ur stuff and I can't think of a better place to ask.

I'm helping my aunt/uncle upgrade the RAM in their HP Pavilion 8756C computer. It takes PC100 memory and from my knowledge, PC133 is backwards compatible with PC100. They currently have 1 128MB PC100 chip in their computer, and I recommended to them that they pick up 2 256 MB PC133 chips to replace that one. Problem comes in when both new chips are in the computer, it won't go past the opening "HP INVENT" screen. If i leave the 128 chip in the left hand slot, it boots fine - but if the 128 chip is in the right slot, it won't boot...and if both of the new chips are in, it won't boot...any ideas how i could get the machine up to its full 512 MB potential?

Thanks in advance!

Josh

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schizojames Fri, 05/20/2005 - 15:48

Umm...here is a tip. NEVER put any RAM in a computer that is not designed specifically for that computer! Not unless you want it to explode, anyway. Check the motherboard for a set of three (tiny)pins that says 100 and 133. If the board has this, you can set the little jumper to 133 and use the new stuff you bought them. NEVER mix 100 and 133 RAM together! This will cause everything from random shutdowns & reboots to endless cycling & blue screens of death. The longer they are in there together, the worse the problem will get...that is wehy I am typing as fast as possible.

If you can set the board to 133, do it. Then check the bios to make sure it is recognized. This is usually done by hitting F2 or something similar right before windows begins to load (you have like 3 seconds on the average to do it). If the new chips do not work, try one of them. If that does not work, go to the HP website and find out what brand they sell/recommend. Believe it or not, sometimes cheaper brands (mostly just the lowest of the low) will just not work...especially in "name-brand" PC's.

Hope this helps!

anonymous Fri, 05/20/2005 - 22:24

i agree w/schizo.

actually, many boot-ups won't let you proceed after you've changed ram until you've verified/changed settings in the bios. my abit does this. and if you have it on logo boot (the "HP invent" thing), you'll never know what it wants. try going into the bios. and turn off the logo boot while you're at it. :wink: