Can incompatible DRAM kill a MB?

S

Steve's confused

New Member
I have an eMachines T2082 (no heckling, please, it was a present). I installed two 1GB DRAM modules, then the system wouldn't recognize the keyboard, floppy drive controller, or the com/printer ports. The mouse would still work, so I could get around a little bit. I reinstalled the original 256MB module, same problem.
I left it running for a while like that, then got a rapid beeping alarm, and even the mouse was unresponsive. I shut it down by holding the power button until the machine shut off.
Now the machine won't even boot. No beeps, just the fans coming on.
The BIOS chip is _really_ hot, and I'm worried that the motherboard is toast now.
Can incompatible DRAM kill a motherboard?
I selected the RAM based on the utility on Kensington's website, then bought it from TigerDirect.
eMachines' support chat was less than helpful, they just kept telling me that it was probably bad DRAM.
I haven't gotten any response from Kensington yet.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Steve

And yes, I'm confused.... :confused:
 
You got stiffed with the eMachines folly alright. If you installed an incompatable dimm on a good system flags would have gone up instantly when you first started up afterwards. The eprom there is most likely toast but not necessarily due to a memory mismatch just a cheapie brand system!
 
Yeah, but....

I concur it's a cheapie system, but the board croaking right when the memory was installed seems like more than a coincidence, don't ya think?
Well, if I gotta get a new MB, am I stuck with PC2100 DRAM that won't work in newer systems? Or can I buy another cheapie MB, and see how long that lasts?
 
What StrangleHold didn't specify was clearing the cmos by removing the battery on the board itself and moving the appropriate jumper over one pin and then back to the default position before replacing the battery. What this does is resets the system to the factory defaults. You will have to reset the time and date on the initial bios setup screen when first powering up afterwards. But if the eprom itself is failing this won't help. That would have to be eithered replaced by ordering a new one with the same bios version of update flashed on ti from eMachines directly or replacing the board itself. The bios eprom replacements usually run about $25 plus S&H.
 
Gee wiz corrosion on the lithium battery like a leaking battery! :eek: I would say that could also see an eprom heating up a little! Make sure you wipe the battery holder out to remove any crap left there. That's a $2-$3 nuisance alright.
 
I would not be surprised if the mobo has been blown. Did you use an Anti-Static wrist strap when installing the RAM?

You may have to replace the mother board.

Adam
 
Okay, I'm accepting that I'll have to spring for a new motherboard (grumble, grumble).

I've already spent $200 for the ram, so I'd like to keep and use it if I can.

Most new mobos have much faster bus speeds than the smoking hulk that's laying under my desk now. Can I use PC2100 DDR266 modules on a mother board with a faster bus speed?

It'd be nice if I could put a new mobo/cpu combo in the case, and keep all the components I already have.
 
Steve's confused said:
Okay, I'm accepting that I'll have to spring for a new motherboard (grumble, grumble).

I've already spent $200 for the ram, so I'd like to keep and use it if I can.

Most new mobos have much faster bus speeds than the smoking hulk that's laying under my desk now. Can I use PC2100 DDR266 modules on a mother board with a faster bus speed?

It'd be nice if I could put a new mobo/cpu combo in the case, and keep all the components I already have.
Click to expand...

You are stuck with memory there unless you stay with an older P2 or Socket A board for PC2100 memory. ouch! If you had DDR400 PC3200 memory you could run that on a newer Socket 939 model or many of the Celeron and some P4 model boards. If you are planning to run the newer games and upgrade to Vista you may as well plan on a system with 2gb of ram and a much faster cpu/fsb. This would be the time to jump as far new as possible.
 
The pain continues...

Well, I found a replacement motherboard, swapped it in, and still nothing.

I'll bite the bullet and get a new system. ( I just got a nice bonus at work, so I don't know why I didn't do that already. But I digress....)

Any ideas on the easiest way to get all the files off my old hard drive?

Would it be easier to put the old drive in the new machine as a second drive, or just take the whole thing to a professional and have them put it all on a few DVD's?

Thanks for all your help so far, everyone.
 
If the new case runs an ide type hard drive as the primary you can easily slave the current one and copy direct or leave it as a storage drive. With it already partitioned and formatted simply install it after the new primary has seen that and the OS running on it. I've done that enough here. Once you have the new build running throw in a dvd burner and make your own data dvds for more permanent backups. You will probably want one anyways since many games and videos now come on dvds!
 
What could have caused the corrosion on the battery? that is all very strange...Putting in new RAM wouldn't have done such a thing right? Has the MOBO been in contact with ANY liquid? And you really should use an ESD band so you don't accidentally kill another part...
 
Lithium batteries for the most part are solid not liquid while there is still a chemical base to some degree. It would any liquid portion that could leak out that would see corrosion unless a small amount of a drink like coffee was spilled somehow. Condensation from being in an air conditioned environment wouldn't likely see this. Generally dust and dirt is the main problem seen inside any system. A leak from a weak seal on the battery or spill from a beverage would most likely see that.
 
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