# Added RAM, computer won't boot up -- what'd I do???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/added-ram-computer-wont-boot-up-whatd-i-do/254359>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 9, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/added-ram-computer-wont-boot-up-whatd-i-do/254359 "2004-07-09T21:32:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [July 9, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/added-ram-computer-wont-boot-up-whatd-i-do/254359/21 "2004-07-09T23:39:56Z")

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I’ve inadvertently damaged motherboards inserting RAM before now; sometimes it is really quite hard to push in and I have had a couple of instances where there was an ominous creaking sound, after which the machine wouldn’t boot.

Did your memory go in easily?

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**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/added-ram-computer-wont-boot-up-whatd-i-do/254359/22 "2004-07-10T00:21:53Z")

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> [@Eats\_Crayons](#):
>
> Ew! What lousy typing/communication skills, I’ll try that again:
> 
> I’ve been looking for the bios reset switch, but I’m having problems identifying it.
> 
> I did check everything over thorouhgly including looking for any bent or broken pins. I pulled out the new RAM, re-seated the old RAM that’s always been there.

I may have missed it, I did quickly read through the thread though. What motherboard is it. Usually you can find a .pdf file on the internet that’ll show diagrams of the board itself.  
-K

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**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\
**Post date:** [July 10, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/added-ram-computer-wont-boot-up-whatd-i-do/254359/23 "2004-07-10T03:33:29Z")

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> [@Eats\_Crayons](#):
>
> Total no-brainer: Unplugged the chord from the back

My understanding is that you’re supposed to leave the power plugged in, use one of those wrist-attach ground strap devices to ground yourself to the power supply.

I never actually **do** this, and to date I’ve only blown up one PC, so maybe not. But I seem to recall hearing it that way…

I recently fried a CPU (I put the heat sink on wrong) and that machine behaved exactly as you describe. Power comes on, fans and drives spin up, but no beeps, no bios, nothing.

Off hand, I’m guessing you damaged something, most likely the motherboard.

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