Strange HP i3 PC Issue

[dave87]

Hi Guys,

So my (great) uncle has a HP PC, this one to be precise: http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/p...r_na-c03382053

The machine wouldn't boot - no display, no error codes, nothing. After disconnecting everything, it was still having the same issue.

So this pointed me to a motherboard, RAM, or processor error. I did manage to get it to boot with a single 1gb stick of memory, however it wouldn't boot with two of the same sticks. It didn't appear to matter which slot, or which 1gb stick I used. I therefore presumed it to be a memory error of some sort, but that one stick would work. I ordered a single 8gb stick to fix it.

As you can probably guess, I installed that today, and it didn't work.

My thoughts are it is either a motherboard error or memory controller problem, but this means it is either the motherboard or the processor.

Unfortunately I don't have another motherboard that I can test the processor in, or another processor to test the motherboard.

Any thoughts?

[DannyM]

I've a spare processor you can borrow, so long as you cover postage or, you can collect if you'd like, I'm in Bradford close to Leeds.

[SUMMONER]

Have you tried resetting the BIOS settings?

[ik9000]

does it post?

have you checked the BIOS CMOS battery?

[dave87]

Thanks all.

It POSTs with one stick of RAM in, but not two. BIOS has been reset but hasn't resolved matters.

Danny - thanks for the kind offer - I'm leaning towards suggesting replacing the motherboard and processor with a newer i3 - cheaper than replacing the machine entirely. However if he wants to persevere with this one, I may well take you up on the offer.

[EndlessWaves]

So this pointed me to a motherboard, RAM, or processor error. I did manage to get it to boot with a single 1gb stick of memory, however it wouldn't boot with two of the same sticks.

Were they identical and did both sticks boot alone?

[Bonebreaker777]

Were they identical and did both sticks boot alone?

Wanted to ask the same thing? Could be a strange case of not matching speed - timings - voltage. Or just a case of 'not-supported' modules. What is the highest capacity module supported? Also the 1GB module is 1 or 2 sided, single or dual rank, low or high density?