The RAM is simply incompatible for working together. In theory your setup should work, but in practice when you mix and match different brands and types it often doesn't ;)

Best thing to do if...

The problem is not the speeds, as both are PC3200. It's simply that somtimes we can get problems with two modules of different brands. Each will work fine in the motherboard on their own, but put...

Any game running stable with 512Mb is better than the game running unstable with 768Mb of mis-matched RAM. Freezes and lockups give you the shits! Reducing graphics detail is hella better!

The only hardware issue I can see there is the mix 'n' match RAM. Try removing the 256Mb module and just using the 512Mb on, in case there's a conflict there.

I'd assume that's generic, OEM stuff, because from the looks of things Ultra repackages components under their own brand name.

http://www.ultraproducts.com/

Should work though, you'd...

Details of RAM chips installed, please? What modules? What size(s)? Waht make/model numbers etc.....

Cheap, generic RAM can cause this behaviour

That's a problem. Was it connected to the internet via router/dsl modem when Windows was installed? If so it might have picked up a worm during the installation process.

If not, you might have...

hmm...

Shouldn't work like that. Here's the sequence:

* Use arrow keys to move to 'Safe Mode' option
* Press <Enter> to select it
* 'Windows is Starting.....' screen
* To begin,...

Hang on a bit.......

I'm sure the menu you refer to is prior to the loading of the user interface, and requires you to make your selection from the keyboard?

Try entering your choice,...

You mean that the screen went black again when you tried, or that you couldn't access the menu which allows you to get there?

If it's the latter, then you haven't got the timing of the keypress...

You've obviously changed display and/or monitor settings to ones which are unsupported by your hardware.

Reboot into 'Safe Mode' (press <F8> before the Windows Logo appears and choose 'Safe...

It means that the system found a different hardware configuration to that which BIOS settings tell it should be there. You've made changes. Should be fine when you're done hooking things up and...

Hahahaha

Course you're talking about cable connection! There's a power cable (skinny, leading to a 4 pin plug) and a data cable (wide, flat). I asked you which one you unplugged. :D

Which cable? Power cable or data cable? If it's an older floppy drive, ditch it in the bin and bung a new one is is the best way. They don't cost much at all!

But before you do that, be sure...

OK, let's REALLY go back to 1, eh? Disconnect EVERYTHING FROM EVERYWHERE!

Reset CMOS.

Grab the main power cable from the power supply unit and attach the ATX connector to the motherboard....

Disconnect the hard drive. Disconnect the USB cables. Strip it right back to the bare bones system I described earlier. Don't even have molex power connectors attached to drives etc.

It's no...

Hi again, Squirty. I've just reread all this through again and I'm wondering. Are you sure that you are clearing CMOS memory correctly? You'll recall that I instructed you to do so on page 2 of...

Then either that board is stuffed or else you've still not actually got the connectors correctly hooked up. Seems unusual though to have the procesor fan spinning if the motherboard isn't working. ...

Got one in that tower you mentioned? The motherboard you're trying to get working has AGP 3.0, so you won't do any damage to even the most recent of display cards by popping it in to test the thing...

Bung an AGP card in it (temporarily if need be) and see if you get a display with that.

You still using the onboard video? Check that the monitor cable is firmly attached. It could be loose. Checkl that the monitor cable is in good order. It could be broken.

Using an add-in...

No.

This sentence is waffle used to fill up space, included purely becuase there is a 10 character minimum limit set for posts on DaniWeb!

I sincerely hope you are disconnecting the power from that motherboard before making any changes whatsoever.

Switch off, disconnect the power lead or turn off the mains switch, make changes,...

Yes, that helps. On the back of that connector plug you should see the metal clips where the wires are clipped in to the plug. Get a pin, depress the clip and pull the wire out of one side of the...

Floppy drive cable connector is upside down for starters - reverse it.

Try reversing the power led connector and see what happens .

The front panel connector pins are probably the biggest source of headaches for home-builders :D

I DID just say that standards don't seem to be adhered to by case manufacturers ;)

Colour schemes vary from case to case. I don't believe there are any set standards, and if so they are not adhered to. But nevertheless, white wires are usually power, not ground.

Try having...

Front panel connectors (the ones coming from the case) generally have a flat face, and a face where you can see the clips where the pins on the ends of the wires have been pushed into the plug. All...

My strong suspicion is that you have the front panel connectors incorrectly attached.

Your motherboard manual should have diagrams.

You'll find that the most common source of the problem when a system inexplicably fails to power up id the Power LED connector being reversed. In fact, it's quite crucial to have the front panel...

Reset CMOS.

Have CPU with Heatsink/fan, One RAM module, and the vid card fitted. Check, recheck and double check the front panel connectors. Nothing else fitted or connected to the motherboard...

That lead and connector is coming from the power supply unit, not from a fan, isn't it? Tuck the thing away somewhere out of the way and forget about it, unless there is a relevent socket on your...

Sooner the better. It's 1.30 am here and I'm hanging to get to bed :D

What sort of connector? Molex, 3 pin, what? Has the case you have got a front or rear fan controller? A monitor panel? Bit hard to answer your question, I think, as that wiring does not follow...

good point! If it doesn't power up, best to remove those washers, eh?

Coming from WHAT fan?

Most fans are either two wire (red/black) or 3 wire (red/yellow/black). The yellow wire is used to monitor fanspeed. Can't help you until I know where that fan is...

The most important thing is ensuring you haven't dropped any screws 'n' such down in there and screwed the motherboard down on top of them :)

Hey! I said that on MSN.. How'd it get here?

He's quite right, Squirty. I'm probably an overly cautious person. Use commonsense, make sure that you don't damage the circuit board, and all...

I'm talking about using those 'red washers' between the motherboard and the standoff. Only if the standoff is a metal one though. It's not mandatory to do so, but it's a sensible thing to do.
...