arrgh! Cant install RAM!

[Llama]

Okay, got a problem. I bought another 512 meg of Ram to add to my existing 512. I used crucial selection so I know the new ram is perfectly suitable. However, whenever I put it in, the computer just beeps and refuses to boot. I called a friend of my dads round (Sorta like Asus I guess ), he said it may be due to a faulty connection with the existing RAM socket. After moving the existing RAM around a bit he managed to get it running 512 again.

What can I do?

 

[giant384]

either its not compatible or just doesnt like the other ram

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Here is how you troubleshoot.

Take the known-good RAM. Install it in the spot the new RAM was in. Boot up.
Take the new RAM, put it in the spot the known-good RAM was in. Boot up.
Put both in switched positions. Boot up.

Should tell you where the problem is coming from, though there is a chance you will not be able to boot up with RAM occupying a spot other than slot 1.

Also you could try installing it into a different machine.

 

[Asus]

Yeah definitely try what Ryuken said.

If it still doesn't work in your machine but it works in a different machine, I'd check out the timings on both sticks (usually a sticker on the side) and then in the bios. I've had new ram not boot because the sytem was trying to force lower timings than the new stick would allow. But that doesn't normally happen unless you've set timings other than auto.

(CL2, ,2.5, 3 are some numbers you might see. Othertimes they list it in a string of numbers like 2.5-3-3-6.)

 

[_Z_Ryuken]

Ah yes, almost forgot. If you have different speed or latency rams, all of it will default to the lowest common speed.
They might be the same capacity and make/model, but if their speeds vary too much, there is a chancethey would be incompatible.