my computer is, i believe a 2003 model emachines computer, with 756 mb of ram, windows xp sp2, and two hard drives, nvidea gforce fx 5500, and is a desktop.

I took a piece of ram from an older computer which had it's motherboard some how break down, i figured the ram would still be ok. i tried to put it in my computer but since it wouldn't snap in correctly i thought i could kinda just leave it there hanging with only one side snapped in.

i tried to turn on my computer and when my computer operated normally this green light around the power button would light up and everything would work fine.

however, when i just kinda left the new ram hanging there nothing even showed up on the monitor screen. it didn't even show anything, nor did the monitor even turn on. it was like a turned off tv. it didn't make any twinng or turning on sound.

so i decided to take out the ram i foolishly did not securely put in, and just put back my old ram, restored the computer completely back to how it used to be when it was working, and tried to turn the computer back on.

and the result was:

my computer turned on, however it would still not connect to the monitor and the monitor was still acting like a blank screen, but i know that monitor is fine because i didn't mess with it at all and it was working perfectly before i tried to put in new ram without secruring it properly... so i dont know what's wrong.

the main thing that makes me suspect something is wrong is that the green light that turns on when the emachines computer turns on is gone, it wont even blink. when the computer is turned on the green light should also be on... so i dont know what i did wrong.

solutions i've tried are putting in the basic ram the computer came with only, and booting the computer back up, but the monitor still wouldn't connect.

im going to try to take the video card out and just do everything over again, and plug the monitor into the motherboard and see if that fixes anything, im just reconnecting everything but it's not working..

so yes, for some reason, even though i put my computer back to normal, it wont connect to the monitor and the green light is not turning on. and i have a feeling it's because of me loosely securing that piece of ram. if anyone knows of any solutions please tell me. also what worries me is when i press down more than a few keys on my keyboard the computer wont start beeping like it usually does..

I'd suggest redoing all your connections: internal and external.

Try booting with no RAM installed: does it BEEP?

Also make sure your old RAM is seated properly afterwards.

Many RAM faults will result in a shorted CMOS.

Try clearing/resetting the CMOS.

This might mean simply removing the motherboard battery for a few minutes or jumping a jumper depending on the exact motherboard.

What is the exact model of the eMachine?

http://www.emachines.com/support/product_support.html

Also were you careful with anti-static protection while you were inside the case?

Does the power light come on the monitor?

Do you get any signal such as: "No Signal Input"?


Anyway clearing the CMOS is the best first step with a RAM fault like that.


...

Find out if its a monitor issue first.

Can you test the monitor on another computer?
If not, can you still hear the windows boot up sounds in the background?

Hopefully its just a lose connection. Worst case would be a motherboard issue. But lets not jump to that yet.

Originally Posted by jephree

Also were you careful with anti-static protection while you were inside the case?

Aside from leaving an electrical connection hanging with only one side snapped in , I am concerned RAM would not cooperate because it was the wrong type. Do the keys line up?

Damage from an ESD event was one of my thoughts too, and it is essential to unplug the computer from the wall before adding or removing any hardware. ATX Form Factor computers (and nearly 100% of all PCs are ATX) are required to have +5Vsb standby voltages present at several points in all ATX motherboards when the ATX PSU is connected to the wall (and if optioinally equipped, the PSU's rear master switch set to on). This +5Vsb is what enables the computer's front panel power switch, and it enables such features as "Wake on LAN" and "Wake on MODEM".

I always put a clean sock over my hand when handling batteries; skin oils promote corrosion and attract dust.

When there is no indication any video signal is reaching the monitor, I normally recommend as Cowboybebop did, and suggest swapping in another monitor - it is easy to do (if one is available) and quickly eliminates either the monitor or the computer from the equation. However, in this case, I agree with junesue and don't think it is the monitor because she said the green light on the PC does not even come on, and it did just work. But, to complete the flip-flop, if you have a spare monitor, it would not hurt to give it a try - or your monitor on another PC or notebook.

Finally, eMachines were never known to be generous when it comes to power supplies - the PSUs with most eMachine PCs are barely adequate from the start. It appears you have added at least 1 drive, RAM, and a video card to the demands on the aging supply. If the improperly installed RAM damaged or shorted a sensitive circuit, the excessive current draw may have damaged a stressed PSU. You might, or might not, have smelled hot electronics.

Sadly, my experience with improperly installed RAM, or with RAM installed or removed when the +5Vsb is present, causes me to suspect both RAM and motherboard have been damaged. I hope I am wrong.

I would recommend you pull your main hard drive, find another computer and back up your sensitive data. Then if me, I would follow jephrees course of action and reset the BIOS/CMOS - batteries are a couple dollars at your local battery counter - take the old, they often recycle.

I would also pull all cards, disconnect all drives, USB connections, use 1 stick RAM and use the on-board graphics. Reboot and should see on the monitor the initial boot process, including the video BIOS splash screen, POST and, if the internal speaker is connected, hear 1 beep. The system will then fail to find a boot drive and hang. If that happens, start adding hardware back (but not the suspect RAM, I would toss that) - being careful to unplug and touch bare metal of the case every time before reaching in, and frequently thereafter, to ensure no static is building up in your body.

some answers to some questions are:
the model number is c1624... it's pretty old and the power doesn't even come on in the monitor, it doesnt say anything like no signal. like, i can turn it on, but it wont connect, but i have a feeling its something up with my computer, since i cant hear anything like the windows start up song jingle, and it was working absolutely fine before i tried to install the ram with only one side snapped in....

and i think i didn't have any static electricity problems... i touched my desk and i touched my case before diving into the computer and unhooked the electricity..

also i left only one side in because it was the right way to go in, but it was too thick so it couldn't snap in all the way... it was strange. i applied a lot of pressure however, it still did not snap in.. so i pretty much just put it away. at the moment i took the battery that looks like a wrist watch out of my mother board

Afterwards if clearing cmos doesnt work i will try your idea Digerati. Unforutnately i cant find another monitor to hook up to my computer though. Thank you all very much, I will reply back with the results.

--- result

i tried everything suggested and also found out how to clear my CMOS memory by using the jumper.
i think my motherboard got short circuited because of the RAM. hopefully my harddrive is still in tact, i guess that's the most important part.. but yeah. i think i have to invest in a new computer. i could try my hand at installing a motherboard but hrmm.. i think that would be too difficult.

but still, thank you all for actually trying to suggest things for me to do. it helped me confirm that my computer wont work and at least now i can let the issue rest now.

thanks alot for all of your help guys