Tried swapping RAM, now XP won't let me in

I've been having a lot of computer problems lately, which I determined were mostly due to a failing hard drive. But I was unable to get a copy of my OS right away to replace the drive, so I thought I would just double check and make sure it is not my RAM.

So I pulled out my two 2GB sticks of Corsair RAM and put in a 1GB stick of the G.Skill RAM I was using before I upgraded. When I turned my computer back on, I first got a warning message that listed my computer components and the RAM as installed:

***** WARNING: System BOOT Fail *****
Your last boot fail or POST interrupted. Please enter setup to load default and reboot again.

So I did that, I went into BIOS setup and changed it back to defaults. The computer boots, I type in my Windows XP name and password and then... nothing. The screen goes black and stays black. Totally unresponsive.

So I tried my 2GB Corsair sticks of RAM, first individually each and then together and it's the same exact thing everytime. Just a black screen. I can't use my computer at all now. I am no computer wiz or anything, but all I did was stick the RAM into the motherboard slots, which I have done before and doesn't seem that complicated.

Can anyone make some sense of what's gone wrong?

 

OK, I tried that... I thought it was going to stay black, but I walked away and left it on for a while and eventually it started up. It just took a lonnng time. The only thing is my audio drivers for some reason were uninstalled and now I can't hear anything unless I reinstall them. It can't seem to connect to the internet either. I don't know whether to chalk it up to the RAM or the hard drive at this point. Guess I should replace the hard drive and hope that fixes things. :/

 

Hi,

I wouldn't be too quick to assume it's the HD. Although it can't be ruled out the symptoms you're describing doesn't indicate the HD is at fault.

If you can determine the manufacturer then please download the relevant Disk Diagnostic Software ....

ExcelStore

Hitachi/IBM

Samsung

Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum

Western Digital

Run a non destructive surface test and let us know the results.

 

Hi, I did what you said and ran a drive scan using SeaTools. My drive failed the generic long test pretty quickly but passed the generic short test.

Settings are being erased. Firefox erased my settings once a couple weeks ago. Last night my sound drivers were erased so I can't hear anything and my computers ability to connect to the internet has stopped working too. Even if the drive was OK, it seems at the very least, a new copy of Windows is very much needed. I hate computers right now! (Well, my computer.)

 

If you have any data you require (ie no backup), remove that drive now. Buy a new drive and obtain OS install disks from the manufacturer. Once you've reinstalled windows we can look at retrieving your data from the old HD.