RAM Malfunction

[hosehead]

So my mom has these identical Power Mac 7300/200 machines. I took the ram out of one and put it in the other and it isn't detecting. I have to confess, I am a windows girl and am just not familiar enough with the way hardware detects in these things. Is there some trick I need to know about? Any help would be greatly appreciated. :confused:

[Buzz]

Welcome Hosehead! Always happy to see another Mac user here, even if it is only for his mom's sake. :)

Try this....

Put the RAM into the new machine, make certain it's seated all the way in, then reboot. While the mac is booting hold down the Command (Apple) + Option + P + R keys. keep holding them until you hear at least 4 startup chimes, then let go and the Mac will continue it's boot. Then see if it's detecting the RAM.

What the key's do is force a rebuild of the Parameter RAM (PRAM) — that small piece of RAM that keeps track of the system clock, hardware installed and a few other things. Often it's necessary to rebuild the PRAM after installing new hardware.

[ 26 March 2002: Message edited by: Buzz ]

[thelightman]

I just bought a 133mhz, 512m SDRAM,
When I put it in the machine nothing happened... no chime... no video... it just sits there.

Should I try the method mentioned above?

[thelightman]

I tried that method but it still just sits there.

[thelightman]

So now I'm thinking that I bought the wrong memory. I thought that 'any' PC133 DIMM SDRAM stick would work with a Mac... wrong?

[thelightman]

Called the tech at DealRam.com and he thinks that their 512 DIMMS are too high density to work with Macs. He said no problem to return it.

[Buzz]

What iMac Lightman?

Just about any PS133 SDRAM stick shoudl work for the newer imacs. If it's a bit older you may need PC100 SDRAM though.

Sounds to me as though it's simply a bad RAM stick. They do happen occassionally.

[thelightman]

533mhz, G4 with (currently) a 128 + 256 stick
Tried putting it in alone and it still didn't work. Supposed to be 1.5gig capable.

[Buzz]

Uhmmmm.... no such thing as a 533mhz G4 iMac........ It must be a tower not an iMac, right?

Anyway..... it sounds like it's just a bad RAM stick, I would simply return it for another one.