New RAM, PC won't power on, CMOS reset not successful!

[HBgamer]

Hi guys. I'll keep this brief as I having to send from my phone.

I am trying to replace my existing 2 x 4GB Crucial Ballistix Sport RAM with 2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance. I put the new sticks in and tried to turn on the machine and got nothing.

I then removed the sticks, did a CMOS reset for a good minute (held power button down too for luck), put the CMOS back in, RAM back in, still no luck.

I have since tried the RAM in ports 2 and 4, the old RAM in all ports, looking through all the cabling and checking it's all in, checking the power button for any problems - nothing will get my machine to turn on.

At this stage I actually don't think it will be a RAM issue but I don't know much about it to be honest.

Any ideas?

(Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H)

 

[boosted1g]

Are you getting the ram pressed all the way in?

Do you have a motherboard speaker in place so you can hear any POST beep codes?

What button did you hold down while clearing CMOS? If you pressed the power button you probably destroyed the bios chip. I remove cord from power supply whenever I do a CMOS reset just for absolute insurance.

 

[Tradesman1]

Remove RAM unplug computer, reset CMOS, install 1 stick in slot 1 and try to go to BIOS, if you get into BIOS check and reset date and time, enable XMP save exit and shutdown, install stick 2 in slot 3 and try

 

[HBgamer]

Hi guys, thanks for the quick replies.

All CMOS resets were done with the power out. I just pressed the power button as I read somewhere it's worth depleting the xxxx's or something like that.

RAM is properly seated.

Couldn't tell you if I had a speaker on the mobo. I did try without any sticks in place hoping to hear the beep but nothing.

I will try the single stick idea now. Anything else I can try?

Also - I assume my mobo can handle 2 x 8GB 1600Mhz sticks?

 

[Tradesman1]

To reset the CMOS you need to use the jumper on the mobo or remove the mobo battery for a minute or two with the PSU unplugged...Pressing the power button doesn't reset the CMOS. If the CMOS resets correctly the date and time will change - often going back to 2005 or whatever and you need to reset the date and time as mentioned

 

[HBgamer]

To reset the CMOS you need to use the jumper on the mobo or remove the mobo battery for a minute or two with the PSU unplugged...Pressing the power button doesn't reset the CMOS. If the CMOS resets correctly the date and time will change - often going back to 2005 or whatever and you need to reset the date and time as mentioned

Sorry - I didn't mean I was using the power button to reset the CMOS. Having never done it before - I thought removing the CMOS battery for 30-60 seconds then replacing was what reset it. I was simply pressing the power button during the same window the battery was removed as I'd read somewhere it drained the capacitors or whatever it was.

Is there more to a CMOS reset than just removing the battery then? I have zero experience fiddling with a motherboard past installing components / power cables.

I also tried the test with the one stick and the machine still wouldn't power on at all.

UPDATE: All sorted now. I reset the CMOS using a screwdriver and this time left it a bit longer while I went to eat. Came back, reinstated the battery and old RAM and it came on. Turned it off shortly after, tried again with new RAM and it's now working.

Hit a snag with Windows Activation when it came back on but I just went through Microsoft's automated service and it's back to Genuine.

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[Tradesman1]

Sounds like there may be a short somewhere, does it do anything, if nothing at all check for a power switch on the PSU and make sure the electrical outlet you are plugged into is on and hot