[howlleo]

I'm still shaking.

I'm posting this because I'm hoping someone can explain the following events, and if not, maybe it will at least help someone else who has a similiar trouble.

I was trying to install it as a surprise b-day present for my Dad, and I thought I screwed the system instead.

"it" is a 1 gig memory module: 128x64 184 pin DDR SDRAM

It was advertised as "high density RAM" which they warned only some systems could handle. They didn't specify which.

My system:
Athlon 64 2800+
Albatron k8x800 pro II

there's room for 3 modules.

Despite RAM installation being an apparent no brainer, I couldn't get it in far enough for the clips to line up, despite all the "firm preassure".

To see if there was some trick to it, I removed the original module, and then couldn't get that in either.

After around 5 minutes of popping them in and out and pushing prodding and eventually, panicking, I forced them in, first the top, shoving it in until the clip popped over, and then the bottom. It wasn't easy.

When I started the computer, I got a blue screen. Not the blue screen of doom, but the blue startup screen for XP. and it stayed blue for waaaay too long. I restarted and got the startup screen offering me different startup options. I couldn't choose a configuration, because for some reason the keyboard wasn't working. So it just kept choosing "just start windows" and then restarting itself because it couldn't start.

I was resigned to getting killed, by then.

I decided to remove the high density module, at least hide some of the evidence.

I removed the high density module and it restarted OK.

Thank goodness!

I'll live after all, but I need a new birthday present.


Also: for those who have read this far:
When I booted the computer and the RAM modules weren't in properly, my computer intoned "Your memory may have a problem".

Now, for the past week or two, every time I boot up it drones "Your keyboard and mouse may have a problem."
But the keyboard and mouse work just fine.

could there be a problem with the USB ports or something that registers as "a problem" to the hardware? And how can I get the computer to shut up?