Kyle: You are absolutely correct. Your machine is doing a RAM check before it proceeds with the boot process.
It's been so long since I've worked in System 7.x or Mac OS 8.x, I can't remember. But in OS 9.x, you can disable the RAM check during boot-up. I don't think this trick works with anything before Mac OS 9.0, but I can push Command + Option while selecting the Memory Control Panel, and I get an extra pane at the bottom of the window giving me the option of switching the "startup memory tests" on or off. Nifty. Turning the startup memory tests off boosts start time VERY significantly, whether rebooting or starting cold. In my own experience, I've never had RAM just go bad (unless I had a massive power surge through a sub-standard surge protector -- that's why I'm a big UPS fan now). I would suggest that anyone who uses this trick turn the startup tests back on just prior to installing new RAM. You could save yourself some grief. I HAVE bought bad RAM before -- and more than 2 or 3 times. In addition, if you've recently zapped your PRAM, your machine might be confused as to where to look for its startup disk. Open your Startup Disk CDEV, select the disk you want to boot from, then restart your Mac. That will put things right if that's the root cause of your problem. Allen ----- Kyle Kinsey wrote: > > Hey, > > Still fiddling with the c650s (a different one to the one that blew a fuse earlier) > and I put 2 * 32 mb simms in it and now it really takes quite a while on power on > before it starts booting (ie when the video springs into action) > > Quick question, is this normal, does it check the memory before starting video? > > Cheers, > > kyle. > > +------------------------------------------------- > | Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > | ICQ: 20955065 > | Web: www.thewibblereport.co.uk > | > > -- > Quadlist is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... > > Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | > -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | > > Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> > > Quadlist info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/quadlist.shtml> > The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> > Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/quadlist%40mail.maclaunch.com/> > > Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com -- Quadlist is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> Quadlist info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/quadlist.shtml> The FAQ: <http://macfaq.org/> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/quadlist%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
