I'm sorry to hear that you've been ill, Patricia and I hope you feel better now.

I use a flash drive for backups of data, but burn my pictures to a CD for permanent storage. The pictures just take up too much space for the flash drive, IMHO. Are the kids going to bring it down so you can get it running again?

Pam

it does sound like you got either bad Ram or the wrong kind, have you had someone try removing the new memory and reinstalling the original memory? that is the fist thing I would attempt, they will need to also try blowing out the slots the Ram goes into, try removing and re-seating it, memory can be vey finiky, when you put the new memory in and had the problems did the pc start up at all and work? did you get some beeps? it often does give beep codes.

If it is the memory that will have to be addressed before anything can be done. If it is not the memory you can have someone use a linux live cd put into the cd drive and boot the pc to that and let it run the linux cd which will allow you access to your windows section and in that way access your pictures and documents to download and save to a flash drive or better yet an external usb hard drive, they are not that expensive and hold much more than a flash drive.

So first will have to be the checking the memory sticks, to determine if that is the problem.

this article explains what I am talking about with the linux live cd( which you can get free)
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer

And good luck on a speedy recovery, you are amazing that you are up to trying to do these kinds of tasks, good for you!

ravencajun is exactly right about the memory.
Blow out the slots, clean the contacts on the memory with a pencil eraser, use the old memory.

By no signal, do you mean the screen says no signal or is the screen black with a white dash in the upper left?

Thank you everyone...
I am happily excited about getting my old PC back downstairs here where I am set up in my kitchen and do some trouble-shooting approaches to try and get my computer up and running ! I never in 5 years had one second of a problem with the HP brand , so that is what I bought this time !
My first 1-2 years of learning computer navigations, I started each subject line here in this forum with: "How Do I "save", "find"" get this on my search'" or fill in the blank, etc. ?The first time I ever suggested a possible fix to a query,and I was on the "helping" end of the line, was such a really cool feeling ! Yea !
I was thinking this evening about why my kids answer to my PC crash was "Throw it out. There is no fix for this...you have lost everything and it cannot be retrieved" is they are from the generation who easily disposes of everything! Their lives are so rushed ( THEY scheduled it that way) and they think anything that would require some dedicated time, is impossible. Their kids are rushed around from one sport to the next ( even some 2 or 3 per day !), they eat on the run, sentences are never finished and they plunge into deep sleep at the end of their day, and 6 hours later get up and do it all over again!
I will keep you posted and will be trying the UBUNTU steps . I did have a faint beep on the old PC and mentioned that as a possible signal for Diagnosis and heads were shaken "no, it absolutely does not having anything to do with this" I mentioned the anology of my furnace having different sequences of beeps to help determine what part of the furnace system is having a problem....Ahhh, well.
Patricia

First things first:

Don't jump the gun with Ubuntu yet, you need to take out the ram that you added to see if that resolves the problem.

Then reboot the computer and tell us what you see & hear.

Also answer randy question "By no signal, do you mean the screen says no signal or is the screen black with a white dash in the upper left?

If the screen says (no single) this could be a simple display (monitor) problem.

Following directions in order and answering questions that are asked is important to a successful outcome..

You are so right about the dispose of generation LOL Some of us are from the we might need that sometime in the future so never throw it out generation (holding hand up here) I have all of my old computers one of my bedrooms is looking like a computer graveyard LOL

I am so happy that you are doing well enough to want to give these steps a try. If you did hear beeps then I would definitely bet it is your memory, something as simple as taking it out and blowing out the slots and making sure the contacts are clean and putting it back in can often solve that problem. Do you still have the old memory? is it still in the pc? or did you take it out and replace it with all new? either way defintely try it with just the old original memory in it first and see it that brings it back to life. It could be that the new memory was not quite the right one.

Yes you can do the ubuntu try once you see if the memory works. By the way you can order the free cd and have it handy should you ever need it, I think everyone should have one.
Requesting an Ubuntu CD
Kubuntu 8.04
those are the links to order the free live cd of ubuntu and kubuntu, I urge everyone to order both and have them in their pc tool kit should they need them and it is also fun to play with linux too. It really only usually takes about a week to get them. Totally free.

Good luck!!

My response to all is a huge thank you !
I can better answer questions as soon as my PC is downstairs here...within the next week, but MAYBE Wednesday of this week..
Randy's question of "By no signal do you mean the screen says no signal or is the screen black with a white dash in the upper left hand corner?"
The screen is black with white small text saying : "no signal" in the middle of the black non-responsive screen . After I added the memory in the second slot
( there is only 2 slots), I used the PC for a few days and could not see that it made any difference in the speed and there were still lots of hanging windows and so I decided to re-install the second memory. After doing this re-install is when The screen was black and the tiny text appeared and the little white line flashing was in the upper left of the screen and there was a faint beep signal and I could not bring up the screen for Bios boot nor get a screen at all to do a restore point. My monitor is new from January or February of this past year and has been working well.It is a 22 inch Acer monitor.
Am I providing enough information , as I try to remember sequences etc? Every day a little more memory ( the brain kind, not the computer kind!) comes back to me. And I smile and mentally say "Eureka!" When my brain becomes too exhausted, I cannot remember how to spell my name.( true)..and I know to wait a few minutes and try again. Writng out checks for the monthly bills becomes a long procedure for me.
Patricia

Patricia you are doing great with the info. I know what you mean about your memory( not pc) I have a very good friend that was in a coma and had a stroke and she is having the same type of issues and is so joyful when something comes back to her no matter how small, little miracles. She also has a very hard time with sequential items and lists. I have been helping her get her pc files and info in an order that she can hopefully remember better. Glad you too are having progress.

I think when you get that pc down to work on it and remove the memory and clean it out and re-seat it hopefully that will fix the problem. Were you certain it was the correct memory for your pc? Once you put in the new memory it should show the new memory amount in your stats.

Is it possible that after the last install of the new memory, that the video cable was not plugged in tightly enough? A no-signal message usually means that the monitor is not making a connection or the video card is bad. I'm not saying that you shouldn't follow the instructions to reseat the memory, just that there may be another reason for the error.

My PC is up and running!
What a blessing all of you are for me.Truly. My daughter came here and lugged my old computer here to the kitchen table where I have set up all of my computer stuff.
We followed exact directions and removed the new memory stick and still had the "no signal " text with the beep and the tiny white line at the top left. Next step was remove that new memory stick and then take out original memory and cleaned the track and the bottom of the stick ..it was really dirty , probably because I have a dog and a cat!
( the rest of the insides of the computer were surpringly dirty, too ) so cleaning and re-seating the memory stick
( can you almost hear me holding my breath and my eyes frozen open" ) was next ..a..n...d...it worked !!!!
I can barely type this because of my brain remembering how it felt:Even this moment I start to have tears...!
What a wonderful ending to this HELPING Me succeed...
I can see there are many intriquing subject lines that I am going to read, especially since I have a new PC and new OS.!
There were so many photos( hundreds) and documents and letters and 8 years of magic ,( either tons of techniques,routines,magic forum or creating new shows)and don't laugh..I kissed the screen when it came up... with all of the things starting to load on my desk top!
Thank you...thank you... thank you ...
Patricia

I would like to recommend that you make it a point to open the PC at least once a month to clean out the dust and pet fur. Dust and fur can trap heat inside the case and heat can shut down the CPU with no warning.

What a wonderful ending. It always feels good when a computer does work well. You did a great job. There are so many great people on this forum. I know how you felt....

Congrats!

Jane

Patricia I have tears in my eyes too! they are joyful tears for you. What a great accomplishment. I know you were thrilled to see that start up screen. Yes I know just how dirty it can get in there and that dirt and dust can kill a pc, they cause heat build up too which is horrible for a pc.

congrats for the happy ending to the saga LOL