I have an incredibly "odd" question...

I bought some used RAM locally.
Took my computer and checked the RAM onsite...

BIOS skipped the long test. (Big mistake ignoring that, but I figured it was set
to short test, and the compter is so fast and the test is so short I generally miss
it while the monitor wakes up...) Dumb, dumb, dumb...

I was not using that as my primary test anyway...
I stuck in my Microsoft "Windows Memory Diagnostic" Bootable CD.
(This is a special program available on the MS site.)
I ran a full memory test. The "11 test" version, and it took 20-30 min or so,
and passed them all...  I have since let that "loop" 42 times and it STILL
passes them all...  (So much for software type tests...)

Now the "bad" part.  To understand this better, you should visit the following link.
It is a simple WEB page (total size: 43K dial-up friendly) with two pictures and
some more info.

http://www.s88555144.onlinehome.us/ram-question/ram2.htm

The blue covers knocked off the little blocks at the top of the RAM stick..
(That picture is of an undamaged stick...)
Those covers are a VERY bad design.

Someone on another list said they were the de-coupling caps for noise suppression,
and if they are not there, I would have potential data loss due to switching noise.
Make sense to me. They were there for "something".......
Second opinions?

If you have any info, but don't want to post, feel free to answer off list.

Free advise, Don't buy used RAM. It can test fine and be VERY damaged...

                                      Rick Glazier

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