Workstation lives
OMFG
Found a pc2-5300 stick in the end - had to decommission my Atom server, only place I know that had pc2-5300. forced me to image the raid array on an Asus Atom netpc disk, work to convert the config, test boot etc; took considerable time.
Finally have it running, it's my main "do everything" server here, so I'm careful.
Anyway, the one stick in the workstation, and ... it fails to boot! same error code. being a super duper mobo GS-EP45-Extreme overclocker wet-dream, it has a LED 2*7seg display for the boot progress, and it stops at "50" (out of 255!) -- "50" is "init the usb keyboard", "51" test the RAM. So obviously, to me it meant it was failing to start 51.
But.. with new stick, can't be.... safe boot, safe stick.
So I unplugged /everything/ of the PC. Disks, Cards, usb ports, the lot.
And ... it BOOTS !!
It was not the &@*&$&@*&$& RAM !
After a few test boots, it turns out it is the "SDHC usb card reader" I use this morning (well, yesterday morning) for my tests, that was left in a port without a card, and THAT is what locks up the PC.
Ghaaaah. Totally wasted by now, my turn to go and crash.