YYGG Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Process

After a suspected lightining strike I have had problems with my Dimension 8100 booting up.  I say suspected because I lost the network card in a different PC, a video game power supply and a furnace control unit all on the same night!

 

The PC sounds like it is booting up but I have no video (the monitor actually displays a "no video signal present" message).I checked the diag LEDs on the rear of the CPU and they showed YYGG ( memory failed to be sized or enabled).  Reset the memory modules (two-128MB modules) and rebooted, same thing: YYGG.  Also, no POST beeps during either boot up.  So after perusing several forum posts I went through the following steps:

 

1.  Unplugged every USB, video, network connection to the CPU

     RESULT: No POST beeps, steady green power LED and YYGG diag LEDs

 

2.  Removed both RAM modules

     RESULT: 5-2-2-1 POST Beeps (unsupported RIMM device count/technology), steady green power

     LED and YYGG diag LEDs

 

3.  Remove both RAM modules and two blank modules next to RAM modules

     RESULT: same result as #2

 

4.  Replace blank modules and one RAM module (tried both slots with both RAM modules)

     RESULT: same result as #2

 

5.  Remove both RAM modules, video card, network card and sound card

     RESULT: same as #2

 

6. Remove both RAM modules, all cards and IDE cables

    RESULT: same as #2

 

Previous posts lead me to believe that this is a RAM problem and not a motherboard or other card problem.  Before I run off and buy RAM modules, has anyone ever been through this.  The PC is well out of warranty. I don't want to buy two new RAM modules if this isn't a sure fix.

 

My next step is to either call Dell and pay the $39 telephone support bill (which will probably have me do everything I just did above) or take it to a local shop so they can run thier dignostics on it.  Either way I need proof so I can turn in to my insurance company.

 

Sorry for the longwinded post, thanks for any help.