Memory upgrade doesn't work

devils_advocate

I've got an old laptop whichj I loaded XP onto, but its painfully slow as there's only 128Mb RAM in it.

So I looked on the crucial website, saw that it needed PC 133 SDRAM, and ordered 2 sticks of 256Mb from an internet supplier, This is the max that the machine will take, apparently.

Put them in the machine and it doesn't work The lights flash once at bootup, the fan remains on, but the screen ramains blank. Same thing happens when I put one of the new sticks in with the old stick, though it does boot up with the old stick only, without any of the new ones in.

One thing to mention is that the old stick is marked PC100, but I dont think that the new ones being PC133 will make adifference. Am I right?

Apart from the obvious thought of duff memory, any ideas?

nick74

What happens if you take the PC100 128MB stick out and just put one or both of the new ones in?

isofa

You might have to check the settings in the BIOS...

stan747

isofa wrote: »

You might have to check the settings in the BIOS...

i don't think it gets to the post screen.
did you get the memory from crucial? even though it's pc133 thre are still several sub-types (different timings etc) you could also try both stick 1 at a time as mentioned above in case you have been supplied a duff module.
there should be no difference between pc-100 and pc-133 unless you update the settings in bios as it will be set to pc-100, if you have a 100 and a 133 in at the same time it can only run at 100.

isofa

How about putting it back to the original config, then checking settings in BIOS, then powering down, then installing new RAM?

devils_advocate

Thanks for the responses and suggestions.

I've tried it with 1 stick of the new memory (without the old) and still the same result, nothing on the screen.

It's as you say, Stan, I don't even get to the POST screen.

There's also a problem getting in to the BIOS. This is password protected, and I don't know the password. Is there anyway round this?

Conor_3

I think you'll find the laptop can only support 2x128MB - 256MB maximum, not 256MB DIMMS. I certainly know of an old Thinkpad my mate has which can only use maximum DIMM sizes of 128MB so can only put 256MB in total.

stan747

you can reset the bios pass word by removing the lithium cell from the mainboard for a few minutes, or there should be a clear cmos header somewhere on the mainboard, you'll have to check the manual, but you will lose all the settings in bios and have to put them back in.

devils_advocate

Thanks again, everyone.

Interesting idea, Conor. Any spec that I've seen for the machine did say it could take 2 x 256, but I found another comment that mentioed that older machines sometimes couldn't cope with the density of new memory. Don't know if this is bolleaux or not. I'll see if I can lay my hands on another 128Mb to try.

I'll also try getting to the motherboard to remove the small battery, as Stan suggests.


Ah well, cheaper than going to the pub tonight!

GreenNotM

there are sites with lists of the "standard" backdoor BIOS passwords

try here http://www.biosflash.com/e/bios-passwords.htm

Then you may be able to update the BIOS if one is available

stan747

!!!!!! the laptop m8e, get to the pub, you'll enjoy it more