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RAM upgrade causing reboots and freezes



 
 
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  #1  
Old January 6th 04, 03:17 PM
Joanna
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default RAM upgrade causing reboots and freezes

Hi everyone,

I'm having several problems after adding ram to my PC, causing it to reboots
or not boot at all.

I run Win 98 on a Compaq Presario 5446. I've checked the manufacturer
specifications and it says my PC can have a max of 256 mb RAM, to be divided
as 2x128MB between the two DIMM slots.
I bought my PC a few years ago with 64MB PC100 SDRAM installed. A few weeks
ago I bought 64MB of secondhand RAM off ebay and it worked and 128 RAM made
a vast improvement to the PC.
So I bought 2 x 128MB of new RAM to get the max from my PC. I put it in,
same as before, but when I started the computer it only read as far as 64MB
and just froze. Everytime I restarted the computer it was the same.
I thought maybe one of the memory sticks was faulty and tried removing each
one in turn, but on these occasions when I started the PC it wouldn't read
or 'countdown' any memory and went straight to the normal boot process, and
when Windows finally started it would reboot constantly.
I've had to slot in the original 64MB that came with the PC just to get the
PC to work. I just spent £40 (about $65) on these 2 memory modules and the
smallprint says it's a 'no refund' policy - in other words, if anything goes
wrong it must be because I chose the wrong type of memory or something.
Below I have the manufacturer's description of the memory stick(s) I bought,
and below that, what Compaq says about the type of memory needed for my PC:

(The memory modules I bought):

Module Size: 128MB
Package: 168-pin DIMM
Featu SDRAM, PC100
Configuration: 16Meg x 64
DIMM Type: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-Parity
Voltage: 3.3V
SDRAM Timings: CL=3


(My PC's specifications):

Memory Max - 256 MB
DIMM Memory Speed - 100 MHz CL3
Memory Type - Non-Parity
Dimm Module Type - Gold Contact
Number of Pins: 168
Max DIMM Capacity: 128 MB
Ram Type: 100 MHz SDRAM
Memory - In Slots: 64 MB
Total Memory Slots: Two

*Note: Primary path is to use the largest DIMM possible [i.e. (one) 128MB
DIMM with (two) 64MB DIMMs used only as backup]
**Note: CL2 Memory may also be used.
***Note: All DIMMs must support Serial Presence Detect (SPD) Revi

Can someone tell me if I have missed something and it is my mistake?

Thanks in advance,

Joanna


  #2  
Old January 6th 04, 10:05 PM
Trai' La Trash
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Try making this cd then put the memory back in and boot with the cd and run
the test. http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp




Windows Memory Diagnostic

The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your
computer for errors. The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of memory
tests. If you are experiencing problems while running Windows, you can use
the diagnostic to determine whether the problems are caused by failing
hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of your motherboard. Windows
Memory Diagnostic is designed to be easy and fast. On most configurations,
you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test and
complete the first test pass in less than 30 minutes.

To run Windows Memory Diagnostic, you must reboot your computer with the
disk or CD-ROM on which you installed Windows Memory Diagnostic in the
drive. After the reboot, Windows Memory Diagnostic will load and its
interface will appear. After loading, the first test pass will begin, using
the default standard test suite, and continue until complete, unless Windows
Memory Diagnostic is either paused or exited. Once the first test pass is
complete, Windows Memory Diagnostic will begin a second test pass using the
same settings as before. Windows Memory Diagnostic will continue to run test
passes until you exit.

Windows Memory Diagnostic User Guide
Download Windows Memory Diagnostic


Dave


"Joanna" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,

I'm having several problems after adding ram to my PC, causing it to

reboots
or not boot at all.

I run Win 98 on a Compaq Presario 5446. I've checked the manufacturer
specifications and it says my PC can have a max of 256 mb RAM, to be

divided
as 2x128MB between the two DIMM slots.
I bought my PC a few years ago with 64MB PC100 SDRAM installed. A few

weeks
ago I bought 64MB of secondhand RAM off ebay and it worked and 128 RAM

made
a vast improvement to the PC.
So I bought 2 x 128MB of new RAM to get the max from my PC. I put it in,
same as before, but when I started the computer it only read as far as

64MB
and just froze. Everytime I restarted the computer it was the same.
I thought maybe one of the memory sticks was faulty and tried removing

each
one in turn, but on these occasions when I started the PC it wouldn't read
or 'countdown' any memory and went straight to the normal boot process,

and
when Windows finally started it would reboot constantly.
I've had to slot in the original 64MB that came with the PC just to get

the
PC to work. I just spent £40 (about $65) on these 2 memory modules and

the
smallprint says it's a 'no refund' policy - in other words, if anything

goes
wrong it must be because I chose the wrong type of memory or something.
Below I have the manufacturer's description of the memory stick(s) I

bought,
and below that, what Compaq says about the type of memory needed for my

PC:

(The memory modules I bought):

Module Size: 128MB
Package: 168-pin DIMM
Featu SDRAM, PC100
Configuration: 16Meg x 64
DIMM Type: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-Parity
Voltage: 3.3V
SDRAM Timings: CL=3


(My PC's specifications):

Memory Max - 256 MB
DIMM Memory Speed - 100 MHz CL3
Memory Type - Non-Parity
Dimm Module Type - Gold Contact
Number of Pins: 168
Max DIMM Capacity: 128 MB
Ram Type: 100 MHz SDRAM
Memory - In Slots: 64 MB
Total Memory Slots: Two

*Note: Primary path is to use the largest DIMM possible [i.e. (one) 128MB
DIMM with (two) 64MB DIMMs used only as backup]
**Note: CL2 Memory may also be used.
***Note: All DIMMs must support Serial Presence Detect (SPD) Revi

Can someone tell me if I have missed something and it is my mistake?

Thanks in advance,

Joanna






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  #3  
Old January 7th 04, 01:20 PM
Tom Scales
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I suspect that the memor you bought is double density memory (are there
chips on only one side?). Your computer likely requires single density
memory. Try taking it back to the store and making sure they give you single
densmemory.

Tom
"Joanna" wrote in message
...
Hi everyone,

I'm having several problems after adding ram to my PC, causing it to

reboots
or not boot at all.

I run Win 98 on a Compaq Presario 5446. I've checked the manufacturer
specifications and it says my PC can have a max of 256 mb RAM, to be

divided
as 2x128MB between the two DIMM slots.
I bought my PC a few years ago with 64MB PC100 SDRAM installed. A few

weeks
ago I bought 64MB of secondhand RAM off ebay and it worked and 128 RAM

made
a vast improvement to the PC.
So I bought 2 x 128MB of new RAM to get the max from my PC. I put it in,
same as before, but when I started the computer it only read as far as

64MB
and just froze. Everytime I restarted the computer it was the same.
I thought maybe one of the memory sticks was faulty and tried removing

each
one in turn, but on these occasions when I started the PC it wouldn't read
or 'countdown' any memory and went straight to the normal boot process,

and
when Windows finally started it would reboot constantly.
I've had to slot in the original 64MB that came with the PC just to get

the
PC to work. I just spent £40 (about $65) on these 2 memory modules and

the
smallprint says it's a 'no refund' policy - in other words, if anything

goes
wrong it must be because I chose the wrong type of memory or something.
Below I have the manufacturer's description of the memory stick(s) I

bought,
and below that, what Compaq says about the type of memory needed for my

PC:

(The memory modules I bought):

Module Size: 128MB
Package: 168-pin DIMM
Featu SDRAM, PC100
Configuration: 16Meg x 64
DIMM Type: Unbuffered
Error Checking: Non-Parity
Voltage: 3.3V
SDRAM Timings: CL=3


(My PC's specifications):

Memory Max - 256 MB
DIMM Memory Speed - 100 MHz CL3
Memory Type - Non-Parity
Dimm Module Type - Gold Contact
Number of Pins: 168
Max DIMM Capacity: 128 MB
Ram Type: 100 MHz SDRAM
Memory - In Slots: 64 MB
Total Memory Slots: Two

*Note: Primary path is to use the largest DIMM possible [i.e. (one) 128MB
DIMM with (two) 64MB DIMMs used only as backup]
**Note: CL2 Memory may also be used.
***Note: All DIMMs must support Serial Presence Detect (SPD) Revi

Can someone tell me if I have missed something and it is my mistake?

Thanks in advance,

Joanna




 




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