Memory upgrade problem

[reflexboy]

Happy Easter one and all-I have been on Orca logic's website and ordered two 1GB memory boards. These are for the other half's Acer Aspire 9301AWSMi laptop. It currently has two seperate 512Mb boards, which is how it came from the factory. I have followed all the instructions and as a last resort updated the BIOS. (which I don't really understand, but nonotheless it is now running the latest version) Upon switching on I get a black screen with white writing telling Windows is unable to start properly (at all actually) It then gives me a few options like 'start windows normally' and 'start windows in safe mode' etc. When I start Windows normally it flashes up the Acer icon then reverts back to the black screen and this seems to go round in a loop. Put the old two 512Mb boards back in, and all is ok...any ideas?

 

[Sp!ke]

Try one memory dim in separately to see if either one of the dims is faulty.

If neither work then my guess is they are incorrect for your machine or faulty.

You can double check that you've got the right memory by going to www.crucial.com/uk

EDIT, I've just checked and you machine must use paired memory (so you cant try one at a time). Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-4200,DDR2 PC2-5300 with a maximum of 2GB per slot.

Since your memory has to be paired, it could be that one DIM is faulty hence the error.

 

[reflexboy]

Sp!ke-The cards Orca sent have a sticker saying: 1G DDR2 667 SO-DIMM CL5

Does that mean anything to you? Are they the right ones as per the Orca website: http://www.orcalogic.co.uk/asp/default.asp they even came with a printed label with the Laptops model on.

 

[HughJarse]

That is the correct memory.
Its a fickle old thing memory.

 

[reflexboy]

That is the correct memory.
Its a fickle old thing memory.

But what can I do to make to them work?

 

[Sp!ke]

probably nothing... sounds like one or both are DOA.

 

[reflexboy]

A call to Orca on Tuesday I think...Would it make any difference that one of the original boards has a label saying 'DMM1' and the other 'DMM2'?

 

[agatward]

Probably not as this would be manufacturer markings from the days when they cared about getting matched pairs (as close timings as possible), so the numpties in the factory put them in the right place.

You could try a single module at a time as it's not a requirement on that laptop to have both modules populated. This would help you determine whether it's one or both modules that are DOA.

 

[GazCaff]

Using both sticks is only recommended to allow the use of dual-channel memory addressing. Your machine should boot fine with either slot populated with a single stick.

 

[jpskiller]

I have found acer laptops to be fussy with the make of ram they will accept when using 512 and larger, for example out of 20 upgrades 18 worked with OCZ and two with Kingston

 

[reflexboy]

A bit of extra information for you: The laptop boots up ok with only one of the new modules in a slot, and the other slot empty. The second new one doesnt, so Im thinking that one is faulty. I then put in one new module (1gb) and one old module (512mb) in the other slot and it boots up and shows the correct amount of memory. This is the same with both new ones combined with an old 512mb one, so now I'm thinking maybe one new 1gb module isn't faulty after all. However, the laptop still doesnt boot up with the two new 1gb modues installed. The machine can take a max of 4gb, so that is not an issue. It is almost as if one of the new modules wont work unless it has one of the old modules working next to it. Double confused now!! Any further ideas chaps?

 

[jpskiller]

When laptop manufacturer's say it will take 4gb, that is theory it is not tested and the ones that are will only take a very specific type of ram, as I said before it could simply be the type of ram is not fully compatible for the laptop to work.

have you tried each of the 1gig modules in both slots by themselfs to see if it not only boots but windows works ok.

 

[reflexboy]

have you tried each of the 1gig modules in both slots by themselfs to see if it not only boots but windows works ok.

I cetainly have and it all works A1

 

[grober]

I think it some sort of timing/power issue. When you put in the good 1gig with an old 512mb in the other slot the computer will default to the slower memory speed of the 512 mb and it will all work. When you put in the "faulty" 1gig with an old 512mb the same thing happens and the the "faulty" 1gig will work at the slower speed. If you put the "faulty" 1gig in by itself there is nothing to pull down the speed so it won't work, likewise with both 1gigs in the both slots.

Memory is a black art sometimes. I would be inclined to send both memory modules back and ask them to send you another 2 good ones with exactly matched specs.

 

[reflexboy]

Thanks for your advice Graeme. I think I will be on the phone to them Tues/Weds. Watch this space

 

[w124coupe]

Did you reset the CMOS after the BIOS upgrade?

Press Del (or might be F2 - model dependent) during the early boot and look in the menus for a "reset to default options" (or similar) option.

Often the new BIOS will have changed parameters and can cause problems if not reset. Worth a quick try before posting the memory for replacement.

 

[reflexboy]

Ummm-Sadly, that had no effect either. But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[reflexboy]

Update

One of the memory modules WAS faulty...got it changed out by going to Orca's offices in Dorking and was met by a very helpful chappie (don't usually deal in person, only online) whom gave advice and changed it for me and all is working as it should. Thanks for all your help and advice guys.