Laptop memory upgrade

[Buckingham]

It's a Toshiba Satellite A100-259.

I ran the analysis program at crucial.com, which recommended two new 1gb memory cards to replace the two existing 512mb cards.
It's running XP home & SP2.
Unfortunately the laptop will not boot up with the new memory cards installed, it just clicks a few times then switches off.
Reinstalled the old memory cards, boots up OK (takes ages hence plan to increase memory).
Tried new 1gb cards, won't boot up. Tried a combination of one 512mb and one 1gb, no go.
Any ideas before I send the memory back ?

Is there something I should change in XP to enable the extra memory ?

Thanks

 

[GSEddie]

John
it's nothing to do with XP does the laptop show the boot up screen will it let you into the bios you may need to change the memory setting in the bios
is the new memory DDR2 667 SoDIMM

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

What is the laptop? some sites give you the wrong amount of maximum memory and they wont boot after that. Sometimes updating the bios can sort it out. Try 1GB card on its own and see if it boots if not try the other one on its own, it should boot ok with just one. If it does ten I am probably right and you cant actually use 2GB or ram.

 

[wessie]

according to http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....broadvision.session.new=Yes&PRODUCT_ID=116137 you should be able to upgrade to 2GB PC2-4300 DDR2 RAM (533 MHz) i.e. 2x1GB

This is the approved Toshiba memory expansion module:
http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....N_ID=111608&toshibaShop=true&selCategory=4700

Does the spec on the Crucial delivery note match the above? If yes, then does the label on the actual device match the delivery note? Crucial are pretty reliable but they do occasionally dispatch the wrong item. Whatever the issue, Crucial will sort it pretty quickly.

 

[Myke Rocks]

Crucial memory

Sugget uninstalling & reinstalling it, being certain to press the memory down very firmly into the base of the memory slots at the same time as side latch is engaged.
One often puts in memory cards, and they do not seat preperly, giving rise to the problem you are encountering.
It is nothing to do with XP, which supports 2gb ram with no changes to system.
Myke

 

[Buckingham]

Thanks all, I'm going to take another look at it this evening.
The 1gb cards from Crucial are marked: 1gb 200pin DDR2 SODIMM 128Mx64
2Rx16 PC2-5300S-555-13-A0

The old 512mb card are marked: 512mb 2x16 PC2-4200S-444-12-A3

I can't get to BIOS with the new cards installed but should be able to with the old cards - what should I look for ?

 

[SlowJohn]

I'd say if you can't even get into the BIOS you have one of the following problems.

1. You're not seating the new cards correctly (take a look how the old ones sit and make sure the new ones look the same when you fit them)
2. One of the new cards is faulty (try them one at a time)
3. The supplied cards are wrong for your laptop (speak to Crucial)

Most BIOS's will take more memory and just carry on .... some will take you into the BIOS to confirm you've made the change but hardly any will fail to load.

If none of the above works it might be worth trying to set the BIOS to default settings (there's normally a restore default settings button in the BIOS) with the 512 fitted, then try with the new memory. It's possible the settings have been changed to memory timings the new memory doesn't support but I'd say that's pretty unlikely.

 

[DollyRocket]

In my experience, Memory is one of the things that throws computers in to wobblies the most often. Some manufacturers (like Dell) will only work with certain memory manufacturers (like kingston - Who make Dell memory) to force people to buy their own or clones of their own memory.

I am not sure if Toshiba are the same, I know for sure that Acer's will take any old memory, but HP/Dell/Apple are quite fussy.

 

[Buckingham]

Memory

I called Crucial and they agreed the memory they supplied sometimes didn't work in Toshiba Satellite laptops, so I've sent it back for a refund.
I have now ordered two new 1gb cards from Toshiba, as per the very helpful link posted above in this thread.
Still waiting for delivery