Problem with memory & laptop

[visionthing]

I have a Toshiba Portege 7200 and I'm having some trouble with loading any OS (any Windows or Linux).
I''ve put new memory in (all new and from various vendors) and boot up, then go into the bios. I see that the bios sees the correct amount of memory. When I try to load an OS, ie: XP, I get "file setupdd.sys could not be loaded. The error code is 4. When I've googled, I've come up with answer of changing out the memory. I've done that multiple times with memory from different vendors, the last being Samsung. Still come up with the same error message.

Has anyone come across this at all or have any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[G0AOZ]

Try something like MEMTEST86 which will run extensive tests on the memory without having to load an operating system like Windows.

http://www.memtest86.com

It's possible for it to be a motherboard issue. I had a Packard Bell laptop which froze every so often, and after long and extensive tests we concluded it was a motherboard issue. Memory and all other removable components worked fine in other laptops...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[visionthing]

I've tried Memtest86+ on the 5 different modules that I bought (and returned). All of them failed immediately. The laptop has only 1 slot in it and I've been trying 256mb. There is 64mb onboard and when I remove the 256mb (any of the ones I've tried) the laptop works fine and am able to install the OS. I'm trying to rule out everything before giving it a toss. It's an older laptop, but I hate to toss it anyway because I'm not a bells & whistles person.
Thanks for your reply!

 

[wolluf]

Sounds like the onboard memory is not compatible with the new memory you're buying. So unless you want to take machine apart so you can also replace the 'onboard' memory (if this is possible - few laptops I've taken apart with onboard just have another memory slot hidden under keyboard, fans etc), I'd give up! (unless you can find an 'old' 256 stick - ebay?). Is this sdram (would suspect without looking it up).

 

[SkipCox]

I think you have 32Mb onboard that is not removable + a 32Mb chip. That thing will only accept 160Mb total so that means you can only add a 128Mb stick of memory.

Here's a Kingston part number: KTT8000/128

Skip

 

[BionicJohn]

Tosh's spec sheet (June 2000) for the Portège 7xxx series says 64Mb main memory, expandable to 320Mb, i.e. 256Mb in the one free slot.

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Iechyd da! John
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[SkipCox]

John,

My bad. You're absolutely correct...apparently I gave specs for a 7000; not a 7200.

Anyway, here's the Kingston P/N fjor 256Mb

KTT-SO100/256

Skip

 

[visionthing]

I tried the Kingston 256 memory first, with no luck. Everytime I install any memory, I run Memtest86+ before doing anything else. Each time the memory fails immediately. This happens no matter whose memory I use. So far I've used Kingston, memory from 18004memory (about 3 different types), Kalhon, and Samsung. Each fails with Memtest86+. Even though the memory fails, the bios still sees it.
Now, I'm trying to install XP with just the onboard 64mb and then I'll try adding the 256mb chip and see what happens.
So far, I'm agreeing with "Woluff", in that the new memory that I'm buying isn't really backward compatable with the 64mb onboard.
Thanks

 

[G0AOZ]

Is it possible that the memory slot or adjacent surrounding circuitry has become slightly damaged somehow, and this is causing the issue?

The other thing to try before tossing it away, is a complete reset of the BIOS. Don't suppose it'll cure it but might be worth a shot...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[visionthing]

Roger,
I've updated the BIOS from 1.60 > 1.80 already and I have set the BIOS to default settings and still the same thing. I don't know how the slot would've gotten damaged because the cover is always on and 50% of the time it's in the docking station. Plus, it's never been dropped or roughly handled or had any spills of any kind.
Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[wahnula]

Apparently this is a special type of module as eBay has listings for it as exclusively Toshiba Portege 7200 RAM



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[visionthing]

Thanks Tony,
I've sent this seller an email asking if he's certain that the memory will work in a 7200cte. I'm hoping that it does.

 

[TeamToshiba]

And you're sure the memory is compatible with your model? It sounds like the boot sector has some damage. Possibly burn a boot sector repair program (eg., DiskPatch) and see if that helps? The boot sector is usually marked as a very small partition.

 

[wahnula]

TeamToshiba, are you a factory rep? If so it would be wonderful to have a manufacturer-related representative alive and working on this board. If not your handle could be misleading,

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[visionthing]

TeamToshiba -- The memory that I bought was stated to be compatible with the Portege 7200cte. I bought memory from Kahlon, 18004memory, 4allmemory (which gave me samsung) and none worked. Only Crucial said that the memory is special and they don't carry it. Also, since there's no image or partition (used Killpart to delete everything), I don't have a boot sector. During install of the OS, it will create the partition for me (if I could only get that far).
I told the Ebay seller the s/n's that I tried and his must be the same because he never got back to me after asking for the s/n's.
Thanks for the idea though.