Upgrading 256MB PC133 RAM on Laptop 1

[nicks60610]

I have a Solo9500XL Laptop with 256MB RAM installed, and I am adding an additional 256MB PC133 (same speed as existing), but as soon as I install it, the PC will not boot, and once I remove it, it boots fine. I tested by using the new DIMM in the primary slot alone, and it boots fine, but as soon as a second DIMM is added, no boot. I tried the same one on another 9500XL, and it booted, but blue screened (NTOSKRNL.EXE), which I read can be resolved by running a repair/reload of W2K. My Laptop has a newer BIOS version than the other that blue screens, but I am wondering why I cannot get it to boot??

 

[ski]

In addition to speed, are the other specs(Ecc or non-ECC, SPD, volts, etc.) of the new memory the same as those for the existing?
If so, sometimes memory from different manuf's cause problems like you're having when they're installed together, even though they have the same specs.

 

[nicks60610]

Yes, the identical specs, it was a recommended brand by the laptop manufacturer, but you are correct, the existing and the new are of two different brands.

 

[Stealer]

It looks like your laptop uses PC100 SDRAM.
Some machines don't like it when you mix pc133 and other speeds of ram. Try using pc100.
Good Luck

Stealer

 

[nicks60610]

No, it uses PC133 RAM, I checked with the Manufacturer, and the existing SODIMM is using PC133.

 

[Stealer]

If you check this link it says your machine uses pc100.

http://reviews.zdnet.co.uk/review/13/3/87.html

Stealer

 

[nicks60610]

You are absolutely right, funny thing is, Gateway recommends the PC133 SODIMM I purchased for this system...amateurs, but I guess I should have double checked before I bought it, partially my own fault there. Thanks for the link!

 

[nicks60610]

This website also tells me it is a PC133 bus..

Type of system: Laptops
Bus Architecture: PC Card (PCMCIA)
Native OS: Windows 98
CPU Type: 900MHz Intel Mobile Pentium III


System Memory
Standard Memory: 256 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory: 512 MB
Memory Expansion: 2 sockets



Description OEM Part No. 18004memory Part No. Price Web
Price Order
64MB Module 5000572 LG1364U/064/H3V $12.00 $10.00 BUY
128MB Module 5000573 LG1364U/128/K3V $19.69 $16.99 BUY
256MB Module 5000575 LG1364U/256/K3VLP $50.50 $45.00 BUY

Comments:
PC133 SDRAM SODIMMs

 

[nicks60610]

Thanks for everyone's help, Gateway finally admitted that it has a PC100 Bus, even though they tried to sell me a PC133 SODIMM a second time! I can of course use 2xPC133, but when I ordered it I told them I was adding a SODIMM to the existing, and they of course sell me the PC133, and on the tech site for this model, it does not mention the Bus speed, other than on the UK ZdNet site, thank you for sending me that!

 

[Stealer]

Happy you got it sorted out. I figured it was something like that.

Stealer