Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it.

JBean05 · 09-27-2008, 04:19 PM

After re-installing XP again onto my laptop, I right clicked 'my computer' just to check my laptop specs and it tells me I only got a 256mb RAM, no wonder why it's so slow now. The laptop came in 2 x 512mb = 1.024mb RAM. I checked the RAM in my laptop to see if it's loose or damaged, but it seems fine. Anybody know why my computer can't detect my other 700mb-ish RAM and how I can get it back?

**wrench97** · 09-28-2008, 07:26 AM

It is probably only detecting 1 module with 256Meg being dedicated to to Video memory leaving 256 left for windows, Remove 1 module and try to boot if it does, turn it off and replace that module with the one you removed see if it will boot again if it boots again then try both in the other ram slot which ever won't boot is a bad ram module or slot if both won't boot in 1 slot only, if they both boot in both slots then reinstall both and try it again.

**magnethead** · 09-29-2008, 11:23 AM

bios settings?

JBean05 · 09-30-2008, 06:13 AM

*Update*

Ok I've done what wrench97 suggested. Both Ram module is fine as they both work in slot 1, but however if I put either on slot 2 it makes a beep/popping noise and my laptop lights up but there's a black screen. So I think I've got a faulty slot. My slots are laid out like this: [[ with one above the other but just slightly apart.

The slots seem to be sitting on top of my motherboard (I think that's the motherboard, sorry I'm such a newbie), will I have to actually install a new motherboard or can I just fix that certain faulty slot? Would a better alternative be to insert a new RAM module that's 1 stick of 1,024 mb? Or is there a certain amount of memory a laptop slot can only read?

dai · 09-30-2008, 08:42 AM

keep the ram pressed down into the slot as click it down

JBean05 · 10-01-2008, 07:29 AM

*Update 2*

I've done what dai suggested and it didn't solve the problem, I did however noticed a slight difference between the two ram sticks. Kind of hard to explain, but the little bit that sticks out of the slot to align up with the ram stick seems to perfectly fit for the bottom slot, but on the top slot there's like a 0.5-1mm gap, between the bit sticking out and the cut out bit in the ram stick. I tried a harder force and various angles to get them to align perfectly but it won't go in any further. Perhaps this is the problem?

Another baffling thing is that when I went into the bios system, it tells me it can read 1,024mb ram...strange o_O

dai · 10-01-2008, 07:56 AM

well then it is seeing the ram ok
what does cpuz see
http://www.filehippo.com/download_cp...3a5c02126b71a/
what does system information see
what does it report in the task manager

09-27-2008, 04:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
JBean05 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. After re-installing XP again onto my laptop, I right clicked 'my computer' just to check my laptop specs and it tells me I only got a 256mb RAM, no wonder why it's so slow now. The laptop came in 2 x 512mb = 1.024mb RAM. I checked the RAM in my laptop to see if it's loose or damaged, but it seems fine. Anybody know why my computer can't detect my other 700mb-ish RAM and how I can get it back?

09-28-2008, 07:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 21,420 OS: Win7	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. It is probably only detecting 1 module with 256Meg being dedicated to to Video memory leaving 256 left for windows, Remove 1 module and try to boot if it does, turn it off and replace that module with the one you removed see if it will boot again if it boots again then try both in the other ram slot which ever won't boot is a bad ram module or slot if both won't boot in 1 slot only, if they both boot in both slots then reinstall both and try it again. __________________ Power Supply and Selection Last edited by wrench97; 09-28-2008 at 07:28 AM.

09-29-2008, 11:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,589 OS: Win7 x64, Vista Ultimate x86, Server 2K3 Enterprise My System	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. bios settings? __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

09-30-2008, 06:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
JBean05 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. Update Ok I've done what wrench97 suggested. Both Ram module is fine as they both work in slot 1, but however if I put either on slot 2 it makes a beep/popping noise and my laptop lights up but there's a black screen. So I think I've got a faulty slot. My slots are laid out like this: [[ with one above the other but just slightly apart. The slots seem to be sitting on top of my motherboard (I think that's the motherboard, sorry I'm such a newbie), will I have to actually install a new motherboard or can I just fix that certain faulty slot? Would a better alternative be to insert a new RAM module that's 1 stick of 1,024 mb? Or is there a certain amount of memory a laptop slot can only read?

09-30-2008, 08:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 59,103 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. keep the ram pressed down into the slot as click it down __________________

10-01-2008, 07:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
JBean05 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3 OS: XP	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. Update 2 I've done what dai suggested and it didn't solve the problem, I did however noticed a slight difference between the two ram sticks. Kind of hard to explain, but the little bit that sticks out of the slot to align up with the ram stick seems to perfectly fit for the bottom slot, but on the top slot there's like a 0.5-1mm gap, between the bit sticking out and the cut out bit in the ram stick. I tried a harder force and various angles to get them to align perfectly but it won't go in any further. Perhaps this is the problem? Another baffling thing is that when I went into the bios system, it tells me it can read 1,024mb ram...strange o_O

10-01-2008, 07:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 59,103 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: Where did my RAM go? Laptop can't detect it. well then it is seeing the ram ok what does cpuz see http://www.filehippo.com/download_cp...3a5c02126b71a/ what does system information see what does it report in the task manager __________________