IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM

t0fu · 10-12-2007, 11:25 AM

I've had this IBM T42 laptop for over 3 years now. It originally had 512MB RAM in total and had worked fine but it lagged when i played certain games. Due to the lag i decided to upgrade the RAM and add a 1GB RAM to it. It works fine and it makes my laptop run a lot faster but i notice that sometimes my laptop freezes completely for no reason what so ever. It freezes at random times, sometimes it freezes when I have MSN open only and other times it freezes when I'm on Mozilla Firefox and running Microsoft Word and/or MSN at the same time.

My laptop started freezing after i put in the new RAM. I'm not a computer expert and i don't know much as to what i can do or how to solve this problem. People I've talked to have said it could be a hardware problem and/or software problem but I'm not sure what it is. I know that my computer supports the RAM because my uncle helped me buy it (He works at IBM). I've asked him why it freezes sometimes though and he didn't know why either.

Does anyone know what seems to be the problem and/or what i can do?

If you need computer specs and RAM details i can post it up.

**speedster123** · 10-14-2007, 03:27 AM

download memtest
to a floppy and boot to it.. to test the memory you installed

t0fu · 10-15-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster123

download memtest
to a floppy and boot to it.. to test the memory you installed

I don't have a floppy drive on my laptop. Can I try putting the memory tester onto a CD?

And if so what instructions can i follow to put the memory tester on and for during that time period when i boot up my laptop with the CD?

chris85 · 01-08-2008, 12:46 PM

Hi t0fu,

Just found your post. I have the same problem with my 3 years old T42. just bought 1G of RAM in addition to the original 512 and the computer freezes randomly.

Did you find out what was the problem?

t0fu · 01-09-2008, 05:54 AM

Yeah I found a solution to that problem.

It was the motherboard's problem, it wasn't adaptable to the RAM apparently. So i went to my school's head technician and got a new motherboard which worked fine with the RAM.

karennhs · 05-08-2008, 09:56 AM

Hi,

I have just the same problem :S. But I wouldn't like to think that you have to replace the motherboard :|. The fact of the thinkpad t42 comes with two slots and the maximum capacity is 2gb it can not be a lie!!

Please we need to find another solution, can anyone help us?

Thanks

10-12-2007, 11:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
t0fu Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10 OS: XP	IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM I've had this IBM T42 laptop for over 3 years now. It originally had 512MB RAM in total and had worked fine but it lagged when i played certain games. Due to the lag i decided to upgrade the RAM and add a 1GB RAM to it. It works fine and it makes my laptop run a lot faster but i notice that sometimes my laptop freezes completely for no reason what so ever. It freezes at random times, sometimes it freezes when I have MSN open only and other times it freezes when I'm on Mozilla Firefox and running Microsoft Word and/or MSN at the same time. My laptop started freezing after i put in the new RAM. I'm not a computer expert and i don't know much as to what i can do or how to solve this problem. People I've talked to have said it could be a hardware problem and/or software problem but I'm not sure what it is. I know that my computer supports the RAM because my uncle helped me buy it (He works at IBM). I've asked him why it freezes sometimes though and he didn't know why either. Does anyone know what seems to be the problem and/or what i can do? If you need computer specs and RAM details i can post it up.

10-14-2007, 03:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York Posts: 3,804 OS: xp pro My System	Re: IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM download memtest to a floppy and boot to it.. to test the memory you installed __________________ Infection Detection and Removal Thermal Grease Instructions Bench Test

01-08-2008, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
chris85 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1 OS: linux	Re: IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM Hi t0fu, Just found your post. I have the same problem with my 3 years old T42. just bought 1G of RAM in addition to the original 512 and the computer freezes randomly. Did you find out what was the problem?

01-09-2008, 05:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
t0fu Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 10 OS: XP	Re: IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM Yeah I found a solution to that problem. It was the motherboard's problem, it wasn't adaptable to the RAM apparently. So i went to my school's head technician and got a new motherboard which worked fine with the RAM.

05-08-2008, 09:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
karennhs Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: IBM Thinkpad T42 Freezing after installing new RAM Hi, I have just the same problem :S. But I wouldn't like to think that you have to replace the motherboard :\|. The fact of the thinkpad t42 comes with two slots and the maximum capacity is 2gb it can not be a lie!! Please we need to find another solution, can anyone help us? Thanks