RAM upgrade - won't read both slots??

twn1971 · 07-08-2009, 08:37 PM

hi. i have a toshiba satellite a135-s2276. It max's at 2 GB (1gb x 2 slots). Vista Basic. I got it with 2 x 512. I upgrade a while ago and had 1.5gb total, no problem. I recently got a cheap 1gb RAM to upgrade it to 2gb total (DDR2, PC4200, etc.). So now I have two 1gb RAm pieces, and 1 512mb piece.

When i put in both 1gb pieces, and boot up, my computer only shows 1gb total (not 2). Both pieces work, and both RAM slots work, cause when i try ANY/ANY combination of the RAM sticks in any computer slot (inner or outter), all work ,but only 1gb total.

For some reason, my laptop is only seeing the first 1gb ram and not the 2nd 1gb, regardless of position. What am I doing wrong? ANY help would be appreciated.

Again, I've tried the 2 x 1gb pieces, in differing slots, i've tried 1 gb by itself in both slots, and i've tried the 1gb x 512mb pieces... i can only get my machine to see 1gb total (the default total was 2x512, but i'd upgraded it to 1.5 gb total a year ago). ideas??

dai · 07-08-2009, 10:15 PM

is the ram the same as the original stick if they are different brands they may not work together

Sheepykins · 07-09-2009, 04:36 AM

are you sure all of the RAM is at the same speed, this can also cause confliction issues in older RAM types

**speedster123** · 07-09-2009, 06:27 AM

To upgrade that laptop, install 2 modules at a speed of 533 MHz or 667 MHz.
Use quality ram, such as corsair, kingston, mushkin, ocz ect.
Dont forget to pull the battery out and unplug your charger before handling the ram. Destatic yourself before hand.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...=Laptop-Memory
crucial makes quality memory also

twn1971 · 07-11-2009, 11:34 AM

Thanks all. Sadly, it must be bad luck of diff. RAM brands not working. If you have ANY ideas, please let me know.

I have 3 sticks, for 2 slots. Original 512 (call it A), add-on 1gb (B), and newest 1gb (C). A-B-C are different brands. All are proper 200pin, 533mhz, etc.

A-B work together. Sadly, B-C won't work together. A-C also won't work (only C shows up). So while I'd like to max out at 2x1gb (B-C), I'm stuck with 1.50 ram (A-B). What surprises me, is I know that C does work, cause when I put in C alone (or with A), I get 1.0 gb RAM, so C is working and being recognized. Sadly, when I put in B-C, i goet 1.0 RAM, not 2 RAM, so they won't work together. FYI, my new C ram is APC, decent brand.

Any ideas? THANKS.

**wrench97** · 07-12-2009, 04:30 AM

Matched sticks are the answer.

Stu_computer · 07-13-2009, 04:04 AM

tried the Fn-F5 keys?
can you access bios and set ram to manual?

07-08-2009, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
twn1971 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista	RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? hi. i have a toshiba satellite a135-s2276. It max's at 2 GB (1gb x 2 slots). Vista Basic. I got it with 2 x 512. I upgrade a while ago and had 1.5gb total, no problem. I recently got a cheap 1gb RAM to upgrade it to 2gb total (DDR2, PC4200, etc.). So now I have two 1gb RAm pieces, and 1 512mb piece. When i put in both 1gb pieces, and boot up, my computer only shows 1gb total (not 2). Both pieces work, and both RAM slots work, cause when i try ANY/ANY combination of the RAM sticks in any computer slot (inner or outter), all work ,but only 1gb total. For some reason, my laptop is only seeing the first 1gb ram and not the 2nd 1gb, regardless of position. What am I doing wrong? ANY help would be appreciated. Again, I've tried the 2 x 1gb pieces, in differing slots, i've tried 1 gb by itself in both slots, and i've tried the 1gb x 512mb pieces... i can only get my machine to see 1gb total (the default total was 2x512, but i'd upgraded it to 1.5 gb total a year ago). ideas??

07-08-2009, 10:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,646 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? is the ram the same as the original stick if they are different brands they may not work together __________________

07-09-2009, 04:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sheepykins Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: England Posts: 21 OS: Windows XP Pro My System	Re: RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? are you sure all of the RAM is at the same speed, this can also cause confliction issues in older RAM types

07-09-2009, 06:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	To upgrade that laptop, install 2 modules at a speed of 533 MHz or 667 MHz. Use quality ram, such as corsair, kingston, mushkin, ocz ect. Dont forget to pull the battery out and unplug your charger before handling the ram. Destatic yourself before hand. http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...=Laptop-Memory crucial makes quality memory also __________________ Last edited by dai; 07-11-2009 at 10:57 PM.

07-11-2009, 11:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
twn1971 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista	Re: RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? Thanks all. Sadly, it must be bad luck of diff. RAM brands not working. If you have ANY ideas, please let me know. I have 3 sticks, for 2 slots. Original 512 (call it A), add-on 1gb (B), and newest 1gb (C). A-B-C are different brands. All are proper 200pin, 533mhz, etc. A-B work together. Sadly, B-C won't work together. A-C also won't work (only C shows up). So while I'd like to max out at 2x1gb (B-C), I'm stuck with 1.50 ram (A-B). What surprises me, is I know that C does work, cause when I put in C alone (or with A), I get 1.0 gb RAM, so C is working and being recognized. Sadly, when I put in B-C, i goet 1.0 RAM, not 2 RAM, so they won't work together. FYI, my new C ram is APC, decent brand. Any ideas? THANKS.

07-12-2009, 04:30 AM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,616 OS: Win7	Re: RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? Matched sticks are the answer. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

07-13-2009, 04:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stu_computer Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,460 OS: Windows	Re: RAM upgrade - won't read both slots?? tried the Fn-F5 keys? can you access bios and set ram to manual? __________________