PLEASE HELP! Problem installing RAM in Compaq R3000

[buddhaflow]

Hey, I've got a problem that is driving me crazy.

I'm trying to install a 1GB RAM stick into my laptop.

The laptop comes with a 2x256MB setup. Only one of the sticks is physically accessible. So the maximum memory in the specs is 1.25GB.

The stick is PC2700, same as the old stick. I am sure it is installed correctly. I took all static precautions.

The BIOS recognizes the RAM - 1.25GB total.

But Ubuntu just won't. I've got both 9.10 x64 and 9.04 x32 installed. Neither will boot. Memtest only shows the 768k of base RAM, and NONE of the extended RAM shows up - not even the initial 256MB.

I tried turning on boot logging, but the /var/logs/boot was still empty. When I turn off the splash screen, I see a whole mess of errors, which basically stem from the fact that there is no extended memory.

What the hell is happening? This is the second RAM stick I've tried, so I'm pretty sure that's not the problem. I only have two days to decide whether to return it! Please help, do you have any advice?

[Irithori]

hi,
what I have found so far:
your laptop is from 2003/2004 and it might be, that the chipset is simply not able to address more than 512MByte.

So far it´s just my guess,
I havent found out which chipset is really in the r3000 and what limitations it has in terms of memory.


Lots of manuals, but non tells the chipset
Manuals for Compaq Presario R3000 (AMD) Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

You could boot with just 512MByte and issue

lspci

and then google, what your chipsets limitations are.

Another possibility:
Some manufacturers are very picky about what ram runs in their hardware.
It could also be, that the combination is not working, although both chipset and ram would be working.

[buddhaflow]

Thanks for the reply!

It looks like my chpset is nforce3.

I flashed the BIOS to the latest version (had to download and install Windows just for this purpose..gaaaggghhh!), but it still didn't work.

From the manual:

Contains 2 memory slots, one of which is
accessible for an optional 128-MB,
256-MB, 512-MB, or 1024-MB memory
module upgrade.

Ack, I hope it isn't the third, that they simply want me to use HP/Compaq RAM.

I wonder, if that was the case, do you think it would show up inBIOS?

Anyway, thanks for your reply..let me know if you have any more advice!

[TaZMAniac]

Both Ram modules are accessible just that the top memory is harder to get to.
Go to their web site to grab the manuals on how to access it.
Compaq Support

I've come across motherboards that wanted both Ram modules to be the same size or they couldn't be Dual Channel Ram.

I don't think that is the problem here as I also looked your model up at Crucial and they have 3 modules listed. A 256, 512 and a 1Gb capacity.

I would take the time to get the manuals and if you feel comfortable enough accessing the top Ram, I would pull the 256 Mb stick out and try the 1 Gig in that slot by itself.
If it doesn't work then it may be incompatible Ram.
I do know that Compaq used to be a bear for having proprietary hardware.

[buddhaflow]

>I would take the time to get the manuals and if you feel comfortable enough accessing the top >Ram, I would pull the 256 Mb stick out and try the 1 Gig in that slot by itself.

no can do, it's it would require disassembling the laptop way more than I'm comfortable doing, and I think it may be sottered into place.

Oh well, I hope it isn't that it needs a proprietary RAM, because I live in Korea where all the RAM is Samsung..but I guess it must be.

If it needed a proprietary RAM, do you think it would show up in BIOS?

[Rubberman]

According to the Crucial web site (memory manufacturer/vendor) this system doesn't need sticks of the same size, but they need to be PC2700 DDR333 unbuffered non-ecc RAM. In any case, I think if the BIOS sees it, then your OS should see it as well, but if it doesn't then you might try to go into the BIOS and see if there is some setting to enable the additional memory. Even if not, do save the bios settings on exit to reboot since I have seen systems in the past where the OS won't get the correct information from the BIOS unless you save the settings after adding memory.

[buddhaflow]

Thanks, I tried that - but there are no settings in BIOS. It sees the RAM, I saved the settings, still no dice.

I tried booting from a Live CD, with a slightly different result:

When I do a memtest from installed GRUB, it only scans the first 768k (in about a quarter of a second) and reboots.

But when I do memtest from the CD, it finds 256000 errors, starting at 1157MB and going onto the end of the memory, at 1287 MB or so.

It also says that my memory is DDR 328, running at 164mhz..which seems, um, a little bit odd.

Do I just have another bad memory stick?

[Rubberman]

It is possible that one of several things is going on here.

1. The memory you installed is bad.
2. The memory module was not installed correctly, such as not being properly seated and locked in place.
3. There was some debris in the slot that is keeping it from making proper electrical contact with the connectors.
4. There is a fault with the system board that is causing problems with the additional memory stick.

So, remove the new memory and retest the system to be sure no other damage has been done. If that shows the system is ok then get some compressed air and blow out slot and carefully reinstall the new memory, then test it again. If it still fails, then send the stick back for a replacement.

[buddhaflow]

Well..I think I can rule out a couple of those. I have uninstalled and reinstalled it at least a dozen times, because I need it to boot to check the boards etc. So I must have gotten it seated correctly at least once!

But do you still think there might be dust in the slot? I guess I can give it a shot...

The reason I have been hesitant to think it's a bad stick is because it's the second stick, from the second retailer, and a second manufacturer..so it seems unlikely. But still possible...and I can't think what else it could be.

Shout out to DeKalb

[TaZMAniac]

I had a Biostar motherboard that held two sticks of Ram.
If I inserted the 2nd stick in the motherboard it would not boot even in to the Bios.
If I ran on 1 stick in slot 1 all was fine. If I ran it with 1 stick in slot 2 it was fine. But the second I populated both slots it would not boot. Tested both sticks and they passed with no errors. The board was a closeout and was discontinued by Biostar so I was stuck with a 1 stick board. It happens.

From what you posted about the speed and bus speed it seems like the bios is mis-configuring the speeds when that second stick is installed.