Laptop not detecting RAM

Chris W · 23-05-2004, 00:26

I have a Sony PCG-FX209K laptop which was originally supplied with 128mb RAM, with a spare slot for upgrade. about a year ago i upgraded to 256mb with an extra 128mb card, and all was working fine. A couple of weeks back my pc started performing really badly, and i have just got round to diagnosing it...

Bios is only detecting 128mb. I have tested both cards individually and both are working. If i put just one card in slot 2, i just get bios beebs at start up.

beep, break, beep beep beep, break, beep. It is phoenix bios. Does anyone know if this means it requires memory in slot one, or that it is not detecting any memory at all.

I am guessing that slot 2 is somehow dead, but i don't know where to start diagnosing what has gone wrong. The contacts on it all look ok, but because it is a laptop there is not much more analysis that i can do without completely disambling the thing- not something that i really want to do!

Anyone have any ideas how i can work out where the problem is actually occurring? or should i just accidentally drop it down stairs and then claim on the insurance?!

MB

Chris W · 23-05-2004, 11:19

bump......

anyone?

23-05-2004, 11:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

bump......

anyone?

a 1-3-1 beep code on a phoenix bios means 'replace the motherboard'

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml

- so your theory that the memory slot is duff sounds reasonable - sorry

paulyoung666 · 23-05-2004, 11:29

would it boot if you had the memory in slot 2 at all ????????? , i was just wondering if you need memory in slot 1 all the time , then again i am with gaz , jarked mobo

Chris W · 23-05-2004, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

would it boot if you had the memory in slot 2 at all ????????? , i was just wondering if you need memory in slot 1 all the time , then again i am with gaz , jarked mobo

nope won't boot at all with nothing in slot one and memory in slot 2!

can anyone lend me ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£1000 for a new laptop??

paulyoung666 · 23-05-2004, 11:39

how about 1 256mb stick in slot 1 then ????????????? , cheaper than a new laptop i reckon

Chris W · 23-05-2004, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

how about 1 256mb stick in slot 1 then ????????????? , cheaper than a new laptop i reckon

I am looking for one but they are very hard to get hold of... it took me 6months to find the 128mb stick!

23-05-2004, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

how about 1 256mb stick in slot 1 then ????????????? , cheaper than a new laptop i reckon

yeah, good call, that sounds like the best compromise

paulyoung666 · 23-05-2004, 11:54

sony memory you need to drill down to find it , it was about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£80 for 256mb , hope this helps --- paul

23-05-2004, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulyoung666

sony memory you need to drill down to find it , it was about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£80 for 256mb , hope this helps --- paul

or

http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/list...209K&submit=Go

**Paul M** · 23-05-2004, 12:12

Tip of the day;

In the past have found that Laptops can sometimes suffer accidental damage and have to be replaced ..... always make sure you have good insurance to cover these unfortuneate mishaps

paulyoung666 · 23-05-2004, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pem

Tip of the day;

In the past have found that Laptops can sometimes suffer accidental damage and have to be replaced ..... always make sure you have good insurance to cover these unfortuneate mishaps

surely you are not advocating ................. , no of course you are not

tw67 · 24-05-2004, 15:46

put your memory into dodgy slot.Press firmly on the connector and power on.If it boots then you probably have fractured joints betweeen connector and planar,happens a lot on the warranty repairs i see daily on another well known make of laptop/notebook

Chris W · 24-05-2004, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw67

put your memory into dodgy slot.Press firmly on the connector and power on.If it boots then you probably have fractured joints betweeen connector and planar,happens a lot on the warranty repairs i see daily on another well known make of laptop/notebook

tried it but still nothing

ah well... guess i will just have to spend some money!

paulyoung666 · 24-05-2004, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

tried it but still nothing

ah well... guess i will just have to spend some money!

did you check out the link i posted ???????