Quick Hardware Question (Know The Problem, Need A Solution!)

Beaumanoir · 10-01-2003, 06:39 PM

Okay this is annoying me. I have 128mb RAM but since my re-formatt, my PC is telling me I have 64mb and is performing so!!! I have checked its inserted properly and such so I don't know what to do!!

Just incase it helps:

Dell Dimension 4100
Pentium III 866mhz
God knows how much ram

Windows ME
64mb NVIDIA TNT2 Graphics Card

[ 10-02-2003, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Beaumanoir ]

Daniel_M · 10-01-2003, 08:57 PM

Hmm, try going to system setup (By pressing the 'Del' key when your computer is booting up) and go to hardware settings, im not too sure because some bios menus are different to others, anyway, look for something to do with RAM and set it to said normal RAM if that dosent work, youll have to buy some new RAM [img]tongue.gif[/img] so anyway..thats the only ideas I have for that.

NiceWorg · 10-01-2003, 10:27 PM

Good luck figuring out some BIOS. [img]smile.gif[/img] The answer lies there.. you can´t go wrong (too many times).

It could also be it has damaged from some part.

128mb is not very much nowadays, or what do you think? I recently upgraded to 512mb and now even the heaviest graphic programs run like anything.

[ 10-01-2003, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: NiceWorg ]

Bungleau · 10-02-2003, 12:09 AM

Have you removed and reinserted the memory? Sometimes that can clear up connection issues that make something appear to not be there...

Failing that, new memory is fairly cheap. You could get 256MB or thereabouts for next to nothing these days...

andrewas · 10-02-2003, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NiceWorg:
Good luck figuring out some BIOS. [img]smile.gif[/img] The answer lies there.. you can´t go wrong (too many times).

Then again, if you do go far enough wrong in BIOS, you can permanently damage hardware. Caution is advised.

But the simplest answer is probably to reseat the RAM, making sure none of the contacts are damaged or dirty.

Mouse · 10-02-2003, 11:15 AM

Presumably you have 2 x 64 meg ram modules. Two things to try. Boot up the machine with only one of the two ram modules at a time. This should show if one is defunct. Then, if you find one is defunct, you can try carefully cleaning it's metallic contacts with a soft pencil eraser to see if that will bring it back to life.

The other possibility is that your ram must be inserted in pairs in specific slots to work, In that case, if you find both modules work via the above test, it looks like you may have a mobo problem.

Beaumanoir · 10-02-2003, 01:09 PM

I already tried reinserting. I'm pretty sure I know which one is screwed.. I get worried with the BIOS cause I know you can destroy your Mother Board [img]tongue.gif[/img] Hehehe Well I'll try what you've said. Any other Ideas short of spending my money [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Beaumanoir · 10-02-2003, 01:29 PM

OKAYYYYYYYYY! Looked at the bios, think I know the problem!!!! It says

Memory: 64mb
Memory Bank 0: Not Installed
Memory Bank 1: 64mb

So it seems memory bank 1 isnt installed... And I install it... HOW? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

andrewas · 10-02-2003, 01:38 PM

By putting a DIMM into it. Memory banks are not installed like a graphics card or soundcard. No drivers or anything like that. If theres already a DIMM in it, then either the DIMM or the socket is dead.

EDIT] Now that I think of it, it is vaguely possible that the motherboard drivers could be responsible. See if you cant track down some new drivers. But I've never seen a driver thats bad enough to lose a bank of memory.

[ 10-02-2003, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: andrewas ]

Beaumanoir · 10-02-2003, 01:51 PM

Okay changed the Memory Cards around, checked the Bios and it said it was now the other one which wasnt installed. So Its not the socket (Thank god) but the card. So Is it just totally gone? Is there no way to get my computer to recognise the memory?

10-01-2003, 06:39 PM	#1
Beaumanoir Iron Throne Cult Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: There is no IRL, Only AFK. Age: 35 Posts: 4,896	Okay this is annoying me. I have 128mb RAM but since my re-formatt, my PC is telling me I have 64mb and is performing so!!! I have checked its inserted properly and such so I don't know what to do!! Just incase it helps: Dell Dimension 4100 Pentium III 866mhz God knows how much ram Windows ME 64mb NVIDIA TNT2 Graphics Card [ 10-02-2003, 01:33 PM: Message edited by: Beaumanoir ] __________________ My pokemon bring all the boys to the yard, and they're like; you wanna trade cards? Damn right, I wanna trade cards, I'll trade this but not my Charizard.

10-01-2003, 08:57 PM	#2
Daniel_M Elminster Join Date: October 17, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 40 Posts: 480	Hmm, try going to system setup (By pressing the 'Del' key when your computer is booting up) and go to hardware settings, im not too sure because some bios menus are different to others, anyway, look for something to do with RAM and set it to said normal RAM if that dosent work, youll have to buy some new RAM [img]tongue.gif[/img] so anyway..thats the only ideas I have for that. __________________ \"Sarcasm is a sign of genius.\"<br /><br />[url]\"http://www.hellspawnonline.tk\" target=\"_blank\">Hellspawn-Online.tk</a>

10-01-2003, 10:27 PM	#3
NiceWorg Baaz Draconian Join Date: January 15, 2002 Location: Vaasa, Finland Age: 42 Posts: 772	Good luck figuring out some BIOS. [img]smile.gif[/img] The answer lies there.. you can´t go wrong (too many times). It could also be it has damaged from some part. 128mb is not very much nowadays, or what do you think? I recently upgraded to 512mb and now even the heaviest graphic programs run like anything. [ 10-01-2003, 10:31 PM: Message edited by: NiceWorg ] __________________ Fell in love with a country girl, morning sunshine<br />She was up from a nether world, just to bust another soul<br />[url]\"http://jarkokson.suddenlaunch.com\" target=\"_blank\">Click!</a>

10-02-2003, 12:09 AM	#4
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Have you removed and reinserted the memory? Sometimes that can clear up connection issues that make something appear to not be there... Failing that, new memory is fairly cheap. You could get 256MB or thereabouts for next to nothing these days... __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

10-02-2003, 11:15 AM	#6
Mouse Ironworks Moderator Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,788	Presumably you have 2 x 64 meg ram modules. Two things to try. Boot up the machine with only one of the two ram modules at a time. This should show if one is defunct. Then, if you find one is defunct, you can try carefully cleaning it's metallic contacts with a soft pencil eraser to see if that will bring it back to life. The other possibility is that your ram must be inserted in pairs in specific slots to work, In that case, if you find both modules work via the above test, it looks like you may have a mobo problem. __________________ Regards Mouse (Occasional crooner and all round friendly Scottish rodent)

10-02-2003, 01:09 PM	#7
Beaumanoir Iron Throne Cult Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: There is no IRL, Only AFK. Age: 35 Posts: 4,896	I already tried reinserting. I'm pretty sure I know which one is screwed.. I get worried with the BIOS cause I know you can destroy your Mother Board [img]tongue.gif[/img] Hehehe Well I'll try what you've said. Any other Ideas short of spending my money [img]tongue.gif[/img] __________________ My pokemon bring all the boys to the yard, and they're like; you wanna trade cards? Damn right, I wanna trade cards, I'll trade this but not my Charizard.

10-02-2003, 01:29 PM	#8
Beaumanoir Iron Throne Cult Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: There is no IRL, Only AFK. Age: 35 Posts: 4,896	OKAYYYYYYYYY! Looked at the bios, think I know the problem!!!! It says Memory: 64mb Memory Bank 0: Not Installed Memory Bank 1: 64mb So it seems memory bank 1 isnt installed... And I install it... HOW? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

10-02-2003, 01:38 PM	#9
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	By putting a DIMM into it. Memory banks are not installed like a graphics card or soundcard. No drivers or anything like that. If theres already a DIMM in it, then either the DIMM or the socket is dead. EDIT] Now that I think of it, it is vaguely possible that the motherboard drivers could be responsible. See if you cant track down some new drivers. But I've never seen a driver thats bad enough to lose a bank of memory. [ 10-02-2003, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: andrewas ] __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

10-02-2003, 01:51 PM	#10
Beaumanoir Iron Throne Cult Join Date: June 3, 2001 Location: There is no IRL, Only AFK. Age: 35 Posts: 4,896	Okay changed the Memory Cards around, checked the Bios and it said it was now the other one which wasnt installed. So Its not the socket (Thank god) but the card. So Is it just totally gone? Is there no way to get my computer to recognise the memory?

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